Licensed midwives are trained in neonatal resuscitation, management of postpartum hemorrhage, and we carry appropriate medications, herbs and oxygen. If necessary, we are able to suture after the birth. We believe that most low-risk women can give birth normally and safely. We do employ a wide range of natural remedies as well, if intervention is deemed necessary.

If transport to a hospital becomes necessary, we go with you and offer emotional and informational support.   We have developed ways to connect with physicians in emergency transports to ensure timely access to higher level medical care. Though complications and transport are rare, it is especially important to your midwives that care is given quickly and the mother-baby relationship is honored.


~ Post-partum Care ~

The birth of a baby brings many changes to a family, whether the baby is your 1st or your 6th. Appleton Community Midwives offers caring support of your new family during this tender time. We visit your home during the first 36 hours after the birth.  During this visit, we fill out the birth certificate and do the state required newborn gentic screen. We also provide a hearing screening for your baby. By one or two weeks, you're perhaps ready for an outing, so we will see you in our office then, and again in 4 to 6 weeks.

Of course, more visits are possible if need be. The goal of these visits is to monitor the physical health of you and your baby, to assist with establishing a successful breastfeeding relationship, and to help your family make a positive transition into life with a new baby. Just as during your pregnancy, our midwives are on call for you 24 hours a day up until 6 weeks postpartum.


 

~ Prenatal Care ~

We believe that prenatal care is the care you give to yourself and your baby, every day, all throughout your pregnancy. This care includes visits with your midwives so that we can support you, medically monitor your health and that of your baby, and build a relationship that will carry you through your birthing experience and your postpartum days.

All prenatal visits are done in our office in Appleton. You may expect prenatal visits to be about 45 minutes long. We share detailed information on nutrition, exercise, emotional wellness, and natural remedies for a healthier pregnancy. All of the standard prenatal screening options and lab work is also available in our office; we practice informed consent and offer you plenty of information to make decisions about your care. We give care to low risk women (most pregnant women fall into this category). Access to ultrasound is also available. We used specialized electronic charting so that you may have access to your medical records with us at all times, and we can easily communicate with other care providers about your care if that becomes necessary. If at some point your pregnancy becomes high risk, we can help to facilliate a relationship with a doctor in our community. Our midwives are on call 24 hours a day for you.

~ Labor & Birth ~

Labor and birth is a transforming and sacred time for the entire family. The role of your midwives during this time is to monitor the safety of the mother and baby in a non-intrusive manner. We help to create an environment of privacy to allow the birth to progress, as well as offer emotional and professional support throughout the entire process.

You may expect 24 hour access to your midwives, as well as continuous support throughout active labor and birth.  We will come to your home when you are in active labor.  You may choose any positions in which to labor and birth. We especially encourage the use of a waterbirth tub for labor and/or delivery, and we make that option possible for homebirth. We believe that you should nourish yourself with healthy food and drink during labor. Our clients receive respectful and compassionate care at all times. Medical interventions are used with caution, and most births require no intervention whatsoever.

When the moment of birth arrives, the baby is treated with tenderness, and the baby-mother relationship is honored by non-intrusive midwifery care. The baby goes directly into the mother's arms, and the breastfeeding relationship can begin when mother and baby are both ready. Siblings are welcomed at the birth.

We stay for a minimum of two hours after the birth to ensure mother and baby are stable.  We do a full newborn exam on the baby.  We clean up after the birth, and give detailed post partum instructions.