Like mothers, midwives are not supposed to have favorites. Want to know a secret? We do have favorites. My favorite (at least one of them) is preconception consults.
At Local Care Midwifery, PLLC (LCM), a preconception consult is an hour long appointment. I meet with the woman, maybe she brings her partner or a friend, sometimes a family member, and we talk. We discuss the services provided by LCM for prenatal care, labor and birth support and postpartum care. We review planned home birth and what it currently looks like in NY's Capital District. We discuss any issues or concerns that she has about her own (or her partner's) health or lifestyle. We discuss optimal conditions for baby making (and growing). We might discuss local options for complimentary care such as massage, chiropractic care and acupuncture. (An other of my secret favorites, getting moms-to-be to visit with Carol Clas, DC for a preconception, acupuncture 'tune-up'.) I review her health history and lifestyle habits and make personalized suggestions for optimizing health. I answer questions, lots of questions. So with all of this talking, all of this time, done as a complimentary service, why is this my favorite?
Preconception visits are my favorite, because:
I love meeting with women (and occassionally their partners), before an intended pregnancy.
I love the idea of a baby planned for and adored before it is even conceived.
I love giving advice to tweak an already healthy lifestyle, making it even more conductive to baby growing.
I love talking about midwifery care and planned home birth with women that are considering this for their next (or first) baby.
I love connecting with people about something as important and intimate as pregnancy and birth.
I love planting the seed of how prenatal care and birth support can be, some would say should be, even before the visceral seed is 'planted'.
I love spending time with women that are full of hope, anticipation and curiosity.
I love getting a glimmer of a baby-to-be before it is even a twinkle in its daddy's eye.
I love letting women know that good, evidence based, personalized health care options exist, and that such midwifery practices are alive and well in NY.
And my favorite reason for my favorite visit....
I love getting a call from a woman that has already been to LCM, that is newly pregnant with a baby (conceived with love and anticipation), that she is happily making her first prenatal appointment with LCM. It is so exciting!
After a preconception visit, when a woman decides that this is what she wants for herself, for her family and her baby-to-be, well, now she is family. And it is so exciting to know there is a new family member on the way!
-Michelle
May all babies be born into loving hands
If you are interested in a complimentary consult to discuss planned home birth services with Local Care Midwifery, PLLC, call 518 238-3469 to schedule an appointment.
Michelle Doyle
And she's my daughter.