
Do you travel to my area?
Family Tree Midwifery offers Primary Midwifery Care with a California Medical Board Licensed Midwife & patient specific support teams. We currently serve all areas surrounding our home base in Orangevale, California up to 60 minutes away. We offer in-home appointments for families UNDER 30 minutes away and comfy office appointments for families over 30 minutes away (With the exception of a few appointments around the birth to spare the birthing parent travel.)
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**Coming Soon! In-home appointment coverage area is expanding in 2024**
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**Coming Soon! - Our birth location options are expanding in 2024**
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What is Midwifery care like? Do you have a schedule of Midwifery services?
Examples of care options for all members:
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3-4 weeks or missed period/positive home pregnancy test - Lets get started! for communication initiation and information gathering, lab work drawn by your Midwife confirming rising Hcg (pregnancy) hormone levels and other early pregnancy lab work - start learning about your body and meeting your team!
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6-7 weeks for early vaginal ultrasound confirmation of pregnancy and dating and a face to face appointment
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Some parents need more intense treatments such as IV hydration for hyperemesis at this point. (severe nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy) Yes, we do this too!
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Medicinal herbal teas, supplements and natural supports
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8-9 weeks we have a 50/50 chance of hearing a heartbeat out loud by doppler
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10 weeks lab work drawn by your Midwife commonly called "The NIPT Test or NIPT screening" (Non invasive pregnancy/prenatal testing) - which includes a DNA spectrum from fetal cells the lab finds in a sample of the mothers blood! This screening can accurately reveal fetal sex and any chromosomal surprises, typically with the same accuracy as amniocentesis. Other first trimester labs can be drawn at this time if desired.
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10-12 weeks we can hear almost all babies heartbeats easily by doppler by this point in pregnancy
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15 weeks NIPT - MSAFP lab work drawn by your Midwife screens the fetus for open spinal cord defects and other skull and brain related complications.
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18-20 weeks diagnostic anatomy scan
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Tree House Village Groups
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28 weeks Gestational Diabetes screening - multiple options
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36 weeks Group Beta Strep screening
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Past due date fetal screening
Face to Face appointments occur with your Midwife about every 4 weeks, increasing in frequency upon reaching the third trimester and culminating with weekly appointments the last month. Individual circumstances may require more visits, urgent office visits, or visits which are longer than average. Each prenatal appointment is packed full of individualized, trauma informed care and advice, and includes all the offerings that are standard in any maternity care setting (labs, ultrasounds, screenings etc.) as well as Holistic Midwifery and so much more.
Declining at least a few of these offerings is expected, remember this list is an example of standard OFFERINGS...that does not mean you are required to accept and do everything offered - each family is respected in their needs, and your understanding of each offering as it approaches so you can make an informed decision is most important on this journey!
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What about Labor and Birth? Childbirth Prep for a non medicated birth, and physical and emotional support for labor will be provided with special care to incorporate all the family members you desire present for the big day. Water Birth Tub Options will be Provided along with set up and break down. Your team will assist in the birth of the baby and placenta, and monitor mother and baby during the immediate transition following delivery. Fully stocked emergency medical equipment and pharmaceutical supplies as one would find in a standard hospital delivery room expecting a full term infant, as well as advanced Midwifery skills are brought to every single birth, and yet space and faith are held with the belief that birth is, most of the time, a natural process that should unfold as undisturbed as possible. Importance is placed on family bonding and a strong belief is held that birth should be centered around mother, baby and family, not unnecessary medical protocols because we understand there is so much more to birth than simply not dying....
How long does my team stay following delivery? In the 3-4 hours following delivery, Mother and Baby are monitored for normal recovery and stability while space is held for bonding and attachment much longer than "60 Golden Minutes." Birth canal tears are numbed and repaired and help with breastfeeding is offered as needed. The room stays soft and quiet as family bonding takes priority during this sacred time. Helping hands surround the fresh family to clean and wash, pack up medical equipment, take out trash, start laundry in a quiet whirlwind of post delivery support and cleaning up around the new family. Prior to the team leaving, the baby will be given a gentle thorough Pediatric head to toe assessment on a warm pad next to their family in the recovery bed. Mother is assisted to the restroom at least once during this time, cleaned from her birthing experience and is stable and feeling well prior to the teams departure. The family is left fed, warm and all tucked in a clean bed and surroundings, to rest and soak in the bliss of new life.
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What happens after the day of birth?
We remain on call for you 24/7 and your team returns in the early postpartum days and weeks to ensure successful recovery is underway, infant feeding goals are being met, the parents are confident caring for their newborn and the family is transitioning as expected. For the safety of both parent and newborn we require all families to receive a minimum of 4 weeks postpartum care with their team.
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What about the Birth Certificate and Social Security Card for baby?
Everything you need to receive your baby's birth certificate and social security card will be included.
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Do I have to pay a deposit?
Some families are asked to pay a non-refundable deposit prior to starting their membership. This is typically done for extended payment plan memberships, or for families signing on late for care; to secure your due month, to act as a retainer for your individual team and/or alternative care providers, and absorb costs of rapid prep and immediate upcoming birth. Your deposit can be paid using the yellow payment button at the bottom of our website - specific instructions will be given for your situation.
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Again, ALL deposits are non-refundable.
Can I have a team for only the birth? Can I have only a Midwife for only the birth?
Though it seems like a great way to cut costs at first thought, for liability and ethical reasons a Midwife nor anyone from our team will ever show up for "just the birth" We will not respond to any requests for services by anyone currently in labor who has not previously established care with us this pregnancy. Our services are most successful when used to their fullest, including prenatal care, education, screening and preparation as a team for your desired birth and utilization of our referrals, which is why we offer our memberships. Remember you are hiring a Midwife and extended support team, with the hopeful outcome of your dream delivery experience...this requires more than a Midwife (or any human - no matter who they are) just showing up during labor.
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Can I still register for a membership if I am past my first trimester? Will you offer me a discount?
Unfortunately, we do not offer a discount for registering for a membership later or earlier in pregnancy. Families in their 4-5th month or later registering for a membership will be assigned a non-refundable deposit (see above for explanation) prior to starting their desired membership plan.
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Do you accept insurance? HSAs? Health Shares?
Yes! We can accept all of the above, as well as credit, debit, venmo, zelle and more. Please see our Insurance Page to view details about obtaining a verification of benefits from our biller and/or a potentially lowered monthly payment quote of your desired membership plan based on your insurance/other coverage.
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What if I have a provider(s) outside of Tree House Health that I want to use?
Accessing any care provider outside of your Tree House Health team referrals is not covered and discounts are not offered for these services. (ie: a chiropractor or monthly massage membership outside of our Midwife initiated referrals)
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Do you offer refunds?
We do not offer refunds for any reason. All deposits are non-refundable. Non timed memberships may be cancelled at any time with no cancellation fees. Timed memberships may be cancelled at any time, but will likely incur a cancellation fee - please inquire about your specific situation.
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Membership Levels (a brief description please?):
Tree House Health - Premium Memberships include all the coverage of limited memberships as well as referrals your Family Tree Midwife will make to local supporting providers such as a prenatal chiropractor, birth doula, infant massage therapist or a lactation consultant. These are the best options for families looking to establish care with trusted team of professionals, without having to do much outside work. One stop shop, individualized, Premium Memberships pricing differences are typically related to length of membership. Please see each membership on the membership page for more specific offering details.*
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Tree House Health - Limited Memberships cover select Midwife referrals for services that are usually considered urgent and/or a special situation only (ie: a treatment or adjustment following a fall or accident, or a class with our perinatal mental health specialist for postpartum mood symptoms) Other offerings will not require a Midwife referral and include services such as a birth Doula OR professional photographer. These memberships are certainly packed with plushy options for families who may already have alternative care providers in place to support their pregnancies, and are most interested in our Midwifery led team, some delicious swag and minimal to no referrals. Please see each membership on the membership page for more specific offering details.*
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*ALL of our membership service offerings are subject to change based on provider availability, individual results of treatment and discovery of new beneficial services for our members.
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*While each plan lists almost all of the services your Family Tree Midwife may refer you for, referrals are sent based on need, your specific membership benefits, and the plan you have made with your team regarding your care.
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