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Full Spectrum Midwifery is a private practice providing a variety of services to families in Northern and Central Vermont. Our mission is to honor each woman’s individuality by giving safe supportive care while she goes through the natural process of growing a baby and giving birth.
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Free Consultation
We offer a consultation visit at no charge so that you can meet us and learn what working with us might be like. We can share with you what we do and who we are. We encourage you to have a list of your questions written down so that we make sure we cover everything!
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Some couples find it helpful to learn about ways to obtain optimal health before becoming pregnant. At the pre-conception visit we review your health history, give genetic counseling, obtain some baseline lab work and discuss wholesome lifestyle changes if necessary.
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During your prenatal visits at Full Spectrum Midwifery, we dedicate a full hour for your appointments. We use this time to check in on you and your baby, to answer questions you may have, and to develop a relationship of trust and communication.
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Our care is guided by the concept of informed choice. This means that we give you information about tests and treatments available to pregnant women, and then let you decide what is right for you and your family.
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Prenatal visits are once a month until the seventh month, every two weeks until the last month, then once a week until the birth. As you get closer to your due date we do one of these visits at your house. We are on call for clients during the entire course of their care.
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When your labor begins, we are in touch over the phone. We come to your home when your labor has had a chance to become rhythmic and “active,” (around the same point in labor that a woman would often leave home for the hospital). We bring several bags of equipment with us and set up a personlized birth center in your home. During our time at your house, we monitor you and the baby and give you compassionate assistance.
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When your baby is being born, you can be in whatever position you find most comfortable; on our birth stool, in the tub, on hands and knees, squatting, lying on your side or what ever feels right to you in that moment. Once the baby is born, we will place her right on your chest. We will continue to monitor you and the baby while you have a chance to bond.
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Being submerged in water is one of the most beneficial things that can be offered to a woman in labor. The water provides a calming influence and a peaceful relaxed atmosphere. The following are some of the known benefits of being submerged in water during labor:
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∗Enables the laboring woman to move more freely
∗Reduces blood pressure
∗Provides significant pain relief
∗Promotes relaxation
∗Speeds up labor
∗Conserves a laboring woman’s energy
∗Gives the woman a private protected space
∗Reduces perineal trauma
∗Reduces cesarean section rates
∗Is highly rated by mothers
∗Is highly rated by experienced providers
∗Encourages an easier birth for mother and a gentler welcome for baby
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We stay with you for at least two hours after the baby is born, sometimes more. We use that time to help establish breastfeeding, to help you use the bathroom and shower, to give the baby a newborn check, to make sure you have had a good meal, and to tuck you and your baby in for a well deserved nap.
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We return to your home the next day to visit you and the baby and then again three days after the birth. The two week and six week postpartum visits take place at our office.
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We have a good selection of books on birth, parenting, pregnancy, and such available for borrowing. We also have a variety of VHS/DVD’s available.
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We have four birth tubs available to rent. One style is an aqua doula and the other is what we call our Vermont style birth tub. Each one has its redeeming qualities. Whichever you decide upon it’s almost universal for women to appreciate.
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Full Spectrum Midwifery is mainly a home birth service, though we also offer a monitrice service. This is more than being labor support. A monitrice is an assistant who has clinical skills to monitor aspects of labor such as fetal heart tones, blood pressures and vaginal exams. We attend you at home during early labor. While at your home we monitor you and the baby to make sure everyone is healthy. We give support and guidance until you are well progressed in labor. At the appropriate time, we travel with you to the hospital and continue our support and encouragement while there. We help guide you with any decisions that you are faced with at the hospital. As your advocate, we oversee mother/baby attachment from the start by encouraging no separation and early suckling.
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Full Spectrum Midwifery |
