Home Birth Services

Before the Birth

Aurora Midwifery Services provides complete maternity care to expectant mothers who wish to have their babies at home or at Bella Vie Gentle Birth Center. We assist in the promotion of health and well-being from a holistic perspective. We believe that labor progresses optimally when women are nourished physically, emotionally and psychologically. We help to educate and provide information during the early stages of a woman's pregnancy, while monitoring her health and the well being of her baby. Comprehensive prenatal testing, including labwork, ultrasound and genetic screening is offerred and optional.

Nutritional guidance is provided as is advice regarding supplements and herbal remedies which can benefit pregnancy and birth. Prescriptive medications and alternative remedies are available when needed. The regular monthly visits are a time to discuss health, emotional concerns, or just a time to laugh and develop a relationship of understanding and trust between the expectant parents and midwives.

During the Birth

At Aurora Midwifery Services, we recognize what a privilege it is to attend a woman and her family during one of the most intimate experiences - bringing a new life into the world. As the day of the baby's birth approaches, we urge the woman and her partner to create a home environment which supports her wish to birth freely and comfortably.

Children, family members and freinds are welcomed and encouraged to particpate. Once labor has begun, the birth attendants arrive at the home and help to facilitate labor through support and careful monitoring of the mother and the baby. The woman is encouraged to walk or take positions which will help labor to progress. As the birth proceeds, pain is eased through relaxation, massage and touch. Some women may wish to immerse themselves in the soothing waters of a birthing tub.

After the Birth

As the child is born to the woman, so is she born again into her role as a mother. Even for seasoned parents, the entry of a new baby transfoms the gamily into a new dynamic.

As caregivers helping new parents make the transition into parenthood, we draw upon our own experiences as mothers, as well as the experiences of hundreds of other women. We know that the birthing process can be a transformational experience and it is our wish to leave the new parents with the confidence and strength that develops through full participation in that process.

Prenatal Care

During the first two trimesters of pregnancy we visit with the mother every month, bi-weekly between 6 and 8 months, and weekly thereafter until the baby is born. At the first visit a full medical and family history is taken. Standard labwork is discussed and performed and optional testing such as cystic fibrosis, HIV and chromosomal screening is discussed and offered.

Unlike conventional obstetrical care, prenatal appointments last about an hour and involve counseling regarding diet, exercise and health promoting activities. We believe that optimal nutrition leads to healthier moms and babies, better birth experiences and easier transitions in the postpartum period. We spend a lot of time getting to know each other and exploring a woman's fears, desires and expectations.

During the later months of pregnancy we monitor mother and baby to ensure health, rule out pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, and make sure the baby is growing well. We offer a mid-pregnancy screening ultrasound and a gestational diabetes screening test. By the end of a woman's pregnancy we know a great deal about she and her baby's overall health and preparedness for birth.

Birth

Many women wonder how they will know when they are in labor or when to call the midwife. Toward the end of pregnancy we speak with women on the phone frequently, assessing the quality and frequency of contractions and/or cramping.

When the birthing woman feels that her contractions have changed or would like us to be present, we come to the home or meet at Bella Vie Birth Center. Equipment such as instruments, suctioning and resuscitation equipment and antihemorrhagic medications are set up and tucked away so as not to medicalize the environment.

Relaxation is the most important element in birth and we help to keep the woman, her partner and the environment as stress free as possible. We respect the conditions that she and her partner have created and try to be guardians to the natural process.

Some women look forward to 'catching' their own babies; whether the birthing mother or couple wants the father to 'catch' or the midwives to catch, we help to make her hopes a reality.

Postpartum Care

With so much attention focused on the birth itself, it is easy to overlook the period of time following the birth. The postpartum period can often be filled with elation, fatigue, tears, apprehension, wonder, gratitude and frustration. It is the beginning of a new life together, a new family dynamic that is difficult to imagine before the birth, even for established families. Each woman, birth and baby is unique and brings along unique needs and challenges.

With preparation many postpartum difficulties can be remedied easily. At Aurora Midwifery Services we have years of experience of helping women with breast feeding issues, fussy babies, sore bottoms, hemorrhoids, sleeping problems, postpartum depression as well as many other concerns. We offer the same newborn prophylaxsis as community hospitals, such as Vitamin K, but we also offer education and alternative approaches for those interested. We also administer the Newborn Screening Test.

We provide ongoing care through six weeks after the birth, and gynecological care thereafter. Many women feel that one of the most beneficial aspects of homebirth is getting to STAY home afterwards. Visits are provided in the home during the first two weeks following the birth and in the clinic thereafter.