I'm a homebirth midwife and have been attending births since 1985, practicing as an independent senior midwife in Colorado since 1987. I've attended approximately 1100+ births in various capacities - apprentice, labor support/monitrice at planned hospital births, primary attendant, senior midwife assisting other midwives, and supervisor for intern midwives. I have a private homebirth practice in Lakewood, Colorado and serve families in the Denver metro area as well as areas within an hour of the city that don't yet have a community midwife. COLORADO NEEDS MORE MIDWIVES! I have a private practice with my own clients. I work with area midwives who may assist at your birth and are available for backup in the event I am unable to be with you. If you are interested in a homebirth you may contact me to set up an initial interview. by phone, virtually, or in person to get to know each other and decide if we want to work together. This visit lasts about one hour. I encourage you to write down any questions you may have so that we can go over them at the interview. I also give you a packet of information including my Informed Choice Agreement (ICA), expected financial considerations and payment plans, a supply list, and other resources so you have enough information to make an informed choice as to your care provider for your pregnancy and birth. Prenatal checkups are in the privacy of your home and scheduled every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks from 28 - 36 weeks and once a week from 36 weeks until the birth. At around 36 weeks myself the home visit includes the rest of the birth team . We will check supplies and review the birth plan including the emergency plan for transport. At each visit we check your urine, weight, pulse, blood pressure, fetal movement and growth, nutrition, and other issues related to your physical, mental and emotional well-being during your pregnancy. You will always have time to talk about your questions or important issues. Lab work can be done through my practice. Additional testing, such as ultrasound, is done only as needed, based on specific symptoms or at your preference. If you have signs or symptoms outside of normal pregnancy we may decide that it is appropriate to consult with a medical provider. For most of my clients with normal pregnancies, I am the only provider they see for pregnancy, birth and postpartum. For the birth, I ask that you call me as soon as you have any sign that labor may be starting. One of the birth team will come as soon as you are in active labor or earlier if you need someone there. The bottom line is not to have a homebirth but to have a healthy mom and a healthy baby. For most women I see, that happens best at home. Midwives are the guardians of the normal. At the birth I will do as little as possible and as much as necessary. This means that I limit routine interference in the natural birth process. It also means I bring to your birth experience in a wide range of what is normal as well as dealing with complications and emergencies which may be able to be resolved at home or may require transport. If you need care from the hospital we will follow the emergency plan discussed prenatally and go to the hospital of choice (depending on circumstances). No one has been refused care when transporting from a home birth. One of the birth team will stay with you whenever possible until the baby is born or the situation is resolved. We are still your midwives even if you need to refer or transport to a medical provider. We will continue to see you as appropriate or desired. After the birth I come back to you in the first 24-48 hours, on day 3, and around day 6. I expect and encourage you to stay home, resting, bonding with your baby and establishing a good nursing relationship. Additional home postpartum visits are scheduled between 2 and 3 weeks and again for a final 6-week checkup. I will schedule additional visits if necessary. I encourage parents to have the Newborn Metabolic Screen done. I can do it in the early days after the birth at your home if you prefer. I file the birth certificate and will provide you with a form to order a certified copy.
