Planned Homebirth

Labor begins and progresses best when and where the mother feels the most safe. For most, that feeling of safety that allows them to labor is found inside their own home. Cradle Midwifery's homebirth services include prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum care. Clients are seen in their homes for all visits prenatal and postpartum, and for labor and birth.

Prenatal appointments are about an hour long. The focus of these visits is to monitor the overall health of Mother and Baby, provide education, counseling, and build trust between you and your midwifery team.

Prenatal visits are every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks from 28 to 36 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks until labor. The midwifery scope of practice in Idaho for labor is 37-42 weeks.

Labor begins and progresses best when and where the mother feels the most safe. For most, that feeling of safety that allows them to labor is found inside their own home. Cradle Midwifery's homebirth services include prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum care. Clients are seen in their homes for all visits prenatal and postpartum, and for labor and birth.

What to expect:

• Lab work to ensure the mother is healthy and continues to be a good candidate for care at checkpoints during pregnancy and postpartum.

• Nutrition and lifestyle recommendations from a holistic perspective.

• Comprehensive health assessment of you and your baby at every visit including; hands-on growth estimation, fetal position checks, fetal heart tone monitoring, and an overall well-being assessment for the baby. Vital checks include blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.

• Prenatal, birth, and postpartum education and referrals.

• Psychosocial and emotional check-ins to talk through all the shifts that are part of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

The midwife and birth assistant will be on call for your birth from 37-42 weeks. We will arrive at your home when you are in active labor. We will intermittently monitor the health of you and your baby throughout the birthing process and the immediate postpartum period.

What to expect:

• Intermittent fetal monitoring and assessment with a water-proof doppler.

• Monitoring of all vitals including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, fluid input and output, and comfort level.

• The option of laboring and birthing in the water, if desired

• Collaborative planning for rest, nourishment, and hydration

• Care in the first 3-4 hours after the baby is born including continued monitoring of wellness for both the mother and baby, a full newborn exam, establishing breastfeeding, light cleanup, and beginning birth laundry.

• Cradle Midwifery is prepared and trained in the event that an intervention is necessary; we carry antihemorrhagic medications, oxygen, neonatal resuscitation equipment, suturing equipment, and IV supplies. If necessary, a transfer to hospital will be discussed and coordinated.

Labor and Birth

Prenatal Care

Postpartum

Postpartum care where midwifery care really shines. Cradle Midwifery ensures that you and your baby will be cared for the first 6 weeks postpartum. Home visits are offered at 24-36 hours, 3-5 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks.

What to expect:

• Assessment including vitals and wellness checks for mother and baby

• Weight checks for baby

• Breastfeeding support and referrals to lactation if necessary

• Monitoring of your bleeding and your uterine health

• Birth certificate and verification of live birth submissions

• Newborn Metabolic Screening, and optional Vitamin K injections and/or erythromycin administration.

• Visual jaundice screening

• Education surrounding postpartum wellness

• Referrals to other postpartum care providers, including pelvic floor therapy, chiropractic, etc.