At Full Moon Midwifery and Family Health, health care is based on the recognition that every aspect of your life, including what and how you eat, drink, believe, sleep, exercise and relate to yourself and others, influences your health. This is doubly true when you are pregnant. Because of this, any or all aspects of your life may be related to treatment of any health concerns you may have. This truly is spiritual midwifery care for your baby, your body, your heart, and your soul.
Prenatal Care
Prenatal care and birth with Full Moon Midwifery is a joyful and healthful experience. Because pregnancy involves your entire self – every bit of you – your mind, your body, your heart, and soul, as well as those of your baby, I work with all of your beautiful self, employing care from ancient and traditional methods as well as those developed through modern science. Midwifery care is a combination of art and science which relies on experience, studies, skill, heart, and soul.
Prenatal Care is about supporting you in your pregnancy, monitoring the growth of your baby, and preparing you for birth and parenthood. Yes, we listen to your baby’s heartbeat. We also listen to your own heart speaking.
We do this in the following ways:
First and most important: we have long enough visits so we can talk and get to know one another and learn about your beliefs and needs.
We talk about nutrition and baby development.
We discuss your preferences and choices regarding tests, assessments, and care.
We celebrate your beautifully developing body as you consider your choices in birth and parenting.
We monitor you and your baby for normal, healthy development and changes, with awareness of which changes are normal, which need special attention or change of plans.
You get to experience Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage and craniosacral therapy to support and assist your growing body and baby to be in the best alignment.
Sacred Pregnancy groups support your heart and soul as you build a community of women, mothers like you, who parent from the heart.
You get to enjoy the benefits and pleasure of Dancing for Birth.
We prepare for your birth and impending parenthood with your partner or other support people, with information and assistance about breastfeeding, labor, and caring for a newborn.
We discuss the art of listening to your own heart, as part of your learning to listen to and understanding your baby.
We discuss the changes and challenges of parenthood, helping you to identify your beliefs and your support systems.
We develop your Personal Care Plan for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum to reflect your desire, needs, and beliefs as they pertain to your pregnancy and birth.
Prenatal Visit Schedule:
The initial visit will take 1-1/2 to 2 hours and consist of a review of your health history, discussions of your particular interests and concerns, and a physical exam. This may include a breast exam and a pap if you wish, as well as an exam to assess the age of your baby, and general markers of your physical wellbeing, such as weight, blood pressure, and, depending on the baby’s gestation, listening to the baby’s heartbeat. Together, we will decide on necessary lab tests and begin to create your Personal Care Plan, which is discussed more, below. During this time we will also begin to discuss antepartum testing, your preferences, and options.
Our Prenatal visits are scheduled much as other practices, and most take place in my University District office:
every 4 weeks until 28 weeks
then, every 2 wks until 36 wk, when we have a home visit to prepare for your home birth, if that is what you have chosen.
then, every week until your baby is born
During the prenatal visits, we will monitor your and your baby’s health, discuss changes of pregnancy, explore your particular concerns, strengths, and interests regarding pregnancy, birth, parenting, and family adjustments to the changes. You also have the opportunity to receive Craniosacral Therapy and prenatal massage as part of each visit. It’s a routine part of your care. We will also discuss options related to testing, health care, birth, and baby care. As we do this, we will create your own Personal Care Plan.
Weekly Sacred Pregnancy groups are optional as beginning childbirth education. Dancing for Birth is ongoing and weekly.
Monthly potlucks for my clients give you an opportunity to meet other women in various phases of parenthood and pregnancy.
Your Personal Care Plan for pregnancy and birth
Pregnancy, childbirth, and baby care involve many decisions which are very personal and the choices are unique to each woman and family. As we work together, you and I will create a plan for your care in pregnancy and birth, which reflects the needs and desires of you and your family. Some choices are unique to your own family, preferences, and culture. Others may require more information for you and formal informed consent. While I provide teaching and discussion, I encourage you to read and learn what is important to you in the growing of your baby and family, and in your own health. I encourage you to explore your own beliefs, learning from your own heart and from family, friends, books, and other sources, what will be most useful to you in your pregnancy and birth. Together we will build a plan reflecting you and your baby.
“Thank you for listening to me. You listened to me and heard me. You GOT me. That was a big part of what made the visits so helpful to me. Thank you.” Adele H.
Birth is a sacred and life changing process. To support the majesty, autonomy, and health of a birthing woman, we bring reverence, skill, compassion, patience, knowledge, and experience to your birth. During your pregnancy, you will choose whether you prefer to birth in your home or a birth center, and who you will wish to have present. At the 36 week prenatal visit, we make a visit to your home to assess best places for birth, tub if desired, and to help you begin to prepare for your birth.
Birth Care
“Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body, and your spirit for the rest of your life.” Ina May Gaskin
In Washington we are fortunate to have choices in our birth setting so that you can choose the setting that is most appropriate to you.
With FullMoon Midwifery, you can choose whether to birth in your own home or at The Center For Birth in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood.
At each birth I have a second midwife to assist me with your care as we get closer to the actual time of birth.
Many women choose to engage a doula or invite a trusted friend to support them in their birth. Some couples prefer to birth alone. Everyone makes their own best choice. We will discuss options during your prenatal visits.
You may choose to birth in a tub or in your bed…..or on the floor…..in any position that is comfortable to you at the time. Midwives know how to adapt and can support you in any position.
My goal for your birth is to support you in your work to bring your baby into the world. This means that I focus solely on you and your baby’s needs. During this time we listen to the baby’s heart beat, check your blood pressure and temperature, and assess your emotional, comfort, and health needs and provide a secure environment of peace, comfort, support, and encouragement.
“When I was on the floor, you were on the floor. When I needed to be alone, you knew it first and gave me some space. When I needed encouragement, you were right there, offering encouragement and support. When I said I couldn’t do it, you reminded me that I could, indeed, do it. When I said I couldn’t have done it without you, you reminded me that I was the one who did it and that I can do anything I set my mind to do”. Frances K.
Postpartum Care
The postpartum period is a special time: you at last get to see your baby’s face and hold your baby in your arms. You have the privilege of holding your baby to your breast and offering your own milk .
In the immediate post partum, the first few hours after birth, we remain with you at your home, monitoring your adjustment to having given birth, assisting you to breastfeed, and cleaning up a bit after the birth. We usually leave within 4 hours after birth, after tucking you in with your baby. If you choose to birth at birth center, we will be certain that you are stable before helping you to your car before we leave, also at around 4 hours after birth.
Postpartum Home Visits
We visit you at home between 24-48 hours after birth to check on you and your baby, and see how you are both adjusting to this new life. We are available by phone, 24 hours/day.
We offer massage and craniosacral treatments as needed after birth, for both baby and mama.
Postpartum Clinic visits
You return for clinic visits at 1 week, 3 weeks and 6 weeks.
During these visits we will continue to assess your adjustment, assist with breastfeeding, answer questions, and support you in your transition to parenthood.
During the last two visits we will make plans for your choice of contraception, should you desire it.
At your last postpartum visit, you will receive Maya Abdominal Massage and care, and self care teaching, to facilitate postpartum recovery.
Postpartum Support
Besides the home and clinic visits, you can call us anytime for help or assistance. When you are ready, we have a postpartum circle of other mothers with Love, MILK, and Infant Massage Circle, for breastfeeding support and Infant Massage classes, led by Ceci Córdova, to support you during the first year and beyond.
Well Woman Care
Full Moon Midwifery offers compassionate and comfortable gynecologic care including annual exams, pap tests, breast exams with teaching for self exams, fertility, and contraception. Our gentle and respectful care is especially important for very first gynecologic exams. We also provide care for focused problem visits such as urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, or other gyn concerns.
I include teaching about your exam, including giving a full explanation of each part of the exam. We will discuss your health care, and other things you can do to contribute to your own good health, while creating your personal health care plan.
I have prescriptive authority and can write prescriptions for common medications if pharmaceuticals are necessary for your care. I am supportive of other modes of healing and employ Maya Abdominal Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, herbs, oils, and/or vaginal steams as needed.
I am available to meet in person or by phone, in advance of scheduling an exam, if you have particular concerns you would like to discuss.
Please see About Pelvic Exams for more information about my philosophy of care and what a pelvic exam entails.
Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage
Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® (ATMAT) is based on an ancient Mayan healing modality which holds that organ alignment impacts health and wellbeing. Poor alignment of organs may restrict the flow of blood, lymph, nerves and chi. Abdominal massage is helpful in re-aligning the reproductive and digestive organs for optimal flow, function, and health. In midwifery, Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage is useful for preconception, fertility concerns, pregnancy, labor, and birth. In family practice, it is also helpful for digestion, back pain, hip pain, varicose veins, menstrual and uterine problems, bladder, urinary, and prostate problems, and many more concerns. Maya Massage brings new opportunities for healing in the care I provide as it reduces pain, and improves circulation and function.
An Arvigo session includes abdominal massage, back massage, sacral massage and alignment, and teaching you your own self care. I may also prescribe steams, hot packs, herbs, exercises, nutritional changes, or other therapies, as appropriate.
Through my hands, I provide comfort, calm, and healing via Arvigo Maya Massage Therapy and teach you to provide your own care, as well. When you practice Arvigo Maya Massage self care, your health is in your hands!
For more information about ATMAT, visit the Arvigo website: https://arvigotherapy.com/content/definition-and-history and my page on the Arvigo website: https://arvigotherapy.com/users/ceci-cordova
Craniosacral Therapy
Every prenatal and postpartum visit includes Craniosacral Therapy as needed. Craniosacral Therapy is helpful for general living, chronic and acute concerns, including some of the discomforts of pregnancy. Through Craniosacral Therapy, you can also access your inner wisdom for more understanding of your concerns, questions, and goals regarding parenthood. More information about Craniosacral Therapy is available at my SacredGoodMedicine Craniosacral Therapy site.