what is the midwifery model of care?

The midwifery model of care is unique in many ways. Each appointment time is one hour long. This allows us the time and space to care for your emotional needs and answer questions, in addition to assessing your clinical needs. We are able to connect and develop a relationship over the course of many months. It also provides the opportunity to involve your family in your care, if you so choose.

I see clients every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, bi-weekly until 36 weeks, and weekly until you have your baby. I am present for your labor and birth. I generally do postpartum visits at 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks — most of which take place in the comfort of your home. Every person and pregnancy is different which means I provide individualized care based on the needs of you and your family.

Is a midwife the same as a nurse?

There are different midwifery credentials. I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and Licensed Lay Midwife (LLM). My credentials come from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and the State of Arkansas. I am not a nurse. Instead, I am trained specifically in home birth midwifery care. This means my clinical training was all geared towards the particulars of home birth, rather than translating a hospital-based model of care into the home setting.

when should i initiate care?

You can contact me as soon as you know you’re pregnant. This helps to secure your due date on my calendar and provides us with the most amount of time possible to build our relationship throughout your pregnancy. However, it’s not uncommon for people to transfer into care later in their pregnancy for a variety of reasons. Are you sensing a theme? There is no one “right” way because everyone’s situation is a little different — if you’re interested in working together at any stage of your journey (preconception, first, second, or third trimester), I’d love to hear from you.

what about….?

Pregnancy brings up a lot of questions. Who comes to my birth? Can I have a water birth? When do we do a home visit? What if I need to transport to the hospital for any reason? What about an ultrasound?

A consultation (always free) is the best way for us to address your specific questions and lay out the details of working together. My goal is for people to find the right provider for their needs so that they might feel safe, heard, and seen throughout their experience.