WHAT IS A MIDWIFE?
According to Citizens for Midwifery, a midwife is a trained professional with special expertise in supporting women to maintain a healthy pregnancy and offering compassionate individualized care, education, counseling and support to a woman and her newborn throughout the childbearing cycle.
A midwife works with each woman and her family to identify their unique physical, social and emotional needs. When the care required is outside the midwife’s scope of practice or expertise, the woman is referred to other healthcare providers for additional consultation or care.
The Midwives Alliance of North America, the North American Registry of Midwives, the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council and Citizens for Midwifery agreed on a short definition of what “midwifery care” means. However, just because a person is a midwife does not guarantee that they provide this kind of care; consumers looking for a midwife should ask questions to determine if a prospective caregiver will be able to provide the kind of care they seek.
A midwife works with each woman and her family to identify their unique physical, social and emotional needs. When the care required is outside the midwife’s scope of practice or expertise, the woman is referred to other healthcare providers for additional consultation or care.
The Midwives Alliance of North America, the North American Registry of Midwives, the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council and Citizens for Midwifery agreed on a short definition of what “midwifery care” means. However, just because a person is a midwife does not guarantee that they provide this kind of care; consumers looking for a midwife should ask questions to determine if a prospective caregiver will be able to provide the kind of care they seek.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Prenatal Care"
I practice from the perspective of Midwifery Model of Care that states that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. I offer personalized and comprehensive care at home, birth, postpartum care, and beyond. I offer a free Initial Interview to discuss about Midwifery Care and to answer your questions, discuss your birth desires and health history. If you are a low risk client and you decide to continue to have a home birth and choose me as your home birth Midwife, we will start prenatal care.
At every visit, at the comfort of your home, we will discuss not only all the physiological aspects of pregnancy, but also all the emotional
aspects, physical concerns, or discomforts. We will discuss optimal nutrition, nutritional needs, and supplements to have a healthy pregnancy and keep your baby growing healthy.
Part of my care includes education to help you understand all the possibilities of a low risk out of the hospital birth. Every visit is an hour long, and I will do labs and order Ultrasounds depending on your weeks of gestation following the standards of care and recommendations.
Prenatal visits are every 4 weeks until 28 weeks. Then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until the birth. I will be on call for you 24/7 beginning at 37 weeks, to attend labor and birth and immediate postpartum.
At every visit, at the comfort of your home, we will discuss not only all the physiological aspects of pregnancy, but also all the emotional
aspects, physical concerns, or discomforts. We will discuss optimal nutrition, nutritional needs, and supplements to have a healthy pregnancy and keep your baby growing healthy.
Part of my care includes education to help you understand all the possibilities of a low risk out of the hospital birth. Every visit is an hour long, and I will do labs and order Ultrasounds depending on your weeks of gestation following the standards of care and recommendations.
Prenatal visits are every 4 weeks until 28 weeks. Then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until the birth. I will be on call for you 24/7 beginning at 37 weeks, to attend labor and birth and immediate postpartum.
Labor and Birth:
You will be in contact with Nancy as soon as you are in labor. When you are in active labor we will determine a meeting time. The Birth Team will come to your house, this includes your Midwife, a birth assistant (Registered Nurse) and sometimes a student. We will check your vital signs, and labor progress, cervical exams are sometimes needed but is not a priority. Baby will be monitored with a Doppler by intermittent monitoring of the fetal heart rate.
You can invite siblings to the birth, your doula, birth photographer, any family member if it is your desire. After your baby is born, this is a very important moment for the parents. And we respect this special time. You will immediately hold your baby skin to skin. And we will respect the Golden Hour to help with bonding, breastfeeding, the baby's temperature and more.
Delayed cord clamping is our norm, meaning that we won’t cut the cord until stops pulsing. The Midwife will wait for the delivery of placenta. We will do a perineal exam and repair any tears if needed.
A full new born exam will be done bedside with baby’s footprints. The birth team will make sure that mom and baby are in stable condition before departing after 3 hours postpartum.
The Birth Certificate will be filled out by your Midwife , parents will sign at the postpartum visit and Midwife will submit it to the health department of your county.
You can invite siblings to the birth, your doula, birth photographer, any family member if it is your desire. After your baby is born, this is a very important moment for the parents. And we respect this special time. You will immediately hold your baby skin to skin. And we will respect the Golden Hour to help with bonding, breastfeeding, the baby's temperature and more.
Delayed cord clamping is our norm, meaning that we won’t cut the cord until stops pulsing. The Midwife will wait for the delivery of placenta. We will do a perineal exam and repair any tears if needed.
A full new born exam will be done bedside with baby’s footprints. The birth team will make sure that mom and baby are in stable condition before departing after 3 hours postpartum.
The Birth Certificate will be filled out by your Midwife , parents will sign at the postpartum visit and Midwife will submit it to the health department of your county.
Postpartum Care:
I will visit you and your baby after birth and I will check you and your baby. This visits are usually one hour long.
First postpartum visit will be between 24/48 after birth. Midwife Nancy will come again 1-2 weeks postpartum and at 6 weeks.
You will have as many visits as needed. Although I recommend you have a pediatrician, as a Midwife I am trained to care for the healthy newborn up to 6 weeks, which allows you to stay home and recover from your birth longer before needing to take baby anywhere outside the home.
During postpartum visits we weigh baby, do vitals signs on mother and baby, discussed breastfeeding , we will do metabolic screen of the newborn (heel prick) and screening of major congenital heart defects by using a pulse O2.( non invasive procedure).
First postpartum visit will be between 24/48 after birth. Midwife Nancy will come again 1-2 weeks postpartum and at 6 weeks.
You will have as many visits as needed. Although I recommend you have a pediatrician, as a Midwife I am trained to care for the healthy newborn up to 6 weeks, which allows you to stay home and recover from your birth longer before needing to take baby anywhere outside the home.
During postpartum visits we weigh baby, do vitals signs on mother and baby, discussed breastfeeding , we will do metabolic screen of the newborn (heel prick) and screening of major congenital heart defects by using a pulse O2.( non invasive procedure).
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Areas Served:
Loudoun, Fairfax, Chantilly, Leesburg, Ashburn, South Riding, Aldi, Centreville, Manassas, Sterling, Reston, Woodbridge, Vienna, Winchester, Purceville, Stephens City, Front Royal, Flint Hill, Bealeton, Warrenton, Haymarket, Gainsville, Dulles, Dumfries, Lorton, Springfield, Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and surrounding areas. |
Phone: 703-439-7298
Email: [email protected] |