Our services.
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Prenatal Care
Prenatal visits are spent getting to know you creating and holding space for you to grow; physically, emotionally, spiritually and intuitively in preparation for the birth and postpartum. I also offer standard lab work and testing for your convenience.
More details about prenatal care with a Midwife can be found here.
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Home Birth
I and an additional Midwife or trained birth assistant will monitor both mother and baby throughout active labor and birth. We focus preventing problems and maintaining an environment conducive to unhindered birth and bonding.
While we are prepared to intervene if necessary, the majority of mothers birthing at home do best with minimal interventions. I have helped over 500 women achieve their goal of a natural birth.
We provide home birth services for Windham, New London, Tolland, Hartford, Middlesex and New Haven Counties. Clients in Litchfield and Fairfield Counties accepted on a case by case basis.
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Postpartum Care
Comprehensive follow up visits for both Mother and Baby are done in the home.
Care for the newborn includes a newborn exam on the day of birth, follow up exams at each visit and breastfeeding counseling and necessary referrals. I also offer all standard newborn screening, and help you with the registration of the birth.
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Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Planning a Homebirth with a skilled and supportive provider creates an opportunity to birth without major surgery in the absence of a valid medical reason. A large portion of my clientele is VBAC and I consider it an area of specialty. I would love to hear about your previous birth(s) and help you decide if VBAC at home is right for you.
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Water Birth
I am highly trained in and support laboring in water as well as water birth. I believe in this option so strongly that I provide my clients with a professional birth tub rental. Submersion in water has been shown to give significant pain relief. Along with promoting relaxation, buoyancy makes it easier to move and change positions. Those that labor in water are more likely to choose an upright birth position and experience a hands-off birth.
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Breastfeeding Counseling
Achieving a complete physiological hormone release at birth is the first brick in the foundation of a successful breastfeeding relationship. Breastfeeding may be the biological norm, but there is often a learning curve and most mothers find they need extra support. I am here to help prepare you for and reach your breastfeeding goals. I am also well connected in the community should any extensive complications arise that prevent an exclusive breastfeeding relationship. We will refer, collaborate and troubleshoot together until your goals are met.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The short answer is, "It Depends".
The insurance industry centers the medical model of care and does not value the amount of time we spend with our clients, nor the focus on the prevention of problems. Additionally, Connecticut does not offer licensure for Certified Professional Midwives and this makes it impossible to become an "in-network" provider. However, if your plan has "out of network" benefits, you may be able to receive reimbursement after the birth for the payments you have made. Thus, our clients pay up front for our services and we help them submit for reimbursement after care is complete. Clients and potential clients who would like to submit for reimbursement are required to have our Biller perform a Verification of benefits first to assess the plan.
Please click here to have this done and learn what your policy will cover.
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I charge an all inclusive flat fee for services and ask to be paid by 36 weeks. Payment can be made with cash, check, HSA or FSA funds. This covers all of your prenatal care, the birth, postpartum care for both you and baby, and a birth tub rental. I do not charge extra for complications handled or equipment used, nor do I reimburse for births that occur in the hospital.
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Unfortunately HUSKY only covers in-network providers and they will not allow CPM's in their network. I encourage folks with HUSKY to apply for financing through United Medical Credit. Although I want to help everyone access Midwifery care, and do offer discounted fees and payment plans, I am not a lender. Clients who are not eligible for financing through UMC have had success fundraising on GoFundMe in the past.
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I continue to care for you even in the event that a transfer becomes necessary. Continuity of care is priceless. I continue postpartum care as usual. No refunds are issued regardless of where the birth occurs. The flat fee covers what I am available for, not what I actually do. Some clients begin care at 8 weeks, some at 32. Some clients have short labors, some long. Some clients have uneventful "easy" births, some experience complications that are handled professionally at home. Some clients transfer care to a hospital during their labor. Sometimes I use very little equipment, sometimes all of it. Some clients need extra postpartum care, some do not.
I do not charge extra nor do I refund based on individual circumstances.
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All clients are booked for at least one prenatal home visit, typically at 36 weeks. All visits in the first week after birth are also done in your home. Clients who live closer to my home than the office will be offered more home visits. I understand that some clients have circumstances that would benefit from exclusive in-home care. Please inquire about exclusive in home care for your unique situation.
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I collaborate with other independent and hospital based radiology practices for ultrasounds. They are in-network with all of the major insurance companies and your plan will be billed as such.
Primal Roots uses LabCorp for routine labs; they too, are in-network with all of the major insurance providers.
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I believe that every person has a right to bodily autonomy, babies included. Additionally, as an evidence based care provider, I must point out that there is no medical reason to circumcise an infant. If you thoroughly look into the procedure, you will quickly learn how unnecessary and harmful it is. I provide care to women that helps them to keep their body whole in the absence of a valid medical reason, and I ask you to do the same for your perfect baby.
There are plenty of providers in the state who can be paid to hurt your baby, or support you in doing so, but I am not one of them.
