Milwaukee Midwife | Prenatal Care, Home Birth Support & Postpartum Care

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 90 minutes, 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 you and your baby stay healthy throughout your pregnancy. Here’s an overview of the standard testing schedule:

Early Dating Ultrasound
We typically schedule an early ultrasound around 8 weeks to confirm your pregnancy, estimate your due date, and check on the location and number of babies.

10–12 Weeks First Prenatal Appointment
At your initial visit, we complete a full health assessment, routine prenatal lab work, and offer optional genetic screening, such as the UNITY test. These labs give us a baseline for your health and help guide your care throughout pregnancy.

20 Week Anatomy Ultrasound Referral
We provide a referral to one of our trusted ultrasound providers for your 20-week anatomy scan. This important ultrasound checks your baby’s growth and development, evaluates the placenta’s position, and gives you the option to find out your baby’s gender. This scan is often covered by insurance.

28 Week Glucose Screening and Iron Levels
We screen for gestational diabetes using the “Fresh Test,” a clean, organic alternative to the traditional glucose drink with a refreshing minty lemonade flavor. We also check your iron levels and other labs as needed to prepare for birth.

36 Week Group B Strep (GBS) Screening
You have the option to test for Group B Strep, a common bacteria that can be passed to the baby during birth.

Additional Testing Based on Your Needs
Your care is always individualized. We may adjust your testing schedule based on your preferences, health history, or clinical findings—adding or omitting tests to ensure you feel confident, informed, and supported every step of the way.

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

• Home birth setup based on our guidance

• Comfortable postpartum essentials for recovery

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: We stay with you for about 2–4 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.

• 2 Weeks Postpartum: At 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!