Transformative Pregnancy
Midwives are the traditional choice to accompany pregnant people,
and in Oregon 25% of babies are born with midwives!
At Mariposa, pregnancy care may begin with a pre-conception visit, which is a great time to talk about nutrition and exercise, and review potential environmental exposures. We make sure there are no underlying challenges like a thyroid imbalance, anemia, high blood sugar, or high blood pressure. Fertility consultations are crafted uniquely to your needs, as families are created in many ways. At Mariposa, we honor each person’s yes. If assistance is needed with conception, we offer midwife-assisted IUI or can give guidance for self-insemination. Acupuncture can be a supportive adjunct to body balance. You can learn to track your moon cycles, to understand ovulation and fertility windows. We want to think together about how to welcome a baby into the best body space possible. Pre-conception visits include conversation about conscious conception.
And so you are pregnant!
Whether a surprise or a long-planned event, prenatals at Mariposa involve care for the body, space to process body stories and birth trauma, and time to build trust.
All pregnancy visits at Mariposa are 60-90 minutes. Genetic screening is available if desired, and ultrasound referrals if indicated. Visits are encouraged as soon as you like and will be monthly til 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks (when we do a home visit), and weekly after that. If you go past your “due date”, as many folks do, we will give extra support and monitoring twice weekly until birth.
Labor support for home birth is available with your midwife, who is on call for you 24/7, and frequent contact is the norm. The midwife comes as labor intensifies, and a 2nd midwife comes in active labor closer to the pushing phase. Many births include a nurse or student midwife (CNM or CPM track) that you have met. Intermittent fetal monitoring with a hand-held Doppler lets us keep an eye on baby. We utilize water in all its beauty, with the shower or tub or a birth pool for labor hydrotherapy or water birth. Physiologic pushing helps prevent tears; if one does occur, suturing is done in the privacy of your own home. The body leads the way, and you are encouraged to follow it in deep trust, assuming the position it asks for, whether in the water or out. After the baby is born, we protect skin-to-skin contact, keeping the cord intact often until after the placenta is born. The midwives are a quiet and calm presence, watching to ensure bleeding is normal, and baby is transitioning well. You choose who is at your birth from your friends or family, and we talk about creating that circle during the pregnancy visits. The presence of a doula may be part of your wish, and referrals are available. Placenta medicine options are reviewed, and encapsulation is available in our community if you wish.
Folks often have “what if” questions.
The midwives bring emergency equipment, IVs, and medications, and each team member is trained in neonatal resuscitation.
Most times, the body does not need this support, but it is available in those rare cases when it is needed. If a transfer is necessary, the midwife becomes an advocate and support person in the hospital, preferably with a midwife-to-midwife transfer. Every client develops an individualized transfer plan with the midwife by 36 weeks.
Midwives are the traditional choice to accompany pregnant people,
and in Oregon 25% of babies are born with midwives!
At Mariposa, pregnancy care may begin with a pre-conception visit, which is a great time to talk about nutrition and exercise, and review potential environmental exposures. We make sure there are no underlying challenges like a thyroid imbalance, anemia, high blood sugar, or high blood pressure. Fertility consultations are crafted uniquely to your needs, as families are created in many ways. At Mariposa, we honor each person’s yes. If assistance is needed with conception, we offer midwife-assisted IUI or can give guidance for self-insemination. Acupuncture can be a supportive adjunct to body balance. You can learn to track your moon cycles, to understand ovulation and fertility windows. We want to think together about how to welcome a baby into the best body space possible. Pre-conception visits include conversation about conscious conception.
And so you are pregnant!
Whether a surprise or a long-planned event, prenatals at Mariposa involve care for the body, space to process body stories and birth trauma, and time to build trust.
All pregnancy visits at Mariposa are 60-90 minutes. Genetic screening is available if desired, and ultrasound referrals if indicated. Visits are encouraged as soon as you like and will be monthly til 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks (when we do a home visit), and weekly after that. If you go past your “due date”, as many folks do, we will give extra support and monitoring twice weekly until birth.
Labor support for home birth is available with your midwife, who is on call for you 24/7, and frequent contact is the norm. The midwife comes as labor intensifies, and a 2nd midwife comes in active labor closer to the pushing phase. Many births include a nurse or student midwife (CNM or CPM track) that you have met. Intermittent fetal monitoring with a hand-held Doppler lets us keep an eye on baby. We utilize water in all its beauty, with the shower or tub or a birth pool for labor hydrotherapy or water birth. Physiologic pushing helps prevent tears; if one does occur, suturing is done in the privacy of your own home. The body leads the way, and you are encouraged to follow it in deep trust, assuming the position it asks for, whether in the water or out. After the baby is born, we protect skin-to-skin contact, keeping the cord intact often until after the placenta is born. The midwives are a quiet and calm presence, watching to ensure bleeding is normal, and baby is transitioning well. You choose who is at your birth from your friends or family, and we talk about creating that circle during the pregnancy visits. The presence of a doula may be part of your wish, and referrals are available. Placenta medicine options are reviewed, and encapsulation is available in our community if you wish.
Folks often have “what if” questions.
The midwives bring emergency equipment, IVs, and medications, and each team member is trained in neonatal resuscitation.
Most times, the body does not need this support, but it is available in those rare cases when it is needed. If a transfer is necessary, the midwife becomes an advocate and support person in the hospital, preferably with a midwife-to-midwife transfer. Every client develops an individualized transfer plan with the midwife by 36 weeks.
Postpartum is where midwifery really shines in the community setting
1 day home visit
3 day home visit
A 7-10 day visit
A 2-3 week visit
A 4-5 week visit
A 6 week visit
Mariposa offers 6 visits
Postpartum care includes strong breastfeeding support, attentive care to mental health and emotional needs, respectful listening to thoughts about future pregnancies, space to process the birth and any other body memories that may be awakened.
Midwives also provide well-baby care for the newborn for the first month of life. Mariposa Midwifery includes lactation counseling, with referrals to an IBCLC if needed. A free weekly feeding group occurs at our host space, Byenveni Baby. Referral to or collaboration with the pediatrician can occur at any point if the baby needs it. Referrals can be given for tongue or lip tie revision, craniosacral release, or perinatal mental health support.
Header image photo credit: Noleen Thurman Birth Photography
Postpartum is where midwifery really shines in the community setting
Mariposa offers 6 visits
1 day home visit
3 day home visit
A 7-10 day visit
A 2-3 week visit
A 4-5 week visit
A 6 week visit
Postpartum care includes strong breastfeeding support, attentive care to mental health and emotional needs, respectful listening to thoughts about future pregnancies, space to process the birth and any other body memories that may be awakened.
Midwives also provide well-baby care for the newborn for the first month of life. Mariposa Midwifery includes lactation counseling, with referrals to an IBCLC if needed. A free weekly feeding group occurs at our host space, Byenveni Baby. Referral to or collaboration with the pediatrician can occur at any point if the baby needs it. Referrals can be given for tongue or lip tie revision, craniosacral release, or perinatal mental health support.
Header image photo credit: Noleen Thurman Birth Photography