Midwifery
Care with a midwife is fundamentally different than with the typical OB. We use evidence based care and informed consent in our practice so that you feel confident through each phase of pregnancy, birth and the post partum period. We believe that you and your family are the best decision makers for your body and your baby and that midwives are your guides and educators through this process. We assess for health and safety of mom and baby throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth and if a higher-risk situation arises assist women in a transfer to medical care.
Birth & Midwifery Services
Prenatal Care
Prenatal care with our midwives is quite different from the typical obstetric model of care. During hour long prenatals, your midwife will take the time to talk with you, giving individualized education and counseling to build a trusting relationship. We believe in informed choice, and trust that if we provide our families with the information needed to make decisions, they will choose what is right for them. A portion of the visit is standard pregnancy care: blood pressure, pulse, baby’s heart beat, measuring your growing baby & lab tests. We offer the same genetic screening, blood tests, ultrasounds and newborn procedures as you would be offered when seeing a hospital-based care provider. The remainder of our time together at your visits is spent discussing your birth preferences, concerns, fears, joys, holistic treatment of pregnancy discomforts, etc. There are 4 primary midwives in our practice and our goal is for you to get to know each of them well.
Labor & Birth
We will attend your birth either at your home, or at the birth center. During your birth you and your newborn will receive nurturing, hands-on care, with minimal technological interventions. The mutual trust relationship that was established during your prenatal care will continue through to your birth, which fosters your sense of confidence in yourself and your body.
Postpartum Care
After the birth of your baby, your midwives will stay with you until both you and your baby are ready to head home and settle in to sleep. All mothers and babies receive a 24 hour and a 72 hour check up to ensure wellness. We offer the typical newborn screenings (metabolic screening, hearing screen and CCHD) and offer breastfeeding support as needed, as well as ongoing support by phone. Continued care includes a 1 or 2 week office visit as desired and a 6 week office follow up visit.
Integrative & Functional Care for Woman
Are you looking for provider with a more holistic approach to health?
In addition to maternity care, we offer continued well-woman services for annual exams and family planning. Your midwife can assess and refer when appropriate for hormone testing and balancing, preconception and fertility, menopause and general health and wellness. We offer an integrative approach among our providers to provide specialized one on one care to treat the whole woman.
Costs & Insurance
Planning the financial aspects of your pregnancy and birth can be daunting, and we want to help to make it as hassle free as possible. Currently we can accept most major insurance companies with a PPO option, since we are out of network. Additionally, we can work with you to put together an affordable, out of pocket, payment plan should you choose not to bill through insurance.
Regrettably, we cannot accept Medi-Cal at this time.
Casa Natal and Melissa Dean, LM, CPM will bill your PPO insurance. Your financial responsibility is based on your coinsurance, co-pay, and out-of-network deductible. To find out what portion of care your insurance may cover, please follow the link below and enter your insurance information. We will contact your insurance company and obtain an estimate of your out of pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Midwife?
Midwives are experts in normal, natural birth. They are trained to recognize complications and either correct them or refer them to other more specialized providers. The midwives at Casa Natal are specially trained in out-of-hospital birth, such as at home or in a birthing center. We are licensed by the California Medical Board, and continue to add to our knowledge through continuing education.
How often do I see the Midwife?
When receiving care with us, it is not required to also see a physician. We follow the standard obstetrical calendar for prenatal appointments:
every 4 weeks until 28 weeks gestation
once every 2 weeks from 28-36 weeks gestation
once a week from 36 weeks until delivery
What are the benefits of giving birth at the Birth Center?
A birth center is a free-standing healthcare and wellness facility that provides family-centered women’s health, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn services in a safe comfortable setting. If you desire out of hospital birth, are concerned about not having much space at home, or the distance from your home to a hospital, the birth center could be a good choice for you. The rooms are like a bed and breakfast inn; beautiful and inviting. The free-standing nature of the facility allows the services to be midwife-led and rooted in holistic philosophy while simultaneously retaining evidenced-based collaboration and access to the full spectrum of healthcare resources.
Who can I bring to my birth?
You can invite anyone you would like to have at your birth…after all, it’s your birth. Whether you give birth at the center or at your home, you get to say what works for you. We have a lounge at the birth center that is there for your guests to make themselves at home. Although we would not decide for you who should be at your birth, we do have some suggestions to support you based on what we’ve seen work well over the years, and can discuss those suggestions with you during prenatal appointments.