Lawrence Birth and Wellness is a full scope midwifery clinic offering prenatal, labor, birth and postpartum care. We also offer gynecological health services which are detailed below. We are an out of hospital birth facility for those desiring natural birth, including waterbirth to all low-risk people. We embrace diversity and warmly welcome individuals from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, family structures, and religions at our center.
On your first visit to Lawrence Birth and Wellness we want to get to know you and you probably want to get to know us and you may have plenty of questions! Therefore, this visit is longer and different from your other prenatal visits. It also gives us a chance to assess any medical risks, so that you can have confidence in birthing safely outside of a hospital. You can ask any questions about midwifery and what to expect from birth center care.
During all prenatal visits you and your baby will be assessed by a midwife, we will listen and respond to any concerns or questions you may have and any concerns the midwife has will always be shared with you. We practice shared decision making, which means that we give you the information and guidance you need to make an informed decision about your care. We want you to feel totally content and in control of your care and autonomous in your bodily and birthing rights. Prenatal assessments include assessment of vital signs, mental health, spiritual, sexual and social health as needed, baby heart tones, baby’s growth, baby’s position, labs and ultrasound ordering, and prenatal education.
We have multiple sources for you to obtain childbirth education classes and other extended services or referrals that are helpful during your pregnancy/birth/postpartum. These include chiropractic referral, herbal specialists, placenta encapsulation, doulas, and lactation specialists.
We want you to feel as prepared as possible for the big day! We recommend prenatal education and share information for labor throughout your prenatal care. We will always ensure you feel prepared enough to approach labor confidently. Most birthing people can stay at home during early labor and call us when active labor is starting. Active labor can be described as having strong, regular, long-lasting contractions. We will meet with you at the birth center for a labor check to assess how far into labor you are and advise you when it’s time to be admitted to the birth center for labor care. We encourage friends, family, and/or a doula to support you during labor.
We see you for up to 6 weeks after the birth, usually at 24 hours postpartum, 2 weeks and 6 weeks postpartum, plus any care you need in between. This is very different to hospital birth where most of the time you would not be seen until 6 weeks postpartum. This is a huge benefit of receiving birth center care. Your provider is available to you during your entire pregnancy and postpartum recovery. We are only a text or phone call away! We help you with feeding your baby before you go home from the birth center and at every postpartum encounter.
We have the pleasure of offering waterbirth to our clients at Lawrence Birth and Wellness, either for labor care, and/or for delivery of the baby. Waterbirth has been used throughout time to help with labor contractions and birth as a natural analgesic. Michel Odent was a French obstetrician that brought waterbirth to the public attention in 1983, when he published a medical paper in the Lancet journal. He claimed that waterbirth reduced adrenaline and other stress hormones, resulting in easier and shorter labors. He also advocated for the safety of waterbirth, explaining that babies do not breath prior to coming out of the water, which is triggered by temperature change and air. There is extensive medical research on waterbirth being a safe option for labor and birth, and in some countries in Europe and the UK it is a standard of care and a frequently offered option in hospital births. See the research articles in our resources for links to waterbirth research and check out Evidence Based Birth website for more information.
At Lawrence Birth and Wellness, we also offer well person and gynecological care:
