Birth Services

Joyce Kimball, CPM

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Home Birth Midwifery

About Homebirth Midwifery

Right after_birth_on_stool_with_baby_out_and_in_arms_7I am a midwife. I work with birthing folks and families during the childbearing year. I attend planned births at home. Birthing folks and families who choose homebirth see pregnancy, labor and birth as a normal healthy process. Some reasons birthing folks and families may choose homebirth include:

  • Quality home-based, one-on-one care
  • Continuity of care - you know who will be attending your birth
  • Non-interventive care
  • No separation of the baby and the birthing person
  • Increased relaxation in the comfort of your own home

I believe:birth03

  • Birthing people have the right to choose where and with whom they give birth.
  • A birthing person can educate themself about care options and make appropriate choices for themself and their baby
  • Pregnancy is a normal event in a birthing person's life.
  • Pregnancy affects and is affected by all aspects of a birthing person's life: social, economic, professional, and familial.

My homebirth midwifery care includes:

  • Complete prenatal care and home postpartum care
  • Lab work and ultrasound(s) if necessary
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Home care for labor and delivery
  • Newborn procedures (if requested) and newborn exams
  • Notarized birth certificate and social security card paperwork
  • Recommendations and assistance in using alternative therapies such as body work, nutrition, mental health exercises, stretching, supplements and herbs to achieve and maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Continuity of Care

prenatal at_home_2I spend time with my clients – getting to know them, sharing with them and helping them think through options to make decisions for themselves. A typical prenatal visit with me lasts about 60 minutes. Studies indicate that homebirth midwives provide the safest and best maternity care for healthy pregnant people, while spending on the average of 10 times more prenatal hours with clients than do obstetricians, at about half the price. Our time spent together helps us develop a strong, trusting relationship.

I will accompany you in pregnancy, through labor and birth and then provide extensive postpartum care including several follow-up visits.

Homebirth Is Safe for Low-Risk Birthing Folks

Griffin HiRes_14Home midwifery care makes sense for normal pregnancies because home birth midwives are skilled at keeping the pregnancy normal. If something does shift out of normal, I will consult with specialists and make referrals when needed.

A common concern regarding homebirth is “What if something happens?” I am trained in the detection of complications. My goal is to guard the health of birthing person and baby and remain alert for any possible complications. When a problem is detected early, we can often reverse it with simple measures such as nutrition and/or a change of laboring position. When we cannot correct the problem, I can faciliate a safe, smooth transfer of care to the provider of your choice.

Statistics indicate that for the low-risk birthing person and their child, the morbidity and mortality rates are the same or lower in a planned homebirth with a midwife than for matched populations of birthing people in the hospital.

I am honored to attend the miracle of a growing baby and a beautiful birth!

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