Home Birth Services

Midwifery Care &
Home Birth Services

Planning a home birth with a Licensed Midwife is a warm and supportive experience from the beginning. My philosophy is that a healthy pregnancy is a normal and natural event in a woman’s life that rarely requires medical intervention. (And when it does, I am still there to support you and keep you and your baby safe). My job is to support and guide you as we work together to optimize your health and well-being to set you up for the best possible home birth experience. I provide comprehensive, individualized care from pre-conception through labor and birth and continue to care for you and your baby for 6 weeks postpartum. New clients sign into care at all points throughout their pregnancies. Some call as soon as they begin planning a pregnancy, having known for years that they want to plan a home birth with a Midwife. Others start midwifery care at the end of pregnancy, having just learned that home birth is a safe, affordable option that offers a more empowering experience for families. Its never too early or too late to choose home birth with a Licensed Midwife!

We work together throughout your pregnancy to make adjustments that work for you. This process is fun and delicious! My goal is to guide you through your pregnancy and home birth, becoming healthier in mind and body then when you first became pregnant. I offer practical guidance, tools and resources to help you develop systems and achieve your goals for pregnancy, home birth, and the health and wellbeing of your whole family.

Lab Work, Tests & Ultrasounds

We can order all routine lab work, prenatal testing and ultrasounds that you would be offered with an OBGYN. For most people, I can order these things through insurance so there is little or no out-of-pocket cost. In fact, I often go above and beyond standard testing to investigate other indicators of optimal health during pregnancy, such as Hemaglobin A1c (blood sugar regulation), thyroid testing, and vitamin D levels. In addition to lab testing, we discuss nutrition, hydration, activity and stress management regularly.

Prenatal Care

We offer all standard prenatal care and testing, but you get to choose which tests you do and don’t want for your peeThe prenatal care schedule is the same that you would get with an OB. Monthly visits until 28 weeks of pregnancy, then biweekly until 36 weeks, then weekly until you have your baby. However, instead of 15-20 minute appointments, we have a whole hour together at each prenatal visit. This gives us plenty of time to take care of the clinical aspects of care, discuss lifestyle points as mentioned above, and discuss your questions, goals and desires at length. We get to know each other well over the course of your care, so that by the time you go into labor we have built a relationship of trust and understanding. All your prenatal testing and newborn care options are discussed and recorded in your chart ahead of time, so that you do not have to defend your choices when you are in labor. This way you can relax and focus on the process of labor and birth, rather than defending your choices.

Labor & Delivery Care

We go over ‘when to call the midwife’ several times throughout your prenatal care, but one of the great things about working with a midwife is that you get my personal cell phone number and can call anytime with questions or concerns. I go “on-call” for your home birth from 37 weeks of pregnancy, and can attend your birth at home until 42 weeks. When labor has started and its time for me to come over, I bring all of my midwifery bags and equipment. This includes sterile instruments, oxygen and resuscitation equipment, antihemorrhagic medications, herbs, homeopathy, and so so much more. Once active labor is established, I stay with you, monitoring you and your baby’s vitals and wellbeing, offering support and encouragement until your baby is born and for 2-4 hours after the birth. When baby is born, they go directly onto your belly and the cord stays intact. This greatly assists the baby make the transition to breathing air and starting a vigorous, healthy life. After the birth, I make sure that you and baby are both doing well. I do a full newborn exam, make sure you get something to eat, do the birth laundry and eventually tuck you and baby into bed to get some rest. Older children, friends, and family members are welcome to attend your birth.

Postpartum and Newborn Care

This is something that is almost entirely missing from standard care, and is something that I am very passionate about as a midwife. After the birth, I return for 5 postpartum visits to do full medical and wellness checkups for both you and your baby. I return to your home for the first two weeks of postpartum care so you and your family can focus on recovery and caring for your newborn, instead of running to multiple appointments. These visits are also scheduled for a full hour and I evaluate physical healing, breastfeeding, sleep, emotional well-being, and support for mom. Plus, midwives also do all the standard newborn care and testing such as: evaluating heart and lung health, diaper output, feeding (challenges/issues), weight gain, comfort techniques and of course, answering ALL THE QUESTIONS!

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC / HBAC / VBA2C)

Ariana is a VBAC specialist. She did an additional year of training beyond basic licensure requirements in an apprenticeship with world-renowned midwife Lynn Arnold, LM, CPM. This training focused on VBAC and the exceptional care needed for families planning a VBAC at home (HBAC). This includes screening appropriate VBAC candidates, monitoring safety throughout pregnancy and birth, as well as birth education, physical, and mental preparation for labor and birth after a previous cesarean.

Meet the Midwives!