Prenatal Care
Prenatal care focused on the uniqueness of each individual person we serve.
Prenatal care with our midwives is quite different from the obstetric model of care. At Alma, a team of dedicated midwives will provide your care. Your prenatal visits last up to an hour. A portion of the visit is community standard pregnancy care: blood pressure, pulse, baby's heart beat, urine check, measuring your growing belly & lab tests. The rest of the visit is influenced by your gestation and individual needs. Each visit will include “menu” choices for tests which will be available for the upcoming month(s). We offer the same genetic screening, blood tests, ultrasounds and newborn procedures as you would be offered when seeing a hospital-based care provider.
We believe in informed choice, and trust that if we provide our families with the information needed to make decisions, they will choose what is right for them. Once you are thirty-two weeks pregnant, our visits increase to twice a month, and at thirty-six weeks we see you weekly until your baby is born. The remainder of our time together at your visits is spent discussing your birth preferences, concerns, fears, joys, pregnancy discomforts (we have support for everything from nausea to hemorrhoids), what to expect from our care, birth supply readiness, etc. Prenatal care is provided by a primary midwife (CNM or CPM), an Assistant Midwife, and often an apprentice. There are 3-4 primary midwives on call each month and our goal is for you to get to know each of them as well as the rest of your team.
What to expect at your first prenatal visit
You can expect to feel heard and cared for from your very first appointment with the Alma midwives! Early pregnancy can feel emotional and tentative, even for the most desired planned baby. We honor you wherever you might be on the emotional roller coaster of pregnancy. Tears of joy, anticipation, overwhelm, sadness and whatever else you’re feeling are welcome here!
Arrive a half hour early to help yourself to a cup of tea, finish your paperwork, and check in with friendly front desk staff
Meet with a midwife and maybe an apprentice in our cozy clinic
Discuss our model of care and answer any lingering questions
Distribute “How to reach your midwives” - you now will have a phone number linking directly to the on-call midwife available 24/7 and a non-emergent way to reach the midwives through the portal
Review and discuss your health history including your vision of care
Chat about any discomforts of pregnancy, such as nausea - the midwives will have many ideas on how to support you in feeling energetic and well in pregnancy
Vital signs - weight (optional), blood pressure, pulse, etc.
Listening to baby’s heartbeat if twelve weeks or beyond
Measuring fundal height if mid-pregnancy or beyond
Quick ultrasound view if desired
Lab-work as needed
Discuss the gestational relevant upcoming tests, landmark visits and “what’s next” in prenatal care
If first trimester, discuss genetic testing options
Discussion of your supplements and nutrition
Ample time for listening and getting to know you!
Ordering a release of records from any other caregivers for whom you have received care during this pregnancy - it is very common for people to start care with one group and then decide they really want Alma care
Schedule your next appointment
