At Origins, we know that you’ll always remember the birth of your baby, it is an intrinsic and integral part of your life, your partner’s life, and your baby’s life. You will cherish the first time you felt their tiny hand grasp your finger and the first time you nuzzled your baby’s velvety head and looked into her eyes. The birth of your child is an experience unlike any other and shouldn’t be rushed or unnecessarily clinical. At OBWD, we value the human aspect of birth and know that you don’t have to sacrifice the special moments or safety, to have the birth of your dreams!

Origins is blessed to have many repeat clients that call us as soon as the pregnancy test turns up positive! Our schedule books up quickly and often several months in advance. However, it is important to us to leave room in our schedule for new clients, but starting your care with us sooner rather than later is always best.

Absolutely. We will help you make a seamless transition. All you need to do to transfer your care is make an appointment with us and then get a copy of your medical records from your previous provider by completing a Medical Records Release form available in our office. It’s that simple.

Unlike at a hospital birth, you will have a close and trusting relationship with your midwives, who will walk through your whole birth experience with you. All our practices, including privacy, quiet, low-lighting and minimal interventions, are geared to promote the natural process of birth. You won’t have to fight to get the things you want or worry that we’ll do things you don’t want. No hassles – just loving support of the midwives to guide you through your birth. One of the biggest differences between a hospital birth and a birth with Origins, is that the mother-baby connection is not only encouraged by us, but that we facilitate this bond by allowing continuous uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. Your baby will never leave your side as you take baby’s first bath together, spend time getting to know one another and initiating breastfeeding, and we perform the thorough newborn examination alongside you.

The health of the mother, comprehensive prenatal visits, risk screening, referral and/or transfer to the hospital when appropriate, continuous support and care during labor and birth is what makes birthing with Origins Birth Services safe. Out-of-hospital birth (at the birth center or in your own home) is as safe as, or safer than, a hospital birth for the majority of women. The Midwife Alliance of North America has several studies, articles, and printouts that you can share with your family and friends. link: http://www.mana.org/blog/home-birth-safety-outcomes

First of all, we don’t care for high-risk women or babies. Furthermore, we do not perform services that increase your risk for complications such as, induction, continuous fetal monitoring, or pain medications. Holistic care begins with your first visit and continues throughout your pregnancy with one-on-one care. Our focus is on the prevention of problems through nutritional support, exercise, and utilizing allopathic resources. Birth, breastfeeding and recovery are all better when the woman is prepared, confident and well-supported!

The majority of women are good candidates for out-of-hospital birth. We offer a complimentary screening to ensure that this would be a safe option for you and your baby.

We provide complete prenatal care as long as you and your baby remain low risk. If a situation requiring medical attention arises, we will refer you to one of several qualified physicians or you may visit a doctor of your choice. Very few of our clients have required complete transfer of care due to risk factors. Most of our clients like to schedule visits with our consulting obstetrician to establish a relationship.

We have lab privileges and order any lab work or ultrasound that you may need. Blood will be drawn by one of the Origins midwives at our offices or ordered for a lab near you. For women wanting ultrasound, we utilize independent sonographers or you may schedule a sonogram with our consulting physician.

We do offer midwifery care and birth services for women with one prior, low-transverse cesarean section. For VBAC support and education go to ICAN-online.org and VBACfacts.com.

Yes, as long as there has been prenatal care and the woman is healthy and low-risk (meaning no high blood pressure, gestational diabetes or other pregnancy complications or health risks) and we can get all of her medical records. We get calls quite frequently from families that feel they cannot continue with their current plans and are seeking last-minute changes. This often is a result of childbirth education or because they are at the end of their pregnancy and being told they will need unnecessary interventions.

We absolutely LOVE having older siblings take part in your prenatal visits. At Origins, we strive to promote sibling bonding and we believe this begins in the prenatal period. Our “little helpers” assist throughout the appointment by measuring mommy’s tummy, and listening to baby’s heartbeat. Family-centered births are welcomed based on the mother’s and children’s comfort level.

Absolutely! The buoyancy, warmth and relaxation of the water are very helpful during labor. Many women relaxing in the tub go on to give birth there. Mothers and babies love it. Kaitlyn and Gina have advanced water birth training through Waterbirth International. At Origins, the majority of our births take place in the water. Gina and Kaitlyn are both waterbirth mamas themselves.

As involved as he wants to be both prenatally and at the birth. Many fathers cut the cord and join with the mother in announcing the sex of the baby. Some fathers even want to be in the tub during the birth and help “catch” their babies. Others just want to be present. We support your choices.

We believe that babies are people too! As such, they should be honored along with the mother and allowed the opportunity for their own physiological birth and transition into the world. Here are some of our practices and beliefs…..

• Babies navigate the birth canal on their own – no pulling or tugging on their head and then waiting for natural rotation
• Their first touch should be from the hands of those who love them
• Their first sounds should be from the voices of those who love them
• Leaving the cord intact so baby can be sustained with oxygenated blood during the transition to breathing on their own
• Continuous skin-to-skin contact with mama
• Baby-led breastfeeding – babies left in peace to find mama’s nipple and latch on, finishing the rotations of birth and breastfeeding.
• Treat all babies gently, with dignity and respect

We believe that facilitating a healthy breastfeeding relationship is a vital component of our midwifery care. We work together to support you with our own expertise and also utilizing area breastfeeding professionals. We recognize that preparing for breastfeeding before the birth of your child is a priority when considering that your breastfeeding journey will last several months to several years.

Although out-of-hospital birth is statistically safer, it does not guarantee a complication-free birth. We are highly skilled and trained to detect and manage most birth complications. We have all the necessary medical equipment and supplies including allopathic treatments, which preserves our capability to safely deliver out of the hospital. We’ve discreetly tucked away all necessary equipment such as oxygen, IV therapy, and medications. Deviations from normal that should not be managed out of the hospital often have early warning signs which permit ample time to transport to the hospital. In this rare instance that a transport does become necessary, we have working relationships with many of the area hospitals and physicians and we will continue to be an active participant of your care until the birth of your baby.

The decision to have your baby at home or at the birth center is a personal choice. The birth center is a great option for those who just aren’t comfortable with the concept of birthing at home. It’s a good option for those who live with other people, in an apartment with neighbors in very close proximity, or who will be having out-of-town relatives staying with them and don’t have the privacy needed. The two major differences between the two are: When choosing the Birth Center, you won’t have to do any preparation, tub-filling, laundry, or clean-up after the birth, and we provide all of the supplies. The downside is that you have to drive during labor and home again afterwards with your new baby. When birthing at home, you have a continuum of labor, birth, and snuggling into your own bed afterwards. There’s no bag to pack, food or drinks to gather, packing up, or driving in labor or home again afterwards. The downsides are that you do have to gather a list of supplies, purchase a birthing kit, and waterbirth necessities. The other consideration is that some women just can’t relax with ‘guests’ in their home, albeit familiar guests. When it comes to children, we’ve seen families choose either location for the same reasons. Some choose homebirth so that their children can continue sleeping in their own beds but for others, commotion in the house and birthing sounds would wake their little ones. These women will often have someone come to stay with their children at the home and give birth at the birth center. Other women choose the birth center so that they can have space and time to labor in privacy, away from their children. Your comfort and sense of security are key components to your birthing success, so choose whichever location that will help you to be less self-conscious and provide you with the privacy you need.

At Origins, we are committed to creating a community for women to feel confident and secure in their birthing and parenting choices. To reach that goal, we have initiated a social media network to give our clients a safe environment to discuss pregnancy, birth, and parenting related questions. Please like our fan page on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and for past and current clients only, you may join our private facebook interactive group . For our bereaved parents, we facilitate an open pregnancy and infant loss support group for anyone that has experienced this type of loss. Once you are a part of the Origins family, you are welcome to join our playdates, lunch gatherings, and natural living events. We have quarterly birth story nights, belly painting nights, and other fun affairs as often as we can.