Midwifery Services:  Nature and Scope of care

v    We start our care with an initial consultation: This is time for you to ask questions and get information to see if our services are what you are looking for and the care you desire for your growing family. Since a midwife can only continue care with normal, low risk childbirth, at this time we would rule out any obvious high-risk problems.

v       A second visit will include obtaining recommended laboratory specimens, and an in-depth interview of your medical history.

v       Prenatal checkups will be: Every month till 32 weeks, every 2 weeks till 36 weeks,  every week from 36 weeks till delivery.

v       If home birth is within 30 miles, at least one prenatal will be a home visit.

v       Attendance at your labor and delivery.

v       One or two qualified assistants will also be provided and will attend your birth.

v       First postpartum visit at your home.

v       Newborn genetic screening tests including PKU on the baby

v       2, 4 and 6 week postpartum visit at the birth center

v       weight checks and informal visits on a continuing basis postpartum

v       24-hour availability by way of telephone or cell phone.                                                                       

v       We will bring to your home equipment and supplies necessary for a home birth.  This includes herbs to control hemorrhage, and an electronic hand held doppler for monitoring the fetal heart rate during labor.  We will give you a list of supplies you will need to gather also.

If any question or deviations from normal occur, a physician’s consultation will be sought. We work closely with Dr. Gregory Rice, and Dr. Anne Camber, in Libby, Montana.  We consult with them if we have questions or an emergency arises.  I am willing to work with the Dr. or OBGYN you wish, providing they are supportive of your choice to have an out-of-hospital birth.

Birth Center or Home Birth?   Blessed Beginnings, in Bonner’s Ferry, is used it for prenatals, childbirth education and occasional births. It is also used to help women in the community as a crisis pregnancy center.  Family Birth Services, in Libby Montana, is a freestanding birth center 2 blocks from the hospital. There is no additional cost for the use of either facility.

Medical care for baby:

We would like to recommend that you find a health care provider for your baby.  We will perform a basic physical exam on your newborn, but we are not specialists in the care of newborns. We recommend your baby be seen within 48 hours of birth for a more complete exam.