SERVICES
Mama To Be Services Include...
Homebirth
Waterbirth
Prenatal Care
Postpartum Care
Well-Woman Care
Placenta Encapsulation
Doula Services
Services Also Include:
Breastfeeding Education and Support
Childbirth and Newborn Education
Pregnancy Massage
Nutrition Counseling
Homebirth
Labor and Homebirth Attendance
Emergency Equipment and Supplies
Your Birth Plan
Delayed delivery of placenta and cord clamping
Repair of Lacerations
Immediate Newborn Medications Offered
Complete Newborn Exam
Birth Tub tear down and complete cleaning of the area
Immediate Breastfeeding Assistance
Newborn and Postpartum Education
I will guide and support you through your homebirth from start to finish. I'll do my best to provide the homebirth you have planned, honoring your process while at the same time keeping a close eye on you and your baby's safety.
Waterbirth
The waterbirth tubs are free of charge. You will need to purchase the tub liner and a few other items for your water birth. We use La Bassine tubs. You can find out more about by clicking the below button.
Prenatal care
At NVCB we believe education and encouraging personal choices is one of the most important parts of our commitment to you. We offer a wide range of care, including western, holistic and alternative forms of care. We will offer and order any and all testing that would be offered to you if you were seeing an obstetrician. Prenatal Care visits occur once a month until 28 weeks, twice a month until 36 weeks, then once per week until you give birth. Prenatal visits include...
Lots of talking. Communication is very important!! This is our time to get to know one another and develop a bond that will hopefully last a lifetime.
Maternal and fetal vital signs
Measuring your baby's growth and position
Labs
Please set aside 45 minutes to 1 hour for your appointments.
Postpartum care
These visits include...
Mom and Baby's Vitals
Newborn Check
Newborn Screen
Breast/Chest Feeding Support
We will visit your home 24-48 hours after birth and again at 4-5 days to check on you and your baby, providing support and education on breastfeeding, newborn safety, and care. Additionally, we'll see you at our office for follow-up visits at 2 weeks and 6 weeks.
Well-Woman Care
Annual exams are available for all women, along with...
STD screenings
Routine blood tests
Birth control education
Fertility Counseling
Breast/Chest Feeding Support
I am experienced with and understand the need for extra care during
first exams with adolescents, and women who have a history of abuse.
Doula Services
Numerous studies highlight the benefits of having a doula during labor.
A recent Cochrane Review, "Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth," (American Pregnancy Association) showed significantly positive birth outcomes with a Doula present. Women with Doula support were less likely to need pain-relief medications or cesarean births and reported more empowering childbirth experiences.
Other studies indicate that Doulas decrease cesarean rates by 50%, labor length by 25%, oxytocin use by 40%, and epidural requests by 60%. Having a Doula allows fathers to choose their level of involvement, offering comfort techniques and support without the pressure of remembering everything from childbirth classes.
We have several packages to chose from depending on your needs.
Medi-Cal is accepted for Doula services.
Placenta Ecapsulation
Placenta encapsulation involves the drying of the placenta and grinding into a powdered form within a few hours after birth and pouring it into a vegetable capsule for consumption. Essentially, it’s your placenta in a pill! You simply swallow the placenta capsule as you would your morning vitamins. The placenta is large enough to produce a 30- to 60-day supply of placenta pills. Let’s take a look at a few of the benefits that this process can offer. As many as 15% of postpartum mothers develop some form of depression. There is anecdotal evidence that consuming the placenta may help ease symptoms of postpartum depression.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, ingesting the placenta has shown in some cases to boost the release of the feel-good hormone of oxytocin. In addition to stabilizing your mood, oxytocin also helps return the uterus to its normal size while facilitating bonding with your baby.
There are hormones like progesterone, estradiol, which is a form of estrogen, cortisol, aldosterone, and testosterone. Overall, the concentrations of the hormones were relatively low, but the researchers said that the concentrations of progesterone and estradiol could reach levels that could lead to physiological effects.
Iron levels are often depleted after pregnancy, which can lead to a profound lack of energy. The placenta contains small amounts of iron. Anemia, which stems from low iron levels, can be a problem for some new moms as iron has been lost through bleeding during delivery and through sharing with baby in utero. Low iron levels can contribute to irritability and postpartum depression. The potential benefits of placenta encapsulation may be physical, mental, and emotional. Your experience will be a personal one, though, and the biggest benefit may simply be knowing that you’re carrying on the natural cycle of your life-giving placenta.