Midwifery Care

Services Available at CMS

Prenatal Services

Comprehensive laboratory testing, including all blood work, cultures, pap smear, and/or genetic screening you might desire
On-site ultrasound for dating, gender, anatomy scans, and biophysical profiles
Regular prenatal appointments lasting 30-60 minutes, allowing plenty of time for questions and education, as well as vital checks for you and your baby

Labor and Birth Services

We attend home births in central and southern Oklahoma.
The midwife on call is available via phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Attendants at your birth will include a Certified Professional Midwife and a trained assistant.
Care during labor and immediate postpartum will consist of:
- - Monitoring the mother (i.e. blood pressure, pulse, dilation & effacement via vaginal exam(s), emotional status, etc)
  - Monitoring the baby (i.e. fetal heart tones, position, and station via vaginal exams)
  - Delivery of the placenta
  - Postpartum monitoring for 2-6 hours (or as long as is necessary to assure both mom & baby are stable)
  - Full newborn exam
  - Prophylaxis antibiotic eye ointment and/or vitamin K for your baby (based on your choices)
  - Supporting the family unit during the birth process
We are trained to initiate emergency procedures and to stabilize mother or baby, according to our ability and available equipment.
The midwife and assistants are certified in BLS and NRP (resuscitation of adult, child, and newborn).
The midwife will alert the parents to any abnormal situation and offer them all options available.

If you transport to the hospital during labor, one attendant will remain with you until your baby is born or the situation is resolved. In the event that your baby is born in the hospital, you will still have the full benefit of postpartum care by CMS.

Postpartum Services

Your postpartum care will continue for 12 weeks, the full “4th trimester”.

Postpartum visits will be scheduled as follows:
- Home visits between 24-48 hours and 3-5 days after your birth
- Office visits at 2, 6, 9, and 12 weeks postpartum
- Available postpartum care consists of:
  - Pulse Oximetry CCHD Screening of the newborn
  - Newborn metabolic screening
  - Newborn hearing screening
  - Vitals checks of mom and baby
  - Breastfeeding support
  - Filing certificate of live birth with the Oklahoma State Health Department Vital Records

Responsibility of the Midwife

To provide you with the prenatal screenings and risk assessments of standard maternity care
To present you with evidence-based education
To participate with you in shared decision-making concerning your pregnancy and birth
To provide 24-hour access to a midwife
To ensure that we only provide care within our scope of practice
To consult, collaborate and/or refer any client outside the midwifery scope of practice to the appropriate medical professional

Responsibility of the Client

It’s vital that you feel empowered to take responsibility for the health of you and your baby, as a birth at home is dependent on maintaining your health and low-risk status.

Remaining low risk involves:

Eating a healthy diet
Moderate exercise
Avoiding any substances that could harm your baby or endanger your health

Families who choose an out-of-hospital birth with CMS are choosing shared decision-making in their prenatal, birth, and postpartum experience. We encourage you to become educated about the process of birth, as well as the risks and benefits of birth at home or in a hospital.

We also encourage each client to commit to learning ways to care for themselves while preparing for the natural childbirth they desire. Pregnancy and birth are a journey of change, and while we will support you with care and guidance, you are ultimately responsible for your well-being.

Open, honest communication between the client and the midwife is very important. Our hour-long visits are designed to create a relaxed, supportive environment to question and share. During your prenatal visits, we will discuss all aspects of your pregnancy, including your physical, mental, and emotional health. If you ever have any concerns, we invite you to share them promptly so we may offer solutions or assistance. Your birth experience will be greatly enhanced if we are aware of your preferences and there are no lingering concerns or anxieties.

We are unfortunately unable to accept clients with pre-existing conditions, such as cardiac disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc., and strongly advise any with these conditions not to attempt a birth outside the hospital. In the instance that you find yourself outside the scope of midwifery care, we can direct you to a number of providers that are known to be supportive and respectful of birth choices within their model of care.

Special Circumstances

In the Responsibility of the Midwife section, we have discussed the possibility of special circumstances requiring a transfer of care during pregnancy, labor, or postpartum.

CMS has an excellent plan of action in the event that you or your baby should need care from a physician or extra attention. Please be aware that Community Midwifery Services participates in confidential review through the Oklahoma State licensing board. Clients who sign our Informed Consent document are giving permission for their birth to be included in this process, should the need arise.

To read more about the Licensed Midwives Program, please visit: Licensed Midwives Program.