Your Care

We UNDERSTAND THAT HAVING A BABY IS A VERY IMPORTANT LIFE EXPERIENCE AND TRANSITION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

The first steps…

Before initiating care with Pacifica Family Maternity Center, we request that you attend an Orientation so you can tour the Birth Center, ask questions, and hear more about midwifery care. Partners and family are welcome and encouraged to come! 

What is included in your care at Pacifica?

WE VALUE INFORMED CONSENT AND SHARED DECISION-MAKING THROUGHOUT YOUR CARE.

during the covid-19 pandemic some changes to care may be necessary for safety.

prenatal care

We allow ample time in our prenatal visits for asking questions, getting to know the midwives, and receiving comprehensive, evidence-based prenatal care. The first and second visits are each 1 hour and the following visits are a half hour each at intervals of once a month for the first two trimesters. We offer group prenatals from 28 weeks to 34 weeks; these groups run two hours and occur every two weeks. At 36 weeks, we meet for an hour to prepare for your labor and birth. Subsequent visits are every week until you go into labor. The midwives rotate prenatal appointments to get to know you and your preferences well before the birth.                    

Labor and Birth Care

Throughout your care, we build a trusting relationship and provide information and coping techniques that will help you with navigating labor and birth. You and the baby will be continuously supported and monitored by our team to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth. In each birth suite, we have many tools to offer including a labor and birth sling to promote full freedom of movement, a TENS unit for electrical stimulation to block pain receptors, water submersion in a spacious tub for labor and birth and the ability to eat and drink freely. We understand you need a safe and private environment to give birth to your baby, while feeling cared for, guided, and supported in your journey. 

POSTPARTUM and newborn CARE

Immediately after the birth until 6 weeks, we provide care for both you and your baby to ensure your family is healthy and thriving. In the hours after the birth, we support you with breastfeeding and bonding. Prior to leaving the birth center, we will perform a head-to-toe physical exam for your baby. We offer all routine newborn tests and procedures. We will provide home visits during the first week for both you and your baby.  In the following weeks, we will see you both at the birth center for continued healing, well-being, and lactation support. We work collaboratively with pediatricians in the first 6 weeks. In addition, we offer postpartum groups every week, which are a time to learn, share, and maintain community. 

Lactation Services

Throughout your prenatal care, we provide ample education about lactation and breastfeeding. There can be challenges to breastfeeding and we are here to help you through this time. Our midwives have extensive training and experience with lactation and we also have a wide referral network if extra help is needed. Our goal is to support you in how you choose to feed your baby and ease the transition from growing a baby in the womb to growing a baby on the outside. 

Midwifery Philosophy of Care

Midwives affirm the power and strength of people giving birth and the importance of their health in the well-being of families, communities and nations. Midwifery care believes in the basic human rights of all persons, recognizing that women, trans people and gender non-conforming people often incur an undue burden of risk when these rights are violated.

We believe every person has a right to:

• Equitable, ethical, accessible quality health care that promotes healing and health

• Health care that respects human dignity, individuality and diversity among groups

• Complete and accurate information to make informed health care decisions

• Self-determination and active participation in health care decisions

• Involvement of your designated family members, to the extent desired, in all health care experiences

 We believe the best model of health care for you and your family:

• Promotes a continuous and compassionate partnership

• Acknowledges a person’s life experiences and knowledge

• Includes individualized methods of care and healing guided by the best evidence available

• Involves therapeutic use of human presence and skillful communication

 We honor the normalcy of your lifecycle events. We believe in:

• Watchful waiting and non-intervention in normal processes

• Appropriate use of interventions and technology for current or potential health problems

• Consultation, collaboration and referral with other members of the health care team as needed to provide optimal health care

Midwifery care incorporates these qualities. Pregnancy health care needs are well-served through midwifery care.  Finally, we value formal education, lifelong individual learning, and the development and application of research to guide ethical and competent midwifery practice. These beliefs and values provide the foundation for commitment to individual and collective leadership at the community, state, national and international level to improve the health of pregnant people and their families worldwide.

Adapted from ACNM