Homebirth Midwifery Care

Your home is my office! All appointments take place in your home.

In keeping with the Midwives’ Model of Care, (a shared-care model where parents play an active role in their health care decisions), your prenatal care is individualized and evidence-based. Clients receive access to an online portal full of information regarding pregnancy, birth and post-birth self-care, nutrition information, laboratory testing options, and lots of birth, after birth and parenting tips. Throughout your care I’ll provide you with information and guidance on what to expect during your pregnancy, birth and postpartum; however, I strongly encourage parents to conduct their own research as well.
 
I work closely with other holistic, midwifery and obstetric practitioners in the community and often collaborate with, or refer to them, in order to help you have the best possible pregnancy and birth experience. Partners, siblings and pets are an integral part of your life and welcomed at all visits.

Prenatal Care

All of our visits, take place in your home and last about 60 to 90 minutes in order to allow plenty of time for questions and answers. Each prenatal visit includes a thorough evaluation of mom/birthing parent and baby (blood pressure monitoring, measuring the growth of your uterus, listening to your baby’s heartbeat and palpating your baby’s position) as well as an educational component with discussions about healthy lifestyle choices, optimal nutrition, comfort in pregnancy, sibling preparation, breastfeeding and many other topics. I love to involve siblings in my care! Between visits, I am available by phone and email to answer questions.

Gatherings, Classes and Walks!

I offer periodic group classes, gatherings and walks for all my pregnant and postpartum clients. These group activities are a great way to meet other parents, socialize, get support from your peers, build your community, share your birth story and introduce your new baby to others.

Your Labor and Birth

Every labor and birth is different. When you go into labor we will be in close contact and I will join you when the time seems right to us both. At your labor and birth I will remain respectful and patient. I will offer encouragement, guidance, emotional support, trust in your inner wisdom, and ideas to facilitate your labor. There are no arbitrary rules or timetables about how you go through this process. My role is to support you in birthing your baby, your way.
 
I will monitor you and your baby’s progress and health during labor and the immediate postpartum period, I will do so as unobtrusively as possible. I can be as available or as out of sight as you wish during your labor (you may prefer to labor privately or with just your partner for a good portion of your labor).
 
As your labor progresses and your baby’s birth draws near, I will call a second midwife to act in an assistant's role. The second midwife usually stays an hour or so after the birth of your baby.
 
Before I leave, your baby will receive a comprehensive newborn exam, which takes place right at your side. I will make sure that you are comfortable and nourished and that your baby has fed. Lastly, I clean up and tuck you into your bed. I return to check on your family and provide your first postpartum visit within 18 to 36 hours of your baby’s birth.

Postpartum Care

I routinely provide at least six postpartum/well baby visits in your home during your first six weeks after birth, and more when there are special circumstances warranting them. During these visits we will monitor your health and your body’s return to its non-pregnant state. I will also monitor your baby's growth, well-being and the development of your nursing relationship. We will spend time discussing your family’s adjustment and your emotional state.

It Takes a Village...

I believe in the concept that it takes a village to raise a baby and at no time is it more important than in the early days to gather your support team. While I have a lot of experience supporting lactation and can help with most situations, I am happy to provide all my clients with an optional in-home visit with a Lactation Consultant ( Amy Clark, IBCLC) in the first month after their baby's birth.

I am also intrigued by the French government’s policy of postpartum physical therapy after birth. (Read more about France’s program here.) I evaluate all my clients for pelvic floor health and offer my clients an optional postpartum wellness check up with a pelvic floor physical therapist at Bayo Vista Physical Therapy within 6-8 weeks of birth. 

What former clients have to say…

"I would recommend her highly, and also for anyone nervous about home birth, to just learn more about what it entails, because what it has to offer is so absolutely rich, safe, and valuable. Take it from a once skeptical husband to a now avid home birth proponent, this process with Michelle is something you will cherish."

From a new and joyous father,

~Alex

“Michelle was the first midwife we interviewed and we didn't need to interview any more. We were sold. She's not only extremely knowledgeable about everything birth/pregnancy related but she's also funny and has such a warm, loving nature.

After having 2 unenjoyable prenatal visits at UCSF I greatly appreciated the personalize care, knowledge, and humor Michelle brought to my prenatal visits.

This story pretty much sums up Michelle's dedication to her job and her clients: My son was born at 12:27AM after a pretty text book labor. Michelle ended up leaving our house at around 7AM. I started having some abdominal cramping at 8AM and I gave her a call. She picked up the phone like she had just woken up from 8 hours of blissful sleep (not like she was just getting home after being up all night) and was calm and alert as she helped me figure out and solve the issue. She then slept for a couple hours, had a new client interview at 10:30AM and was back to check on me and baby that afternoon. I don't know how she does it.

Pregnancy and child birth is such a special time and the people you invite into your experience should be selected with care. The relationship you build with your midwife is unlike any other. I often tease my partner that I want to get pregnant again so I can see Michelle more often.

Michelle is a dedicated, gifted midwife and gives so much love to every family that she works with. If you are considering a home birth (and you should) Michelle is, without a doubt, the best of the best.”

~Natalie T.

More birth stories, comments and reviews on yelp.

Contact an insurance biller to discover what reimbursement you can expect for midwifery care.