Client Info

Community                
 By choosing a home birth with us you gain access to a wonderful group of women and families. We encourage you to meet new friends and create for yourself a tribe of like-minded people for support, education and socializing.
Nutrition
Please Join these Facebook groups:

Birthing Way Clients
Birthing Way Families
Birthing Way Midwifery

And attend the monthly
Homebirth Meetup
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The key to a healthy pregnancy is nutrition. We can't stress this enough. You, and your baby, truly ARE what you eat. Follow the guidelines in the Nutrition Guide provided in your binder.

Take a good quality prenatal vitamin. We keep Innate Response (Mega Foods) Prenatal in the office or you can choose one from this Comparison of Prenatal Vitamins

To support your uterus we like you to take some form of red raspberry leaf. We keep the tincture in the office or you can purchase the dried leaf and make tea.

We also ask that you take alfalfa from 32 weeks until the birth as a blood builder and to help prevent hemorrhage. Capsules are available at the office or you can get them on your own.

Birthing Way Pregnancy Tea includes raspberry leaf and alfalfa as well as other herbs chosen to promote healthy blood and organ function. If you drink this tea daily you don't need to take other raspberry leaf of alfalfa. This is available at the office.
Childbirth Classes
We do not require you to take childbirth classes, but the experience can be really helpful in preparing for your birth. There are several options available, and then more choices in teachers within those options. These are some of our favorites.

Baby Steps
They have a variety of classes including ones on childbirth preparation, homebirth, and breastfeeding.
Birth Boot Camp
A class committed to training couples in natural birth and breastfeeding through accessible, contemporary education. Parents learn to work together as a team to create an amazing birth.
Stand up for Your Birth
Hypnobabies
This class is designed to create deep relaxation during birth. This facilitates the birth and can lessen or even eliminate the pain of childbirth.
Adventures in Childbirth
Atlanta Hypnobabies
Atlanta Prenatal Yoga & Childbirth Services
Birthing From Within
This is a beautiful approach to childbirth education. It is about the inner work of giving birth, about body, mind, and spirit.
Emerge Birth Services
Gathering Supplies
We provide the "birth kit", the medical type supplies you will need for the birth. This includes underpads, gloves, cord ring, and things of this nature. It also includes some lavender essential oil and homeopathic arnica. There is a list of items in your binder you will need to gather as well. There are some other things you might need or want.
  • Perineal Massage Oil Almost any natural oil will do, but you might consider preparing something with some essential oils. We have a lovely scented one available that contains essential oils to aid in relaxation and that are also anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. This is available at the office.
  • A fetoscope for listening to your baby at home. You can purchase one for less than $20 on Amazon. Dopplers have dropped in price recently and some of you may be considering buying one. Be aware that dopplers are ultrasound devices.  We rarely  use them in the office and certainly think frequent home use is not a good idea. Stick with the fetoscope.
  • Belly Binder This is on your supply list because it is really good for you. Especially those mothers who have had previous pregnancies. Read the article about it in your binder or look at the links on the education page. We find that the velcro closures are the most practical and therefore the most worn. These are some sources for purchasing yours. Belly Bandit, Gabrialla, FLA Orthopedics, Dale Abdominal Binder, La Leche League, 3 in 1 Breathable Postpartum Binder, Shrinkx, NSSTAR. But there are plenty more. Get a wide one though because it needs to fit over your hips a bit and up to your ribs. You can always ask for suggestions on the Facebook pages.
  • Vitamin K We are recommending you give the oral vitamin K to your baby for 12 weeks postpartum. If you decide to do this you will need to buy it before the birth. You can FIND IT HERE. It is more than you will need. Consider sharing a bottle with one or two other women, pursue this on the Birthing Way Clients page on Facebook. If you choose to give the injection we can get it for you.
Insurance Reimbursement 
We work with a billing service that will submit a claim to your insurance company. You must still pay your fee to us BEFORE the birth, but with the help of Larsen Billing Service we may be able to get some of the money back. Review the info provided in your binder, and we can discuss it in more detail at a prenatal visit. You will need to enroll with them early in the pregnancy. Go to their site and use our provider number 09781.
Many women are interested in a water birth. This is a link to info about available pools, their differences and pros and cons. There are also some purchasing sources.
At the birth, we will complete, and give you the notarized documents the state requires. The Birth Certificate info page in your binder tells you what else you need. Use this link to find information on where to go in your county.
Dr. Bootstaylor is available for back up for your home birth, for ultrasound scans, blood work, and other medical needs. In the event of a transport, understand that financial arrangements with him and with the hospital are all separate. If you want to establish him as back up care you must call Rachel and let her request an appointment for you.