Contact us today for a free consultation. When you call, we will ask you a few questions about your health and medical history. If you are eligible for Midwife care, you can then make an appointment to meet the Midwife and discuss your options for care.
Your prenatal care at Sweet Child O’ Mine will include regular prenatal appointments, lab work and ultrasound. The Midwife will work closely with you during your pregnancy to help ensure that you and your baby stay healthy. Good nutrition, regular exercise and other preventative measures are keys to maintaining good health for both mom and baby.
At each appointment, we will monitor your blood pressure and other vitals, measure your uterus to make sure your baby is growing well, determine your baby’s position by feeling your belly, and listen to the baby’s heart beat. We encourage you to bring your family to your prenatal visits. At each appointment, you and your family will have plenty of time to discuss all your questions and concerns with your Midwife.
You will be referred to childbirth education classes based upon your individual needs. At the same time, your prenatal visits are focused to prepare you and your family for your birth and welcoming your new baby.
During the course of your pregnancy, your Midwife will watch very carefully to make sure everything is going well. If an issue arises that is outside of normal, you will be referred to an obstetrician for appropriate care. Our goal is to make sure that you receive the highest quality maternity care. During your pregnancy, your Midwife will always be available to you by phone.
The Midwife Model of Care is based upon the belief that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. Midwives monitor the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle.
The Midwife will provide the mother with individualized education, counseling and prenatal care, continuous hands on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support. During the course of care, the patient typically works with only one, perhaps two, midwives. As a result, there is a relationship between the Midwife and her patient, and the Midwife knows how to give the best care specific to her patient’s needs and wishes.
The Midwife gives personalized care and minimizes technological interventions. The Midwife Model of Care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section. The Midwife identifies and refers women who require physician care.
Florida Licensed Midwives graduate from a state regulated and nationally accredited three year, nine semester midwifery program, have eight semesters of clinical internship, attend at least 75 deliveries, manage at least 50 deliveries and pass the national certification exam. Licensed Midwives are licensed and regulated by the Florida Department of Heath Division of Medical Quality Assurance.
There is no place more comfortable, private and relaxed than your own home. When you are relaxed during labor, your labor can progress at a faster pace. With less tension and apprehension, you will experience less discomfort. During your pregnancy, your Midwife will work with you to prepare you for your labor and delivery. We will review strength and toning exercises, relaxation exercises, stretching, hypnobirthing, breathing, good nutrition and supplements to prepare you.
Because pain medicines and epidurals carry a risk of harm to you and your baby, it is not safe to use pharmaceutical pain relief at home. However, we have many techniques to help. One includes laboring in water, also known as the “aquadural”. Studies show that water therapy during labor helps a laboring mom relax, eases the discomfort of labor, and aids in the progression of labor.
In your own home, you have complete control of your surroundings. You can create your own intimate family atmosphere, and you make the decisions concerning your medical care. You are able to move around freely, eat and drink as you wish, and have whomever you’d like to be with you. You can labor in the tub, have a waterbirth, or give birth in any position that you like. These things make a big difference in your childbirth experience and your perception of discomfort in labor. At home, you are in charge. Your care is personalized to your wishes. Your Midwife will give support, make suggestions, and monitor you and your baby closely during labor, resulting in the best environment for your body to give birth naturally.
During your pregnancy, you will have most of your prenatal visits at our office; however, one or two of your visits will be at your home. You can order your birth supplies for $51 at www.preciousarrows.com. When you go into labor, your Midwife and her assistant will come to your home with their equipment. They will stay with you and support you throughout the labor and delivery and after your baby is born. Once the baby is born, your baby remains with you and can bond with the whole family in an environment to which the baby’s immune system is adapted, resulting in less newborn infections. Once you and your baby are stable, fed, showered and tucked in your own comfy bed, we will leave you to rest. Your Midwife is always available to you if you have any questions or concerns. You will also have three postpartum appointments, and lactation support is available to you as needed.
We also accept VBAC patients and do VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesearan) birth at home.
Midwife care offers a significant savings to you. The fees for Midwife care and Midwife are less than one-third the cost of obstetrical care and hospital birth. Your maternity care at Sweet Child O’ Mine includes all prenatal exams, home visits, labor and delivery, initial postpartum care, the services of the birth assistant, complete newborn exam, 24-48 hour postpartum visit, a two week postpartum visit, a six week postpartum exam, and filing of the birth certificate. Please call us for information regarding the fee for our services. We do accept Private Insurance and Pregnancy Medicaid.
Florida law mandates that Medicaid and Insurance cover the services of Licensed Midwives. To find out if you are eligible and to apply for Medicaid coverage, go to http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida
where you can apply online. If you are pregnant, we recommend that you apply immediately because it can take 45 days to receive approval. Pregnancy testing for your Medicaid application is available through us at no charge to you. Call us today for a free consultation.
If you are covered by insurance, we will bill your insurance company for you. You are responsible for paying your deductible and co-payment according to a payment plan and to cover any incidentals that are not covered by your insurance plan.
If you are not covered by insurance and do not qualify for pregnancy Medicaid, we will work with you by arranging a flexible payment plan. We also provide an early payment discount. We accept cash, money order, VISA and MasterCard. Services and products that are not included in the fee are vitamins, lab fees, ultrasound, RhoGAM, medications, specialist services, childbirth classes, birth supplies, Doula services and waterbirth tub purchase or rental.