Birthing at Gilbert Family

At your 36 week appointment you will be given a packet to include in your pregnancy folder and we will schedule your Birth Center Orientation via Zoom. The orientation is about your baby's upcoming birth day. You will go over what to bring and when to call the midwife. The "what if's?" will also be discussed during your orientation to ensure every birthing family has the chance to review these hard questions prior to labor. 
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Both of our birth rooms have tubs in them for your use. Water birth has been shown to bring relaxation and calmness to the birthing person. 
A Water Birth Can:
​* Decrease labor pain
* Decrease the duration of labor
* Give you a greater sense of control
* Conserve your energy
* Reduce perineal trauma
 
We also have a walk in shower for you to labor in. There is a birthing stool set up in the shower for your use as well. You labor where you are most comfortable.
PAIN MANAGMENT
COMBS- Holding a comb with the teeth pointing just below where your fingers meet your palm can help provide a distraction during labor, helping take away the pain. The comb and the sensation of it on your hand can act as a focal point during labor and is something to concentrate on.
  • Distraction from pain
  • The teeth of the comb hit acupressure points in your hand, which can help decrease pain.
  • The “gate control theory” says that your mind can only process so many sensations at once and that the comb gives your mind something else to feel instead of just contractions.

Post Partum Experience

After delivery:
​Your birth team will help you into bed to start the sacred "golden hour". During this first hour baby will remain on moms chest skin to skin. We will assist you with your baby's first latch to ensure they receive the liquid gold called colostrum your body has been making. After baby has been fed we will assist you with a shower if you choose to shower before you go home. In order to be discharged mom must eat a meal, urinate, baby must be fed, and safely secured in their car seat. Generally most families are discharged to home around 3-4 hours after baby has made it earth-side. We will send you home with a post partum bag that contains items for you and your baby. 
After 24hrs of your baby's arrival, a midwife will come to your house to do a post partum check on you and baby.
At the 3 day mark, you will return to the birth center to have your baby's weight checked and the metabolic screening (heel prick test) preformed. You and baby will then come back at the 1 week, 3 week, and 6 week marks.