About the Midwives Model of Care
THE MIDWIVES MODEL OF CARE™ IS CLIENT-CENTERED
The Midwives Model of Care™ is a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy and childbirth than contemporary obstetrics. Midwifery care is uniquely nurturing, hands-on care before, during, and after birth. Midwives are health care professionals specializing in pregnancy and childbirth who develop a trusting relationship with their clients, which results in confident, supported labor and birth. While there are different types of midwives practicing in various settings, all midwives are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. The Midwives Model of Care™ is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives Model of Care includes:
- monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother/birthing parent throughout the childbearing cycle
- providing the mother/birthing parent with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
- minimizing technological interventions and
- identifying and referring women/birthing people who require obstetrical attention.
The application of this model has been proven to reduce to incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean
section.
(Midwives Model of Care definition is Copyrighted © by the Midwifery Task Force, all rights reserved)
Services
Prenatal
You have the primary responsibility over your body and baby. We provide education and resources as an adjunct to what you are already doing for yourself. Appointments are typically around an hour long, because the better we know you the better we can serve you. Nutrition, movement, rest, fresh air and clean water, and growing in faith are all part of the true wellness we will pursue together. We won't be checking off boxes; the goal is for you to feel fully confident and capable in making decisions for yourself and your family.
Labor and Birth
No one can take this journey for you. But a guide who has already walked the same path multiple times can be invaluable. A lot of the time you will be finding your own way, but I will be by your side offering the wisdom of experience when you most need it.
Your birth unfolds in your own special way. You make the choices about what you wear, who is present, the atmosphere, positions, whether or not to use a pool, how to care for the umbilical cord, and so many other aspects of your birth. We provide knowledge and safety to help you have the best experience possible.
Postpartum and Newborn Care
Mothers deserve and need to be honored and protected. Mothering the mother enables her to get off to a strong and healthy start. We serve not only the mother-baby dyad but the entire family, because it is one whole, not unrelated parts. In contrast to conventional obstetric care we visit you in your home, typically at one day, three days, and two weeks. When there are special challenges, we will see you as needed, not on a rigid schedule. We are also licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine to care for normal newborns for the first six weeks.
Now offering prenatal and/or postpartum care only option