Pregnancy Care
Out of hospital birth is safe for healthy mothers and babies.
It is empowering, but it takes commitment: a commitment to believing in the strength of your body and trusting in the natural processes of pregnancy and childbirth.
Home birth
When you choose a home birth:
- You receive the same prenatal services available at your local hospital (such as laboratory testing, ultrasounds and counseling), but we spend from a half hour up to a full hour together at each visit so we have time to talk about preparing for the next phase of pregnancy and your baby's birth.
- We discuss each test and intervention thoroughly to ensure that you understand the test, feel informed about alternative options, and will be clear about the meaning of the results.
- Prenatal visits are available at both my Peterborough and Milford offices; I also offer occasional "home visits" - prenatal care in the comfort of your home.
- One-on-one labor and delivery care at your home with Sarah and a birth assistant. All assistants are available to meet ahead of time.
- Water birth tubs are available to rent and set up at home.
- Postpartum and lactation care for mom and baby provided in the comfort of your home. One to three home visits will be made in the first two weeks after your baby is born.
- Basic newborn care for the first month of baby's life, including screenings such as the metabolic screening and pulse oximetry screening, and standard newborn procedures such as Vitamin K and birth certificate filing.
Birth Center Birth
When you choose a birth center birth:
- You receive the same prenatal services available at your local hospital (such as laboratory testing, ultrasounds and counseling), but we spend from a half hour up to a full hour together at each visit so we have time to talk about preparing for the next phase of pregnancy and your baby's birth.
- We discuss each test and intervention thoroughly to ensure that you understand the test, feel informed about alternative options, and will be clear about the meaning of the results.
- Prenatal care is available at my Peterborough office or at the birth center.
- Labor and delivery care at the birth center of choice.
- Water birth is available at both centers.
- Postpartum and lactation care for mom and baby provided in the comfort of your own home in the days following your baby's birth.
- Choose between The Birth Cottage in Milford, NH or The Monadnock Birth Center in Swanzey, NH; please call me to arrange a tour of the centers or to schedule a consultation.
Who's Having Home Births?
Birth By Numbers: Check out this short video about birth trends in the US. This site offers lots of reading and info about out of hospital birth trends and safety.
Birth Supplies
Well Women Care
Empowering women to lead their health care decisions
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Annual gynecological exam
- review of health history
- review of life-style habits
- review and discussion of any specific concerns
- head-to-toe physical exam
- laboratory testing
- supplement and prescription needs
- additional specialty testing as indicated
- referrals to specialists as indicated
- education and counseling as indicated
- Preconception care
- Assistance with family planning decisions (including natural family planning, pharmaceutical options, emergency contraception and IUDs)
- Menopausal management
- And basic counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention
Insurance Coverage
We are licensed to practice in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
We accept NH Medicaid and Medicare and are in network with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts, United, Aetna, Tricare, Harvard Pilgrim, Minute Man and CIGNA.
Service Area For Homebirth
Hearts & Hands main office is in Peterborough with occasional care offerd in Miford as well.
In general, we serve women within a one hour driving radius of Peterborough for pregnancy care, but other considerations such road conditions, time of year, health needs and location of other midwives and medical facilities may influence whether it makes sense for me to be your midwife.
We can provide care and attend your birth at home, at The Birth Cottage in Milford, The Concord Birth Center in Concord, NH or at the Monadnock Birth Center in Swanzey.
We provide gynecological care at both the Peterborough and Bedford offices.