Home Birth
Hawthorn Midwifery follows the universal Midwives Model of Care™, a client-centered and empowering approach to obstetrics.
All care is based on promoting autonomy, providing informed consent, and encouraging shared decision making.
As a Tennessee Licensed, Certified Professional Midwife you can expect the following when working with me:
APPOINTMENTS
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All appointments are held in office at my home, with the exception of your 36 week visit (when we come to you to check out your birth space, discuss supplies to gather, your birth preferences, etc.) and your 24 hour postpartum home visit.
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We meet regularly throughout your pregnancy and postpartum, with appointments lasting 45 min to an hour, providing ample opportunity for the assessment of mother and baby’s well being. We'll discuss nutritional and herbal support as well as your emotional and physical needs, focusing on education and relationship building.
PRENATAL CARE
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At your initial visit I'll go over your health history in detail, screening for risk factors.
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We'll have approximately 12 visits together, depending on your gestation when we begin care. These visits follow the standard OB schedule; every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks from 28-36 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks until birth.
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At each visit I use my hands to gently feel your uterus. As your baby grows, I'll feel for their size and position. Fundal measurements begin at 20 weeks and will help me determine your baby's growth as it relates to your expected due date. If desired, I'll use a doppler to listen for heart tones.
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At your 36 week appointment, we'll meet at your home to discuss your birth plan/preferences, organize supplies, make a list of items that need to be gathered, and discuss day-of details. If you choose a water birth, a birth pool will be provided at this appointment.
LABS & ULTRASOUND
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All Routine Lab Work is included in the Global Fee: OB Panel, HIV, GC/CT, CBC, GCT, GBS. The global fee excludes your Anatomy Scan, Rh-Negative Labs, Reflex Testing, and custom optional lab work.
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I collect any routine or specialty labs during your appointment for your convenience. If you prefer to use your insurance for lab work, I'm happy to send an order in to the lab for you to have it collected there.
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Any labs outside of routine are billed for at cost. This means I do not add an additional fee for any lab work- you get the special price Hawthorn Midwifery has negotiated with the lab to keep out-of-pocket costs as low as possible.
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Results of any lab work that I perform or order will be available to you in your private portal.
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If you do not have co-care with another provider, ultrasounds can be done with certified sonograhers and radiologists for an affordable fee that is paid directly to them.
LABOR & DELIVERY
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I go on call for your birth starting at 37 weeks and until 42 weeks. This time frame is based on your baby's development milestones, as well as Tennessee State Licensure Regulations. You can read more here.
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Once you are in active labor, I'll monitor your vital signs and assess your baby using intermittent fetal monitoring. You are free to move and you are encouraged to eat and drink. You can give birth in any position, and in nearly any place that you feel inclined to.
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Two qualified providers will attend your birth- most often this means myself and another midwife, however, you may also have the opportunity to work with a trained birth assistant or student.
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All equipment and supplies needed for your birth will be brought to your home. These include; herbs and prescription drugs to control hemorrhage, oxygen for mother and baby, and suturing supplies.
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We provide life-saving emergency interventions if needed (all midwives and assistants are certified in Neonatal Resuscitation, AHA Basic Life Support, and are trained to manage obstetric emergencies.
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You and your baby will be monitored for a minimum of 2 hours after you birth, ensuring that both you and baby are stable and transitioning well.
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I’ll go over postpartum instructions for you and baby, and leave you with some paperwork to fill out for your newborns birth certificate and SSN.
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We clean up your birth space before we go! We'll remove any trash created, and start a load of laundry. If you used one of our birth tubs, we will drain it, wipe it down, de-inflate it and take it with us.
NEWBORN CARE
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Your baby will receive a complete newborn exam after their birth. We are able to administer vitamin K and erythromycin eye ointment if desired.
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A “Welcome To The World” birth certificate will be customized and inked with a set of your newborns sweet tiny footprints.
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All routine newborn screenings are included. You can read more about them here.
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I’ll help with nursing if desired or refer you to a lactation consultant if needed.
POSTPARTUM CARE
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Be comfortably tucked into your own bed after birthing your baby!
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I'll make sure all of the birth certificate/social security card paperwork is complete and reported.
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As a Certified Professional Midwife, I provide care to both you and your newborn for the first 6 weeks after birth. You'll receive your first visit at home within 48 hours after birth, then I'll see you in my office at 1 week, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. At these visits, I'll weight your baby and do any newborn screenings you choose to have done. I'll assess your healing and baby’s growth, maintaining quality records for both of you. Your final postpartum visit includes a complete well woman exam, Pap smear, and family planning counseling (If desired).
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Once you and your baby are discharged from care, I will happily fax records to your family care provider upon request.
Our inclusive global fee includes all of the midwifery care before, during, and after your birth.*
SELF-PAY FEES ARE REDUCED TO MAKE TRADITIONAL MIDWIFERY CARE ACCESSIBLE.
At this time I am unable to accept insurance (outside of labs), however, I am happy to provide a super bill to submit to your insurance at the conclusion of your care to help you meet your annual deductible. If you have a shared health plan like Samaritan or Christian Health Ministries, your home birth costs should be covered.
I offer a $300 discount to those who pay their balance entirely with cash
*This fee does not include your BIRTH KIT, any labs that are not considered routine and not covered by your insurance, or diagnostic ultrasounds with a sonographer.