Got questions?
It’s normal to have questions! We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions we get here, for your reference. If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the Contact page!
What is a midwife?
We support expectant moms during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and after the birth of their babies. We can deliver babies at home or in the hospital, depending on the needs and desires of the families they work with.
What are the overall advantages of midwifery care in pregnancy and childbirth?
There are many great benefits to working with a midwife.
More personalized and individualized care. Most doctors do not have a lot of time to spend with patients. Each HeartSpace appointment is an hour long, giving you ample opportunity to ask questions and feel informed. We want you to feel supported in your process.
Empowerment. This is your baby and your birth. We respect your decisions. Our job is to educate and inform so you can make the best possible decisions that work for you and your family. Each family is unique and has its own needs and priorities. We help you identify what those are and come up with a plan to support those.
Whole family care. Midwifery care is not just about mom and baby. The whole family is a part of the birthing process – partners, other children, even friends. We strive to integrate your existing support systems with our care.
You want a natural birth. Many of our clients come to us because they want a natural, non-interventive birth. Our job is to empower you to find the path through pregnancy and birth that makes the most sense for you and your family.
The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.
The Midwives Model of Care includes:
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Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
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Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
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Minimizing technological interventions
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Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
Is home birth safe?
What's does care look like during pregnancy and birth?
They include:
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One free initial consultation for new potential clients
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Family-centered home birth services for low-risk, normal pregnancies
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Comprehensive prenatal care, including nutritional counseling and natural healing modalities, in our office every month until 32 weeks, then every two weeks until 36 weeks, then every week until delivery
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Home prenatal visit at 36 weeks
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Lab work, ultrasound, and medical consultation by referral as necessary
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Extensive local resource network available for doula services, childbirth education, acupuncture, massage, etc.
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Water birth – labor and/or deliver your baby in a birth pool. Pools are available for rental directly from HeartSpace Midwifery
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Continuous care and support by the midwives in the immediate postpartum period (3-4 hours after the birth)
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Breastfeeding information, instruction, and ongoing support
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Complete postpartum care for mother and baby for 6 weeks after the birth
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Newborn Screening Tests
We work with our clients during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. All visits are included as part of the investment in home birth.
To book a consultation, please visit our Services page.
Does insurance or Medicaid cover your services?
Most insurance companies will cover a portion of the services of a Licensed Midwife. We will work with you to determine your own and your insurance provider’s responsibility for payment.
We started HeartSpace to serve our clients, and we know that insurance is not where it should be when it comes to supporting natural birth. We’ll work with you to create an affordable payment plan that works for you and your family.
All visits are included as part of the investment in home birth.
To book a consultation, please visit our Services page.
How long have you been practicing and how many births have you been the primary responsible midwife? How did you receive your training?
Heidi has been attending births since 1994. In that time, she’s caught more than 2,000 babies.
Heidi holds a Bachelors of Science in Midwifery and is a Certified Midwife, licensed in New York and Vermont.
Are you certified or licensed?
What happens if complications occur? What if I need to see a doctor?
What’s your hospital transfer rate? What’s your Cesarean rate?
In what situations will you transport?
What complications have you handled? How did you handle them?
When will we meet during labor?
Who is present for the birth?
How long do you stay after the birth?
How often do we see you postpartum and what happens at those visits?
We come again at 3-5 days postpartum to again assess mother/baby, feeding and adjustments, and to ensure support networks have kicked in.
One week after birth we come again to the home to assess mother/baby and to perform the NYS Newborn Metabolic Screen (AKA PKU or “heel prick”).
Between weeks 2 and 3 we will have one more home visit. Around the six-week mark clients come back to the office for one last wrap-up visit where we get to see beautiful babies and help parents prepare for family planning options, perform follow-up care as needed, and generally catch up with the growing family as life takes on a new sense of normal.