Our hope is to reclaim childbirth as a fulfilling experience, our services are marked by loving hands-on support and a trust in both the human body and evidence-informed practices.
Our Philosophy
We believe birth is a natural event and that trusting your body and intuition is vital. It is important to pair that trust with evidence-informed care and shared decision making. We believe in fostering this process by building a relationship with you and your family; a relationship built upon encouragement, respect, and knowledge. Birth is a life-changing event and having a team you can trust to surround you is essential.
Your Newborn
During your immediate postpartum time, we will also care for your new sweet baby. This includes a newborn exam right beside you in bed - a “top to tail” exam, teaching you about your baby along the way. This includes reflexes, oral exam, and what everyone wants to know: how much does baby weigh?! We provide wellness visits for baby at 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days, too, which include weight checks.
We offer routine screenings including:
Blood Spot Screening (heel stick test)
Heart Defect Screening (critical congenital heart defect)
Hearing Screening
Additionally, your care package includes a visit with Lactation Counselor Kenzie with Gingerly Mama!
The Home Birth Experience
Prenatal Appointments: The majority of appointments are held in our office in Rock Island, IL. Around 36 weeks we will visit you at home. These visits consist of clinical assessment of you and your baby while allowing for relationship building, discussing your options, informed consent, and time for you to ask questions and share thoughts. We also do labs in office as a part of your care. Ultrasounds are ordered through various local clinics.
Your Birth: Your team will join you during your birthing time. We provide compassionate care throughout the birthing process which includes the clinical aspects, monitoring baby’s heart rate and your vitals, but also hands-on support and gentle guidance. We stay with you for around three hours postpartum, doting on you while cleaning up!
Postpartum Visits: Care continues into the weeks following with vital checks at 24 hours, 7 days, and 14 days postpartum, all at your home. These frequent check ins allow us to monitor what’s normal and make appropriate referrals when we need to. We also assist you with filing the birth certificate. We conclude care with a visit at six weeks postpartum, always bittersweet!
