Midwives are experts in caring for women with low-risk pregnancies; you can start by calling the birth center and talking to one our midwives about your health history. They’ll ask you, for example, whether you have certain pre-existing medical problems (such as high blood pressure or diabetes) or if you’ve had a cesarean delivery or some other invasive uterine surgery. If you don’t have any significant risk factors that would require a hospital birth, then chances are you are a great candidate for midwifery care. During your initial interview we will do a more through health history before you make your decision.  At your first prenatal visit, a midwife will take an extensive health history, perform a complete physical exam, and order the necessary laboratory work. Risk assessments are on going to help ensure that you are still a good candidate for midwifery care.

If at any time during your pregnancy, your practitioner determines that it would be safer for you to give birth in a hospital; you’ll be referred or transferred. This would be the case if, for example, you go into premature labor, or you develop preeclampsia. In some cases you may also need to change caregivers.