POSTPARTUM CARE
Home visits, feeding support, and check-ins with your midwife through the weeks after birth, when recovery and a new baby ask the most of you.
CONTACT USDuring the fresh tenderness of brand new motherhood… At Holistic Midwifery NYC, we are here for you throughout the journey. A postpartum check-in with a midwife is an important part of the postpartum period. During this visit, your midwife will assess the mother and baby’s physical and emotional well-being by checking the mother’s vital signs, examining the perineum, and assessing the baby’s weight and overall health. Your midwife can provide support and advice for the mother’s physical recovery and emotional well-being and offer guidance on caring for the newborn, including lactation support.
The midwifery practice can handle the filing of the birth certificate. After the initial postpartum visit, we provide extensive telehealth and phone support for any concerns that arise. Our midwives will discuss contraception options during your prenatal visits so you can make an informed decision. At the six week visit, we will provide the contraceptive of your choice and have an opportunity to say good-bye and transition you to well-women care.
Breastfeeding Support, Newborn Care, & Contraception
Having a new baby reorganizes a family. We are here to support you through each milestone.
Postpartum is a precious and vulnerable time. We want to safeguard it for you.
Our Postpartum Care Services
Postpartum care with a midwife doesn’t end when the birth does. Our postpartum care services start in the first hours after your baby arrives and continue through your six-week visit. Because we practice in the home, this is postpartum home care in the literal sense: your midwife comes to you, so you’re not getting dressed, loading a two-day-old into a car seat, and sitting in a waiting room when you should be resting.
24 to 48 Hour Postpartum Check-In
This visit is critical during the postpartum period because it allows your midwife to assess mother’s and baby’s physical and emotional well-being. Your midwife will check the mother’s vital signs, examine the perineum for tears or episiotomies, and assess the baby’s weight, jaundice levels, and overall health during this visit. Your midwife will also instruct you on proper infant care techniques such as bathing, diapering, and swaddling.
Newborn Screening Tests
Newborn screening tests are important for detecting certain health conditions that are not always obvious. Your midwife performs these tests in your home, and the results are discussed with you once they come back.
Lactation Support
Breastfeeding is an important part of postpartum care, and your midwife can offer advice and support to assist the mother with lactation. This could include techniques for establishing and maintaining milk supply, resolving latch or positioning issues, and developing a breastfeeding plan.
Working Alongside Your Postpartum Doula
Many of our clients hire a doula for the weeks after birth, and the two roles fit together well. Postpartum doula care covers the hands and hours: meals, laundry, overnight support, and someone to hold the baby while you sleep. Your midwife covers the clinical side, monitoring healing, weight gain, and anything that needs medical attention. If you have a doula, we’re happy to coordinate with her. If you’re still looking for one, we can point you toward doulas we’ve worked with in the city.
Newborn Care
Your midwife will offer mother and baby advice and support as she cares for her new baby, including tips on feeding, sleeping and bonding. In addition, your midwife can perform routine newborn assessments and offer advice on any concerns. To see the full range of care we provide from pregnancy through postpartum, explore our services.
Your Six-Week Visit
Contraception Counseling
At the six-week postpartum visit, your midwife will discuss contraception options with the mother and provide information on how each one works, what to expect, and what to weigh before choosing. Your midwife will work with the mother to choose a method that fits her individual needs and lifestyle, and help transition her into ongoing holistic gynecology care.
Birth Certificate Filing
Your midwifery practice can handle the birth certificate filing, ensuring that all necessary information is complete and accurate. This is a critical step in establishing the baby’s identity and legal rights.
Physical Recovery and Healing
The postpartum period can be physically demanding, and your midwife can offer support and advice for the mother’s recovery. This may include recommendations for managing pain and discomfort, monitoring for signs of infection, and caring for any tears or episiotomies. Your midwife will also provide guidance on when and how to resume normal physical activity.
Emotional Support
The postpartum period can be emotionally draining, and your midwife can offer a listening ear and support. Your midwife can also refer you to additional resources such as counseling or support groups, if necessary.
Postpartum Must Haves
Most of the postpartum necessities lists online are long and expensive. The truth is you need less than you think, and a few things really do help. We’ll go over your setup during a prenatal visit, but the short version:
- Peri bottle and witch hazel pads for perineal care
- High-waisted cotton underwear you don’t mind ruining
- Heavy overnight pads for the first two weeks
- Nipple balm and a few hand towels within reach of wherever you feed
- A water bottle you can open one-handed
- Easy food that someone else prepares
Everything else can wait. If money is tight, spend it on food and help before you spend it on gear.
How Home Care Compares to a Postpartum Facility
Some families start out looking for a postpartum care facility, hoping for a place with meals, nursing staff, and newborn care all in one. Options for a postpartum care center in NYC are limited and expensive, and most families end up building that support at home instead.
Home-based midwifery care covers the clinical part of what a facility provides, in your own space and at a fraction of the cost. What it doesn’t include is the cooking, cleaning, and round-the-clock staffing, which is why we often suggest pairing us with a postpartum doula if you want that level of support.
If you’re expecting and want to learn more about what postpartum care with our midwives looks like, feel free to contact us.
Contact us today
We’re standing by ready to answer any questions you have.