Care that centers on what matters most - you.
Transforming the way you experience perinatal care
Hospital-based pregnancy care can often feel impersonal, rushed, and can set the expectation that you should fit the model set by the provider rather than the provider developing a plan of care that fits your needs.
A model of care that puts you and your baby FIRST
My practice upholds the following principles based off of the Midwifery Model of Care by:
Encouraging and supporting client autonomy by providing relevant information, education, and options throughout care
Treating all clients as experts in their own bodies and to respect the wisdom of their lived experiences
Regularly engaging in Informed Consent and Shared Decision-Making discussions with clients
Supporting the empowerment of clients by centering them as the driving force of their care. This means that clients take a shared role in the responsibility of outcomes and experiences based on the choices and decisions they make throughout care.
Practicing in a way that views pregnancy and childbirth as part of a normal life-cycle and not a disease or complication that requires routine medical intervention or management
Assessing and evaluating the health of the pregnant person and their baby throughout care to ensure that they are still good candidates for community birth, and to appropriately and promptly refer to higher levels of care as needed should complications arise
Looking at the whole picture
I see you. ALL of you.
Your health and well-being spans so much more than just your current pregnancy. My holistic approach to care looks at the big picture, factoring in the important aspects of your social, emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual self. I take the time to truly get to know you so that I can provide care and recommendations that are relevant to you, your growing family, and that best align with your core values.
FAQs
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Planning to deliver at home with a skilled midwife can be a safe option for many people. Part of the consultation process is to determine whether or not an out of hospital birth is an appropriate and safe plan for you and your baby based on your unique health and obstetrical history. Book your consultation today to see if a home birth is a good option for you!
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You will spend more time with Meagan before, during, and after your birth than you would an OB. Appointments are typically 45 minutes long and are designed to provide ample time for you to ask questions and discuss your preferences while also ensuring that the routine aspects of prenatal and postpartum care are done.
You will be an active part of your care. Unlike most OB care, you will be counseled on all of your options for prenatal screening and testing, labor and birth preferences, newborn care options, and postpartum care options. There is no "one-size fits all" plan of care that Meagan expects from her clients. You will be encouraged to ask questions, make choices, and explore what feels right for you and your baby.
Expect less "routine" interventions and more individualized, quality care. Meagan upholds the belief that pregnancy is a normal part of an individual's life-cycle and trusts the process, which means assessing the individual situation and making recommendations for interventions based on findings rather than as a routine part of care.
Expect more frequent visits during the postpartum period than what is standard with OB care. This is a critical difference in care, as 65% - or two thirds - of the pregnancy-related deaths in the United States happen within the first year postpartum (Trost et al., 2022).
Trost, S., L., Beauregard, J., Njie, F., et al. (2022). Pregnancy-related deaths: Data from maternal mortality review committees in 36 US states, 2017-2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-mortality/php/data-research/mmrc-2017-2019.html
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Yes! I attend Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) births. Book a consultation with me to talk about your birth history and any additional risk factors to see if a VBAC at home is a safe option for you.
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No, I do not currently accept insurance.
While I do not accept insurance at this time, I do offer a 10% discount on all services to Medicaid, military, and emergency service families.
I can also create a Super Bill at the end of care that you may submit to your insurance. Some insurance providers may offer a partial reimbursement for out of network services, however you should plan to be responsible for the full fee for services and receive little to no reimbursement.
I strongly believe in making services as accessible for ALL families. If you have a financial hardship, please reach out to discuss possible options.
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The following links will take you to different academic research articles and studies that look at the safety of planned community birth with a trained midwife in attendance.
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000352.pub3/full