Our Services
Midwifery care
Prenatal visits with your midwives are the foundation of your midwifery care experience with Birthroot Midwives.
Appointments allow ample time to develop trusting relationships with your midwives. Visits are scheduled every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, and then every two weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until labor begins.
We continue to provide midwifery care for new parents for six weeks after birth. We provide a home visit within 48 hours of the birth for important newborn screening tests and assistance with feeding, postpartum recovery and newborn care. Additional postpartum visits are scheduled at two, four, and six weeks postpartum.
We provide all routine newborn care for the first two weeks of life including vitamin K administration and antibiotic eye medication, metabolic screening, critical congenital heart screening and hearing screening. We respect your right to make decisions regarding your newborn’s care.
Throughout midwifery care we engage in shared decision making and ongoing risk assessment by offering time and attention to each person, informed consent discussions, and appropriate use of lab tests, ultrasounds, medications and consultation with other health care providers when necessary. We recognize that each person has differing preferences regarding use of biomedical technology. We call upon ancient and modern wisdom, our own clinical experience and traditional healing modalities to provide safe and satisfying midwifery care.
Birth Center
a safe, private and peaceful facility designed specifically for birth
When you desire to give birth at our birth center one of your midwives will greet you there in active labor. You will labor and give birth in one of our comfortable birth rooms with your midwives by your side. Each room features a large tub suitable for birthing if you choose. You will be encouraged to eat, drink, and move about throughout your labor. Our birth center is a safe, private, and peaceful environment where you are free to be yourself. Each room has all the necessary safety and diagnostic equipment and supplies readily available, but tucked out of sight. Our midwives are trained to use this equipment appropriately when necessary.
Home birth
we come to you
Many families choose to welcome their new baby in the privacy of their own home. Birthroot Midwives have over 30 years of combined experience attending home births. We plan a visit to your home during the last month of your pregnancy to offer suggestions on ways to optimize your home environment for birth. When you are in labor, we bring all the necessary supplies and safety equipment to your home.
Nitrous Oxide
a safe, self-administered pain relief option
Nitrous oxide is similar to the “gas” you may have experienced at the dentist office. You breathe it in during a contraction to take the edge off, and in between contractions you breathe normal room air. The nitrous leaves your body in a few breaths and has no effect on the baby.
Nitrous has a mild analgesic effect but it works primarily by relieving anxiety and helping with relaxation. It lets you manage your pain while not effecting mobility or mental clarity.
Nitrous has been widely used during childbirth for decades in many countries including the UK and Canada. It is becoming more widely available in the US. We are pleased to be able to offer this option at our birth center.
Please ask your midwives if you’d like more information about how nitrous oxide could be helpful for you.