FREEBIRTH SUPPORT
education, prenatal care, newborn exam & health screening, and postpartum care for parents wanting an unassisted birth
MIDWIFERY SUPPORT FOR FREEBIRTHS
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Michele (“Misha”) believes that undisturbed birth is best practice. Ask most former clients about how well Misha can blend into the background at a birth and both “not be there” and hold incredible space at the same time. They also understand that even the most invisible midwife can still influence the actions of a labouring person, so much so that they are inhibited. Birth is a raw, vulnerable, intimate, and psychosexual experience for the birthing person (and if applicable, their partner/s too); it is always a privilege and honour to be invited to share this experience as midwife, as friend. However, not everyone wants or needs to share their experience, and that informed choice is to be honoured just as well.
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While many freebirthing families decide to take care of their own prenatal and postpartum care, some do want the help and friendship of their community midwife. On a case-by-case basis, Misha is happy to provide prenatal care, newborn exams, newborn health screenings, and postpartum care for Q/T/BIPOC individuals and families planning freebirths. These services are NOT offered to nor available to all birthing people, only those who belong to communities which have been historically excluded & marginalised.
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE
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Initial Prenatal Visit (2-3hrs) $450
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Each additional Prenatal Visit (1-2hrs) $150 each (Ideally, at least one visit per trimester.)
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Labwork is currently unavailable for freebirthing clients unless they have an OB or family physician to order their labs. (Misha hopes to be able to offer labwork again once they find a more affordable lab option.)
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24-48hr Initial Postpartum Visit (2-3hr), including Newborn Exam, Newborn Metabolic Screening (PKU+), & Newborn CCHD Screening $450
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Follow-up Postpartum Visit + Newborn Hearing Screening Visit (1hr) $200—this visit is scheduled between 1 week and 3 weeks postpartum per best practices on when to perform a newborn hearing test.
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Each additional Postpartum Visit (1-2hr) $150 each
FREEBIRTH SKILLS CLASSES
We spend approximately 4 hours together going over the following topics with plenty of time for questions:
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common complications & how to manage them or when to seek professional, medical/emergency help
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hot to cut the cord and examine, dispose of, and/or preserve the placenta
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general supplies needed for labour, birth, and postpartum, plus extras for specific circumstances
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how to obtain newborn health screenings, a birth certificate, and a social security card for your baby
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some of the less thought of logistics of homebirth and unassisted birth, like the realities of having to transport to the hospital
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The class costs $350 to be paid between the time of scheduling and the date of the class. A discount is offered for groups of 3 or more couples (pregnant person + partner or another support person) who take the class together. The cost is $200 per couple. Due to Misha's current schedule, it is best to inquire early about scheduling a class with them.
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