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What can Maine do about the hospital closures and the perinatal healthcare crisis?
Dear concerned Mainer,
We’re so excited to share about the Radical Care: A Portrait of Midwives Through the Families They Serve exhibition with you, because we think we may have a significant piece to this complex puzzle — midwives.
Will acupuncture help ease difficult pregnancy symptoms?
Dear Acu-Curious,
We have patients in various stages of life, including patients who are trying to conceive, patients who are pregnant, and patients who are in postpartum recovery. These can be vulnerable and challenging times! Unfortunately, many pregnant patients suffer more than necessary because they don’t know all of their different options for symptom management and treatment. In exploring different treatment options, patients and their obstetric providers want to know: is it safe? And is it effective? The answer is YES! Lets dig into a few common symptoms and see if we can help you out!
How long is postpartum and how quickly can I recover from birth?
Dear Ready to Party,
Quick answer for you is that postpartum is a wild and glorious ride and the fastest route to feeling your best entails really delving into recovery. Let go through postpartum’s nitty gritty details.
What's the best way to manage visitors when I first have my baby?
Dear After Party Planner,
After you’ve had a baby, it can feel like so many people want to help. When you’re establishing new routines, juggling household tasks with taking care of baby, and getting balanced with new sleeping and eating patterns, hosting visitors can be lovely and hugely helpful. But it can also bring about undue stress. It’s often difficult to articulate exactly what you need and when, and when much of the attention is focused on taking care of the baby, the birthing person and the family unit can often get overlooked.
How do I avoid "peezing" postpartum? What's the deal with the pelvic floor?
Dear Peeze Preventer,
What a wonderful inquiry! Your pelvic floor is oh-so glorious and there are absolutely ways to take can of it postpartum. Let’s break it down:
How can I safeguard my mental health during postpartum? I’m so nervous about postpartum depression and anxiety creeping in…
Dear Healthy Headed,
Asking this question and preparing for support is one of the greatest things you can do! Let’s breakdown just a bit more about what’s going on with mental health in the postpartum period too.
Whats the best way to feed a newborn? I’m overwhelmed by people’s opinions!
Dear Feeding Frenzy,
It can be quite overwhelm to decide how to nourish your little one once they’re on the outside. Let’s break down options into a few basics for just a bit of guidance:
Dear Fiscally Savvy,
The quick answer to whether you can bill for midwifery services is a resounding YES!
We have a phenomenal biller, Jen Vracin of Roots Billing, on staff and insurance filing is included included in pregnancy care. Jen is the magic guru of all things insurance billing and she makes this whole confusing world of health care finance seem like a breeze. She happily guides clients through the process and tackles big insurance companies to make certain you get the best deal for coverage.
The long answer for how insurance billing works, takes a little bit more time to breakdown. So, let’s start with a little Obstetric Billing 101.
How can I increase my chances of having a successful VBAC? #askingforafriend
Dear Cautious Candidate,
First off, congratulations on your decision to birth vaginally and avoid a repeat cesarean. Even though you’re still pregnant, or maybe even just considering pregnancy at this point, the decision in itself can feel enormous. Here are 5 tips for having a successful VBAC.
What supplements should I take in postpartum period?
Dear Running on Empty,
Your body definitely deserves to be nourished postpartum. During pregnancy, your placenta draws on “iron, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin B9, iodine, and selenium stores—along with omega 3 fats like DHA and specific amino acids from proteins.” This means that all those vitamin and nutrient stores you’ve work so diligently to build over the years, get pulled and prioritized towards growing a baby. It’s a system that works beautifully, but has the potential to leave you feeling a little worn out postpartum. Let’s not forget that lactating continues to draw from your nutrient stores and prioritize baby. And let’s not forget how sleep deprivation plays a role!
I keep hearing about the pelvic floor. What am I supposed to be doing or not doing?
Dear Pelvic Floor-ishing,
The pelvic floor is a glorious support system that holds us up, holds us in and allows us to maintain digestive and sexual function. It energetically anchors us while also acting as a thoroughfare, allowing waste out and sexual health in. We use the pelvic floor everyday, all day and it deserves some praise! Unfortunately, historically in the US medical system, we only start to talk about the pelvic floor when it becomes attached to the word dysfunction. In good midwifery fashion, let’s take a moment to talk about how to honor this muscle system, promote it’s healing, and also prevent dysfunction down the road.
Any tips regarding sex after having had a baby? I’m feeling ready, but nervous! #askingforafriend
Dear Desiring Prep,
Take it slow. Sex can feel like new territory after having a baby. Be sure to be vocal with your partner about what feels good and what isn’t working for you.
What’s the deal with cervical fluid and do I seriously have to stick my finger in my vagina every day to figure it out? #askingforafriend
Dear Fluid-Curious,
Cervical fluid is fluid/mucous that is produced by your cervix and is dependent on your hormones. Because hormones fluctuate throughout your cycle, the fluid changes from watery to creamy, sticky to slippery, clear to white, etc. Learning what type of fluid corresponds to what stage of your cycle can help you decide when to avoid sex if avoiding pregnancy, or when to get all sorts of into it if trying to conceive. Either way, you should take note daily to suss out your body’s particular rhythm.
How do I take care of my beloved vagina before and after having a baby? #askingforafriend
Dear Vaginally-Concerned,
So many people are afraid of what will happen to their vagina after having a baby. Will I tear? Will I need stitches? Will sex ever be the same? Will I really start peeing my pants all the time? There’s a cycle of fear in modern culture around birth and the physical changes that may occur. Well, we’re here to hopefully dispel some of those fears and guide you to an empowered and holistic approach to your postpartum transition.
What makes midwifery care different than standard obstetrics and gynecology? #askingforafriend
Dear Midwifery-Curious,
SOFT CORNER Midwifery Care focuses on informed choice and relationship-based care. We really love to get to know you! And as complex human beings, that of course takes time.
We hold one-hour visits, allowing you to have the time and space to discuss whatever is on your mind. These may be physical concerns, emotional concerns, questions about your care, or merely questions about what’s coming up next. We love sharing the latest evidence-based information to guide you through your reproductive care and ensure that you feel confident and informed throughout the decision making process. Whether it's simple STI screening or complex emotional concerns around fertility, we are here to hash it out. We get pretty nerdy about the whole thing as Licensed Midwives, but it makes the information exchange experience so much more fun! Learning about your body and knowing that you (and only you) are it’s best expert should be exciting!