Frequently Asked Questions
What do prenatal visits look like?
Most of our prenatal visits will take place at our office located on the first floor of 155 Chicago Road, Oswego Illinois, 60543. Once you enter the final weeks of pregnancy, we’ll transition to home visits for the remainder of your prenatal care, with our assistant joining us. This allows our team to become familiar with your space and family while helping you feel comfortable with your birth team in your home environment.
We will meet every four weeks until you reach 28 weeks, then every two weeks until your 36th week. After that, we will see each other weekly until your baby arrives. Each prenatal appointment typically lasts around an hour.
During these visits, we will check your vitals, measure baby’s growth, listen to fetal heart tones, assess baby’s position through abdominal palpation, and perform a periodic urinalysis. We’ll also discuss perinatal nutrition, exercise, relief for common discomforts, emotional readiness, your birth and postpartum preferences, and address any questions or concerns you or your family may have.
How many births do you attend per month and what happens if two people are in labor at once?
We take a limited number of clients per month, typically four to five, which makes it quite rare for multiple clients to go into labor at the same time. However, in the unlikely event that this happens, we work closely with a licensed midwife who will assist with the birth. This ensures that you and your baby receive continuous, quality care throughout your labor and birth.
What do you bring to a birth?
We bring oxygen, resuscitation equipment, and anti-hemorrhagic medications, herbs and homeopathic remedies, sterile instruments for clamping and cutting the umbilical cord as well as suturing supplies, a blood pressure cuff, a doppler and fetoscope to monitor baby’s heart tones during in labor, an infant scale, and a thermometer. We also bring comfort measures, including a birthing stool, rebozo and essential oils.
Do you assist in water birth?
We are experienced in supporting water births and can assist with a pool or tub if you choose this option. Hydrotherapy is a very useful tool during labor and birth. We’ll guide you and your partner through the setup process and any additional supplies needed. We also bring a pump to empty the pool, and our team will clean and store everything before we leave your home after the birth.
What if there's a problem during birth?
Throughout your pregnancy, we work to ensure you and your baby remain low-risk and suitable candidates for home birth, which significantly reduces the likelihood of complications. Our training enables us to evaluate and manage any potential issues as they arise. Many complications can be safely managed at home. However, if a transfer becomes necessary, we will not hesitate to transfer care to the nearest hospital with an obstetrical team. If a transfer is required, a member of your birth team will stay with you, and we will continue to provide support in the postpartum period.
What about the mess?
This is a common concern for families who are considering home birth. There is some mess involved – amniotic fluid, blood, meconium, however, we work to make sure you don’t have to deal with that mess. We will help you prepare your bed and birth area as birth draws closer and your birth kit will include under pads to help absorb the fluids. Part of our job at your birth will be to clean up and start laundry. You won’t have to worry about a thing!
What about after the birth?
Our team will stay for two to three hours following the birth to ensure your comfort and help initiate breastfeeding as needed. We will monitor both your and your baby’s vitals, assess for any perineal tears, and make repairs if necessary. We will also perform a newborn exam right beside you in bed. If you’d like, we can assist you with a bath or shower, or provide a sponge bath in bed. We’ll make sure you’re nourished and handle the cleanup after the birth.
We schedule home visits at 24-36 hours and again at 5 - 7 days postpartum. If needed, we can also arrange for a lactation consultant to visit during this time. Additional home visits are scheduled at two weeks and four weeks postpartum to check on your recovery and ensure everything is progressing well. Your final postpartum visit takes place at 6 weeks in our office, with additional appointments available as needed.
Can we have older siblings, family or friends attend our birth?
You have the freedom to decide who you would like to have present and support you during your birth. We do ask that anyone attending the birth be introduced at the first home visit so we can get to know each other. We love having siblings present for the birth of their new sibling; however, they must have a trusted adult available to care for them during the birth, and this person should not be your partner.
We recommend preparing your other children for the event by talking with them, reading books, and watching gentle birth videos on YouTube. We also have a selection of children's books available for borrowing. Anyone attending the birth should be prepared and willing to offer support throughout the process.
What about the Birth Certificate & Social Security Number?
We have the birth certificate packet available. Rules vary per county but we will navigate the system together. This will likely include you making an appointment with your county recorder's office. This form also includes a space to request a social security number. There is no fee for birth certificates in Illinois. Illinois requires a Voluntary Paternity Affidavit if you are unmarried at the time of your child’s birth and would like to list a second parent on the birth certificate.
Do you accept insurance?
At Profound Birth, we are considered out-of-network with all insurance providers. While we do not bill insurance directly, many of our families successfully receive partial reimbursement by submitting a claim to their insurance after care is provided. To make this process easier, we partner with a professional maternity billing service to support you in understanding and utilizing your insurance benefits. This is optional but highly recommended for families planning to seek reimbursement. Our billing partner ensures you have accurate, personalized information and all necessary documentation to streamline your insurance submission process.
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