• I offer a free consultation to people interested in my services. I will spend and hour and answer questions, describe in detail the services I provide, and go over the forms used in our practice.
• I schedule 45-60 minutes for each visit including consultations, prenatal, and postpartum care in the Birth Center, and home visits. We have long visits in order to have the time to be thorough on a medical level and also enough time to address the emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs of the pregnant woman and her family. I want to answer all questions and concerns plus share in the joy of the miracle of life.
• The first two visits are scheduled a week apart. The first is a discussion of your personal history, family and gynecological histories, and a history of the present pregnancy. I draw blood for lab work and go over all initial paperwork including the contract.
• At the second visit, I discuss the lab results and prepare a personalized plan of prenatal care including nutrition, vitamins, exercise, and education. I do a very thorough physical with a pap smear, pelvimetry, general check-up, breast exam and more. I provide my clients with a great deal of information in all aspects of their care. Some people want to know and participate and in everything while others want less. My care is personalized to meet the individual needs of each client. I believe that information empowers people to have a safe and responsible birth experience.
• After the initial visits I see my clients once a month the first seven months, twice a month in the eighth month and once a week in the ninth month. These visits last forty-five minutes each.
• I screen for complicated and high risk pregnancies. When necessary, I refer my clients to appropriate medical care.

 Care includes the following:

• Routine lab work including blood and Rh type, complete blood count, antibody titer, rubella immunity status, and cholesterol check
• Monthly or occasional lab work such as urinalysis, hematocrit, and hemoglobin, which are all included in the fee
• Pregnancy dates, weight, fetal heart tones, blood pressure, pulse, position, presentation, and size of the baby, urinalysis, and other vital statistics are recorded at each visit
• I send out any extra lab work that may be needed, however, I do have a microscope and centrifuge on site
• I do routine antibody screens on all Rh-negative mothers between 28 and 32 weeks and give Rhogam during pregnancy and after birth unless refused
• Fasting blood sugars and postprandials are done between 28 and 32 weeks to check for gestational diabetes

Referrals are available for:

I have formal back-up arrangements for transport during delivery and use St. David’s Hospital in Austin, Texas. I have worked with the following individuals for consultation or referrals:

Supervising Physicians for the Birth Center

Dr. Jerry Hudson, MD Pediatrician

Dr. John Day, MD General Practitioner

Consulting Physicians for New Life

Dr. David Ruiz, MD Pediatrician Dr. Tom Hughes, MD Pediatrician Dr. Karen Swenson, MD OB-GYN

Dr. Mike Love, MD OB-GYN Dr. John McIntire, MD OB-GYN Dr. Clive Polan, MD OB-GYN

 

Labor and Delivery

• Call when any of the impending or actual signs of labor occur. Depending on how things are going, I may or may not come right over or have you come to the Birth Center. We will discuss these topics at great length in the childbirth classes and office visits.
• I do not routinely require enemas, IV’s, abstaining from food and drink, pubic hair shaving, constant fetal monitoring, or breaking the waters, although occasionally some of these procedures are indicated.
• I do listen to the baby’s fetal heart tones increasingly often as labor progresses with a fetoscope or Doppler. I take blood pressure and the pulse of the mother every hour or more as needed.
• I do few vaginal exams, but some are necessary to assess contractions, check the mother’s urine and take her temperature every few hours.
• The family chooses whom they want to be present at the birth. I feel that sometimes too many people can make the birth less personal. It is up to each couple to decide whom they wish to share their birth experiences with.
• We have had only good experiences with siblings at births We ask that there is a person present who is just at the birth to support the children.
• I remain approximately two to six hours after the birth, or until everything is stable and the family is ready for me to go.
• I always explain what I am doing or thinking about doing because I want the parents to participate in the decision making process during the birth and after it.

During the crowning of the baby’s head, I

• Help the mother to give birth slowly
• Massage the perineum with olive oil
• Provide perineal support
• Apply warm sterile compresses to the perineum
• Gently help the baby’s head stay flexed
• Almost never do episiotomies
• Help the father catch the baby if he wants to

Birth Positions

I have had experiences with the following birthing positions: lying, squatting, semi-squatting, hands and knees, side-lying, and supported squat.

Cord Cutting

Cord Cutting

Except in an emergency, the father or another family member cuts the cord after the birth of the placenta.

Routine Newborn Care includes:

• Infant suctioning as needed
• Skin to skin contact immediately after birth
• Bonding time with the family ( midwives always honor this special time
• Infant bath or Leboyer bath if the family wants it -- dad gets into the tub with the baby
• Neonatal examination one or two hours after the birth
• Gestational age assessment at birth and 72 hours
• Application of erythromycin ointment as an eye prophylactic - it doesn’t burn, sting, or blur vision
• A cord blood sample is taken from the placenta to meet the Texas Health Department requirements

Infant feeding

I strongly recommend breastfeeding for the mother and baby, but I am experienced in bottle feeding as well. I will support the choice of the family. I suggest that you attend a series of La Leche League meetings before the birth.

Routine Maternal Care After the Birth Includes:

• Checking vital signs every five minutes, then ten, then fifteen, then thirty minutes
• Shower if desired
• Breastfeeding assistance
• Frequent uterine massage to prevent bleeding
• Assessment of the mother and baby
• Support for the rest of the family
• Cleaning up to leave the home as neat as possible

Equipment supplied by the Parents

Parents need to order a birth kit in the seventh month of pregnancy. There may be other necessary supplies discussed in class or during prenatal visits. The birth kit order form is in the information packet.

Equipment Brought to the Birth Includes:

 

scissors urine test strips povidone iodine stethoscope infant scale placenta bowl sterile field paper resuscitation equipment

clamps/hemostats sterile gloves povidone iodine scrub fetoscope blood pressure cuff massage oil IV fluids drugs to stop bleeding

speculum non-sterile gloves alcohol Doppler peri bottles oxygen set vitamin K suturing equipment

 

Postpartum Follow-up Care

We will visit you three times in the first two weeks after the birth - always on the first and third day and at the convenience of the mother for the last visit. These visits include a full check of the mother and baby. The midwife or apprentice will collect a neonatal blood sample for screening (as required by law) at the three day visit.

Well Woman Care

MariMikel offers check-ups including lab tests and pap smears to non-pregnant women as well.  New Life does cervical cap fittings and a variety of other traditional services.  For more information, contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

• I offer a free consultation to people interested in my services. I will spend and hour and answer questions, describe in detail the services I provide, and go over the forms used in our practice.
• I schedule 45-60 minutes for each visit including consultations, prenatal, and postpartum care in the Birth Center, and home visits. We have long visits in order to have the time to be thorough on a medical level and also enough time to address the emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs of the pregnant woman and her family. I want to answer all questions and concerns plus share in the joy of the miracle of life.
• The first two visits are scheduled a week apart. The first is a discussion of your personal history, family and gynecological histories, and a history of the present pregnancy. I draw blood for lab work and go over all initial paperwork including the contract.
• At the second visit, I discuss the lab results and prepare a personalized plan of prenatal care including nutrition, vitamins, exercise, and education. I do a very thorough physical with a pap smear, pelvimetry, general check-up, breast exam and more. I provide my clients with a great deal of information in all aspects of their care. Some people want to know and participate and in everything while others want less. My care is personalized to meet the individual needs of each client. I believe that information empowers people to have a safe and responsible birth experience.
• After the initial visits I see my clients once a month the first seven months, twice a month in the eighth month and once a week in the ninth month. These visits last forty-five minutes each.
• I screen for complicated and high risk pregnancies. When necessary, I refer my clients to appropriate medical care.

 Care includes the following:

• Routine lab work including blood and Rh type, complete blood count, antibody titer, rubella immunity status, and cholesterol check
• Monthly or occasional lab work such as urinalysis, hematocrit, and hemoglobin, which are all included in the fee
• Pregnancy dates, weight, fetal heart tones, blood pressure, pulse, position, presentation, and size of the baby, urinalysis, and other vital statistics are recorded at each visit
• I send out any extra lab work that may be needed, however, I do have a microscope and centrifuge on site
• I do routine antibody screens on all Rh-negative mothers between 28 and 32 weeks and give Rhogam during pregnancy and after birth unless refused
• Fasting blood sugars and postprandials are done between 28 and 32 weeks to check for gestational diabetes

Referrals are available for:

I have formal back-up arrangements for transport during delivery and use St. David’s Hospital in Austin, Texas. I have worked with the following individuals for consultation or referrals:

Supervising Physicians for the Birth Center

Dr. Jerry Hudson, MD Pediatrician

Dr. John Day, MD General Practitioner

Consulting Physicians for New Life

Dr. David Ruiz, MD Pediatrician Dr. Tom Hughes, MD Pediatrician Dr. Karen Swenson, MD OB-GYN

Dr. Mike Love, MD OB-GYN Dr. John McIntire, MD OB-GYN Dr. Clive Polan, MD OB-GYN

 

Labor and Delivery

• Call when any of the impending or actual signs of labor occur. Depending on how things are going, I may or may not come right over or have you come to the Birth Center. We will discuss these topics at great length in the childbirth classes and office visits.
• I do not routinely require enemas, IV’s, abstaining from food and drink, pubic hair shaving, constant fetal monitoring, or breaking the waters, although occasionally some of these procedures are indicated.
• I do listen to the baby’s fetal heart tones increasingly often as labor progresses with a fetoscope or Doppler. I take blood pressure and the pulse of the mother every hour or more as needed.
• I do few vaginal exams, but some are necessary to assess contractions, check the mother’s urine and take her temperature every few hours.
• The family chooses whom they want to be present at the birth. I feel that sometimes too many people can make the birth less personal. It is up to each couple to decide whom they wish to share their birth experiences with.
• We have had only good experiences with siblings at births We ask that there is a person present who is just at the birth to support the children.
• I remain approximately two to six hours after the birth, or until everything is stable and the family is ready for me to go.
• I always explain what I am doing or thinking about doing because I want the parents to participate in the decision making process during the birth and after it.

During the crowning of the baby’s head, I

• Help the mother to give birth slowly
• Massage the perineum with olive oil
• Provide perineal support
• Apply warm sterile compresses to the perineum
• Gently help the baby’s head stay flexed
• Almost never do episiotomies
• Help the father catch the baby if he wants to

Birth Positions

I have had experiences with the following birthing positions: lying, squatting, semi-squatting, hands and knees, side-lying, and supported squat.

Cord Cutting

Cord Cutting

Except in an emergency, the father or another family member cuts the cord after the birth of the placenta.

Routine Newborn Care includes:

• Infant suctioning as needed
• Skin to skin contact immediately after birth
• Bonding time with the family ( midwives always honor this special time
• Infant bath or Leboyer bath if the family wants it -- dad gets into the tub with the baby
• Neonatal examination one or two hours after the birth
• Gestational age assessment at birth and 72 hours
• Application of erythromycin ointment as an eye prophylactic - it doesn’t burn, sting, or blur vision
• A cord blood sample is taken from the placenta to meet the Texas Health Department requirements

Infant feeding

I strongly recommend breastfeeding for the mother and baby, but I am experienced in bottle feeding as well. I will support the choice of the family. I suggest that you attend a series of La Leche League meetings before the birth.

Routine Maternal Care After the Birth Includes:

• Checking vital signs every five minutes, then ten, then fifteen, then thirty minutes
• Shower if desired
• Breastfeeding assistance
• Frequent uterine massage to prevent bleeding
• Assessment of the mother and baby
• Support for the rest of the family
• Cleaning up to leave the home as neat as possible

Equipment supplied by the Parents

Parents need to order a birth kit in the seventh month of pregnancy. There may be other necessary supplies discussed in class or during prenatal visits. The birth kit order form is in the information packet.

Equipment Brought to the Birth Includes:

 

scissors urine test strips povidone iodine stethoscope infant scale placenta bowl sterile field paper resuscitation equipment

clamps/hemostats sterile gloves povidone iodine scrub fetoscope blood pressure cuff massage oil IV fluids drugs to stop bleeding

speculum non-sterile gloves alcohol Doppler peri bottles oxygen set vitamin K suturing equipment

 

Postpartum Follow-up Care

We will visit you three times in the first two weeks after the birth - always on the first and third day and at the convenience of the mother for the last visit. These visits include a full check of the mother and baby. The midwife or apprentice will collect a neonatal blood sample for screening (as required by law) at the three day visit.

Well Woman Care

MariMikel offers check-ups including lab tests and pap smears to non-pregnant women as well.  New Life does cervical cap fittings and a variety of other traditional services.  For more information, contact us.