Yes! Research shows that planned home birth with a qualified midwife is a safe option for low-risk pregnancies. Midwives are trained to recognize and respond to complications and ensure timely transfers if needed

At Family Focused Midwifery, we structure your prenatal care to ensure consistent support and monitoring throughout your pregnancy. After your initial comprehensive appointment, which typically lasts an hour, you’ll have monthly check-ins until 28 weeks. These appointments are designed to discuss your health, baby’s development, and any lifestyle factors like nutrition, sleep, or stress that might affect your pregnancy.

From 28 to 36 weeks, your visits become more frequent, happening every two weeks. This is the stage when we do more in-depth monitoring of both you and your baby, ensuring everything is progressing smoothly.

At 36 weeks, we conduct a home visit where we’ll go over the logistics of your birth plan in your home environment, discuss the items you’ll need to prepare, and ensure you’re ready for the big day.

After this visit, you’ll come in weekly until your baby is born, giving us the chance to continue addressing any concerns, answer questions, and prepare you for labor.

In addition to these scheduled appointments, you have 24/7 access to our midwives via phone, email, or messenger if any concerns arise between visits.

We offer a variety of tests to ensure both you and your baby are healthy throughout your pregnancy. Here’s an overview of the standard testing schedule:

First Prenatal Appointment (10–12 weeks):
During this visit, we perform routine blood work to check for blood type, Rh factor, iron levels, and screen for infections or potential complications like gestational diabetes. We also conduct a urine test to monitor for signs of any issues, like a urinary tract infection or protein in your urine. Most of these tests can be submitted to your insurance provider.

20 Weeks: Ultrasound:
At around 20 weeks, we send you to one of our preferred ultrasound providers for an anatomy scan. This ultrasound checks your baby’s development, ensures healthy growth, and evaluates the position of the placenta. It’s also an opportunity for you to find out your baby’s gender if you wish. This test can often be submitted through insurance as well.

28 Weeks: Glucose Test and Iron Levels:
We offer a glucose screening to check for gestational diabetes. Instead of the traditional glucose drink, Haven uses the “Fresh Test,” which is an organic alternative with a minty lemonade flavor. We also recheck your iron levels to ensure you’re not anemic and address any deficiencies before birth.

In addition to these routine tests, we can tailor your care based on your individual needs and preferences, adding or omitting tests as appropriate.

While a midwife provides medical care and guidance, a doula offers additional emotional and physical support throughout labor. Many families find having both beneficial, and we have doulas on the team that would love to help!

Yes, we encourage it! At Family Focused Midwifery, we believe that birth should be an experience shaped by your preferences, needs, and goals. Your midwife works closely with you to develop a birth plan that reflects your wishes. Whether it’s your choice of birth position, the level of monitoring you want, or your preferences around interventions, we ensure your voice is heard and respected.

We support various birth preferences, including water birth, natural pain management techniques, and minimal medical intervention. Our goal is to empower you with information and guide you through options while keeping your health and safety in focus. Ultimately, the decisions are yours to make, and we are there to support you in whatever birth experience you envision.

When you choose Family Focused Midwifery, you receive:

• A complete home birth kit with essential medical supplies and birth tools

• Birth tub and supplies are included (if desired)

What You Need to Provide

• Towels, washcloths, and baby blankets

• Extra set of bed sheets

• Shower curtain (to place in between bed sheets)

• Home birth setup based on our guidance

• Comfortable postpartum essentials for recovery

• Hydrogen peroxide

Yes, we are trained to handle a variety of situations, including emergencies, though complications are rare. We come to each birth fully prepared with emergency equipment such as oxygen, medications to prevent excessive bleeding, and neonatal resuscitation supplies. If complications arise, such as a prolonged labor or signs of fetal distress, we assess the situation carefully and recommend a hospital transfer if necessary.

If a transfer is required, we work closely with local hospitals and OB/GYNs to ensure a smooth and safe transition. We stay with you during the transfer to provide continued support, ensuring clear communication with the hospital staff. Even though transfers are rare, we prioritize your safety and are committed to a seamless handover of care if needed.

At Family Focused Midwifery, postpartum care is an essential part of our services. After your baby is born, our focus is on ensuring that you and your baby are healthy and well-supported as you transition into this new chapter.

• Immediate Postpartum (3–4 hours after birth): We stay with you for about 3–4 hours after the birth to monitor both you and your baby. This includes ensuring you are recovering well, monitoring your baby’s vitals, and assisting with the first breastfeeding session if needed. We also take care of cleanup, including the birth area, draining the tub (if you had a water birth), and doing any laundry from the birth.

• 24–36 Hours Postpartum: We return to your home within 24 to 36 hours for a follow-up visit. During this time, we perform a newborn screening, check your baby’s heart and metabolic health, and assess your physical recovery. We also help with breastfeeding, ensuring a good latch and answering any questions you have about feeding.

• 1–2 Weeks Postpartum: At one to two weeks postpartum, we conduct another home visit to continue supporting your recovery and addressing any postpartum challenges, including breastfeeding and emotional well-being.

• 6-Week Postpartum Visit: At six weeks, we have a final postpartum appointment in our office, where we wrap up your care. This is an opportunity to check your physical recovery, discuss contraception if desired, and ensure you are feeling well both physically and emotionally.

Throughout the postpartum period, we’re always available for phone or messaging support if you have any concerns.

We do not take insurance at this time. However, your insurance may cover all or a portion of the fee, and we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your provider upon request for reimbursement. Our medical biller is also available to navigate this with you, if you have questions!