Philosophy
My philosophy is really pretty simple. I believe that childbirth is a natural and healthy part of life, and the midwife shares the responsibility of monitoring the natural process of pregnancy and birth with the expectant parents. I also believe that childbirth is a family event and you are inviting me into your family. For that reason, I think prenatal check-ups are important not just to check on physical well being, but to provide guidance and reassurance regarding pregnancy and birth, and to build a trusting relationship with you.
The Package
Your Complete Midwifery Care Package includes family oriented health care and counseling for preconception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum in the comfort of your home. If you live in the Bitterroot Valley, all or most of your prenatal visits can be conducted at your home. If you live out of town, we will make arrangements for some workable combination of office and home visits. An all-encompassing fee covers regular prenatal visits, individualized prenatal and childbirth education, gentle hands-on support during labor and birth, in-home postpartum visits, newborn laboratory work, and help with breastfeeding and early parenting. Pregnancy and postpartum laboratory work is billed separately. Visits usually last 45 minutes to one hour. All clients are also offered a complimentary Perinatal Massage or Zero Balancing session as part of their care. Additional sessions are available at a special rate.
Included as part of your care
Nutrition and Wellness Counseling
I am passionate about healthy eating. It is a very important part of pregnancy and it doesn’t stop after the baby is born! Many of us go for what is easiest, but not always most nutritious. Children learn from their parents, so it is really important for us to pay attention to how we approach food: our attitudes about it, what we eat, when we eat, and how we eat. I can help you with meal planning and suggestions for healthy choices or alternatives. I can also assess your current diet and activity level and work with you to develop a plan to achieve weight change or athletic goals or just to help you explore some lifestyle changes that support your family’s health. I have a background in whole foods diets, herbs and nutritional supplements to support healthy bodies and minds.
Prenatal and Postpartum Movement
Prenatal and postpartum movement increases muscle tone and flexibility, relieves stress and fatigue, encourages proper body mechanics and alignment and provides an opportunity for creative physical expression. We are all encouraged to move intentionally for thirty minutes at least 3-5 days a week. For many, this is as simple as going for a walk or a swim. But there are many other options to help you develop strength and stamina for caring for a newborn…and for enhancing flexibility, energy and body-love after birth. I am more than happy to help you find out what activities you like to do and to provide guidance for effective workouts and safety. For those who are already active, whether it is dance, yoga, walking, running, aerobics or horseback riding, the needs of pregnant and postpartum athletes are a little different. I am here to help you make a plan to continue your active lifestyle during these times of rapid physical change.
Prenatal, Childbirth and Postpartum Education
During prenatal visits or in a stand alone class, we discuss different choices in childbirth and help families discover how to be active participants in their care. The sessions focus on natural pregnancy support, childbirth and newborn care. Pregnancy and childbirth are normal, natural and powerful life events and we inherently know how to birth; sometimes we just need the information and tools to support what the body already knows how to do. Pregnancy provides each family member the perfect opportunity to engage in the process of nurturing new life, embrace change and personal growth, and develop trust in the body’s inner wisdom and strength. Postpartum support sessions offer new parents the opportunity to discuss their adjustment to parenthood, get advice and support for breastfeeding, share early parenting tips and experiences, and explore ways to support family health and wellness.
