Licensed midwives provide care to you for up to 8 weeks, and to newborns for the first two weeks of life. We encourage you to set up a relationship with a pediatrician for baby care after two weeks.

We believe that gentle support and guidance during the vulnerable early weeks postpartum is vital for new families.   

Postpartum care includes:

• Infant feeding guidance and support

• Assessment of physical healing for you

• Discussion around family planning and contraception if needed

• Processing/debriefing the birth experience

• Newborn metabolic screening

• Heart defect screening for newborns

• Routine newborn weight checks and feeding evaluations

• Screening for postpartum mood disorders

• Support and guidance around the challenges that can arise during the postpartum transition

• Community resources for additional care as needed.

The first days and weeks are important for successful lactation, bonding, and physical and emotional transition to parenting. Most providers offer a single 6 week postpartum appointment, but families benefit from more attentive care and support.

We provide a home visit in the first 48 hours postpartum as we believe that the best place for a new parent and babe is snuggled up at home together. The second postpartum visit, which takes place at the birth center in the baby’s second week of life, would ideally be the first outing for parent and baby. We generally see you both again during weeks 4, 6 and 8.