Sprouting Hope Midwifery

Midwifery Services

The focus of my midwifery services is individualized support for a normal and healthy pregnancy, labor and birth, and postpartum recovery for mother and baby. This support begins with the first phone contact and continues through prenatal, birthing, and postpartum care.

Sprouting Hope Midwifery Services include the following:

• Phone contact as needed or desired
• Initial interview appointment (1 to 2 hours)- free of charge
• Initial prenatal appointment (1 to 2 hours)- confirmation deposit due
• Prenatal appointments (1 hour)- every 4 weeks to 32 weeks, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40 weeks
• If needed, appointments at 41, 41.5, and 42 weeks
• Labor and Birth care from the onset of active labor until 3 hours postpartum (or more if needed)
  Including: monitor and document mother’s vital signs and baby’s heart rate, labor comfort guidance, equipment and supply set-up, birth care, immediate postpartum care, breastfeeding initiation, and a thorough newborn exam.
• Postpartum appointments after the birth 1, 3, and 5 days, 1, 2, and 6 weeks (about 1 hour)
• Additional appointments and resources/ referrals as needed

Scope of Midwifery Care
Sprouting Hope Midwifery follows the Oregon State Midwifery Licensing Laws. I provide prenatal and birth care to healthy women experiencing a low-risk pregnancy and planning for labor and birth at home and I provide six weeks of postpartum care to newborns and mothers who are experiencing normal, healthy adjustments. I am trained to recognize situations that are outside the range of normal, and to activate appropriate actions as needed. I may handle the situation at home; consult with another medical care provider; drive to the hospital; or transport by ambulance. Fortunately, I have friendly relationships with Midwives, Obstetricians, and the Hospital in my community. If the need for consultation, cooperative care, or transfer of care to another care provider becomes necessary, I will be actively involved in the transition, making the process as smooth as possible and providing ongoing emotional and informational support.

Safety of Homebirth
Many countries in Europe (and the developed world) with the best perinatal outcomes (determined by the World Health Organization) integrate homebirth and midwives into the healthcare system as the norm for healthy women. Currently, the US is tied with Slovenia among developed nations for the worst rate of perinatal outcomes! This disturbing statistic is largely attributed to the high rate of premature births in the United States. Unfortunately, both the rate of premature birth and the rate of maternal death and morbidity (illness or injury) are rising along with the recent significant increase in the cesarean birth rate. The US National Cesarean birth rate for 2006 was 31.1%!

A recent large-scale research study was published in the British Medical Journal, “Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America” by Johnson and Daviss. This study concluded that for women with a low-risk pregnancy, homebirth is as safe as or safer than hospital birth for mother and baby.  Additionally, homebirth is much less likely to involve unnecessary technological interventions. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7505/1416

I am participating in the continuation of this research through NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) by contributing the statistical results of my midwifery practice. I will ask for your written consent to participate in this important project.

Expectations
Women and families who intend to labor and give birth at home must first take the responsibility for excellent health choices during pregnancy. I encourage optimum nutrition as well as regular physical activity, deep relaxation and self-awareness. Informational resources such as books, websites, and childbirth education classes will be made available. I expect my clients to attend regular prenatal care and I expect openness and honesty in our interactions. I will provide references and resources for a wide variety of informed choices, but I expect clients to make their own decisions and to accept responsibility for those choices.

Fee for Sprouting Hope Midwifery Services
The full fee for Sprouting Hope Midwifery Care is $3,500. This fee may be discounted 20%, to $2,800, if payment is made in full before 36 weeks of pregnancy. Some additional costs, such as laboratory fees, ultrasound fees, or vitamin supplements are not included in this fee.

In order to provide optimal and individualized care to every client, I limit my birth schedule to 3 births per month. As a consequence, I ask you to make a reservation for your expected birth month with a $500 non-refundable deposit, due at 12 weeks (3 months) of pregnancy or on agreement to enter my care. At each prenatal appointment, I require $100 payment toward the full birth fee. Additional payments will be necessary to have the fee paid in full before labor begins. Some insurance accepted, including OHP open card. Please call for more information before applying for the Oregon Health Plan.