Prenatal Care with Midwives
If you are newly pregnant and unsure where to start with prenatal care or when you should call, we want you to know that at Indiana Birth Center, your care can start right away! We will dive right into getting you set up for your first appointment and learning all about you and your wishes for your birth.
Why is care with a midwife special?
Midwifery care is provided by professionally trained midwives who practice a holistic approach to pregnancy, birth, and women’s health care. Midwifery care focuses on the promotion of wellness, informed consent, and shared decision making.
When you decide to visit a midwife, you will receive a special level of care that is not always present in other health care settings. Midwives believe that childbearing is normal and that you and your family should create the birth experience that will be meaningful to you. Midwifery honors and respects the wisdom and dignity of all women and the sacredness of pregnancy and birth. Midwives often spend extra time with you during your appointments, listening to your concerns, and addressing (or treating) problems.
They will provide education, suggest resources, or refer you to additional health care providers if needed. Your midwives strive to be your partner in care, not just your provider of care. Midwifery is a collaborative practice that involves women, families, midwives, nurses, obstetricians, pediatricians, and other specialists as needed.
What is the prenatal care schedule?
We will do a confirmation visit depending on how long you’ve been pregnant. Our regular routine prenatal visits are every 4 weeks until your 28-week visit. After 28 weeks of pregnancy, prenatal care visits are every 2 weeks. After 36 weeks of pregnancy prenatal care visits are weekly.
What is an appointment like?
Your first visit is one hour long, with plenty of time for you to ask all the questions that you may have and for us to provide you with the education you will need. This visit is important because this is when we establish that a client is low-risk and appropriate for out of hospital birth.
The following appointments are at least 30 minutes long. At each visit, you will receive education, plenty of time to ask any questions you may have, and routine lab work when needed. The midwives will take vitals, listen to your baby, and measure your belly to monitor growth.
What kind of tests do you do at IBC?
At Indiana Birth Center, we perform:
Blood work at your first visit
Diabetes screening around 24-26 weeks of pregnancy
Group Beta Strep testing around 36 weeks of pregnancy
We will also make sure you understand the tests we perform and why they are important so you can make informed decisions for your family.
Are you ready to start your care with us? Visit our website to set up your tour!
