Hospital Birth

For further information, contact Melissa Maimann at Essential Birth Consulting or call 0400 418 448

This service results in:

greater than 80% drop in cesarean sections

greater than 90% drop in the mother’s need for an epidural

an 86% reduction in the mother’s need for other pain medications

almost seven times more likely to have a successful VBAC

a higher incidence of breastfeeding success

75% reduction in induction

How is this possible? Stress hormones cause the labours of many women to slow down, making the labour experience more stressful. By reducing the woman’s (and her partner’s) fear through thorough preparation in the pregnancy, calm and reassuring words in labour, touch, and relaxation techniques, the need for interventions is reduced.

Birth is one of the most significant life events in a woman’s life, and who she selects to accompany her on that journey is crucial to her sense of wellbeing and satisfaction afterwards as she reflects on her recent birthing experience.

Many women prefer to birth their babies in hospital, but they would much prefer to be sure of the midwife they are going to have with them when they go into labour. Understandably this is nearly impossible to provide through the general hospital system, so many women search out their own private midwife, whom they can communicate with, get to know and develop a good trusting relationship.

As a midwife, I provide qualified advice, clinical care, support, evidence-based information and peace of mind as a woman journeys through her pregnancy and birth. For many women, this will mean the difference between a natural birth and an induction, epidural or caesarean. While these interventions are helpful for some women in some labours, this service safely reduces ALL interventions and increases a family’s satisfaction with the birth experience.

How can I help?

As your midwife, I am the person who helps you to understand the rhythm of labour and birth, who comes to your house when your labour is beginning to intensify, who helps you to find comfort, and reduces your fears. I work with you and your partner, teaching you both to understand the wisdom and the logic of the body, so you can recognise and accept the changes in labour. I encourage you to move, to take showers, to get into just the right position for your baby. Whether the labour is straight-forward, or you encounter the unexpected, you should both feel empowered by your ability to make informed choices. The effects of a positive birth experience can immeasurably increase your self-esteem, strengthen your relationship with your partner and baby and provide the perfect start to motherhood.

During your pregnancy:

I will meet with you both many times to provide clinical care and more importantly, to discuss your hopes, dreams and concerns. We will talk about your own best ways of managing your labour, discussing expectations, comfort measures and the rhythm of labour. I encourage and support you in natural birth and breastfeeding by including, free of charge, a Calmbirth (R) course and an Australian Breastfeeding Association subscription.

Our contact will increase as your due date approaches. During the on-call period (from 37 weeks until birth), I am available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When you are in labour:

When you think you might be in labour, I will reassure you, answer your questions, and make suggestions over the phone. Together we will decide if I should come right away or wait for further changes. Depending on your labour and your preferences, we may meet at your home or at the hospital.

Families are reassured that they may safely spend part of their labour at home. I will monitor mother and baby and provide other clinical care and support. In hospital, I will support you, give advice and see that the birth plan is respected without a fuss.

After the birth:

I remain with you for one or two hours after the birth, until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. I will visit you at home or in hospital for up to 6 weeks to see how you are doing and to debrief the birth. I will support and encourage you with baby care, feeding and any other issues that require attention.

I’m birthing in a public hospital. Can I have a private midwife?

After booking into the hospital, ongoing care will be provided privately through this service. We can take our time addressing the things that matter to you and we liaise closely with the hospital and your GP throughout your pregnancy. Medicare funding is available after November 1, 2010.

Pregnancy consultations are available in my Bexley clinic or in your home. Click here to discover what the service includes.

If there are any issues in your pregnancy, medical care is easily obtained at the hospital at which you are booked.

Prior to November 1, 2010: when labour starts, we can labour at home until you feel ready to go to hospital. In hospital, your private midwife provides advice, physical and emotional support, guidance and advocacy to see that your birth plan is respected and maintained without a fuss.

After November 1, 2010, visiting rights will be possible. Your private midwife will provide all of the above and will be your primary care provider in hospital. Birth will be funded by Medicare.

After your baby arrives, we may leave hospital as soon as you feel ready and continue care in the privacy of your home. Medicare funding is available after November 1, 2010.

What sort of care do you provide?
Comprehensive pregnancy and postnatal care for 6 weeks
Home consultations available
Access to a library of books and DVDs
Birth debriefing
Birth preparation and planning
Comprehensive childbirth education
Labour and birth at home or in hospital
Breastfeeding support and advice
Subscription
Calmbirth ® course
Midwife’s attendance at related hospital and doctor’s consultations
Additional or extended consultations
Phone support
Access to a back-up midwife or doula

Pregnant women seek the services of a private midwife to:

Feel in control of their experience

Increase their likelihood of experiencing a natural, safe, satisfying, empowering birth experience of their own choosing

Develop a safe and trusting relationship with their own midwife, who will provide continuous care right throughout the whole journey, from the early pregnancy, labour, birth and the first few weeks of early motherhood

Involve the partner and siblings in the arrival of the new baby

Feel empowered, confident and supported instead of anxious and scared, perhaps having had a disappointing experience last time.

Be supported in a VBAC or twin birth by a qualified advocate who assists the woman to achieve her preferred birth choices and minimise medical intervention.

Finally …. to have a great birth!

What can we expect to pay for midwifery care and birth support?

Please contact me to discuss fees for your care or call 0400 418 448. Our fees are structured so that your care with us is both affordable and predictable. We can confidently say that you can birth your baby with Melissa as your midwife, in full knowledge that your personal out-of-pocket payments will be kept to the minimum.

If you fee shop around, it can be hard to compare one midwife’s fees with another. You need to ask whether the midwife will be a Medicare-eligible midwife and examine what her service includes.

If you compare, you will be delighted with our fees. Please phone us on 0400 418 448 to arrange a free, no-obligation appointment.

At the first appointment, Melissa will explain the fees and possible payment plans in detail. We offer three levels of service for birth support and three levels of service for midwifery care. You can financially plan for your care. We are very sensitive to all the financial pressures that are present at this stage of your life. Please advise us if you have any special personal financial considerations. This is so we can work out a payment plan or even a special fee consideration.

Our goal is for you to have an enjoyable pregnancy and birth experience and for financial pressures to not be a distraction from this. Financial constraints should not prevent you from allowing us to help you achieve an optimal experience and outcome.

Free First Appointment

If you would like to book a free first appointment with us, please call on 0400 418 448. There will be no charge for this appointment and it is obligation-free.

This visit would be so you can meet us and we can discuss fees and other considerations face-to-face. We can work out a fee payment plan and any other special fee considerations. We can also discuss the different levels of service so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.

Being a free appointment, we will not be in a position to provide midwifery advice, nor will this appointment provide for you to ‘interview’ Melissa. We encourage you to make an appointment for an initial consultation to help you to decide if Melissa’s philosophy, experience and care will best meet your needs.

Many families will skip straight to the initial consultation – rather than attending a first appointment – as the initial consultation provides for families to ‘interview’ Melissa and for Melissa to provide midwifery assessment and advice. An initial consultation is attended prior to engaging our services.

Initial Consultation

Following the first appointment, most families will book an initial consultation. This consultation provides an opportunity for us to meet each other again and discuss in detail the family’s needs for pregnancy and birth. Many women have questions they would like to ask Melissa, and likewise Melissa will have questions she would like to ask you. This is so that Melissa can be sure of her ability to meet your needs throughout your pregnancy and birth. A consultation fee applies for the initial consultation and this fee is deducted from the full fee when you engage our midwifery service.

For further information about homebirth services, please call 0400 418 448.

Other services include:

Pre-conception care
Pregnancy and Birth Options
VBAC Preparation
Miscarriage and Pregnancy Termination Support
Early Pregnancy Care
Childbirth Education
Nutrition and Exercise
Telephone and E-mail Consultations
Birth Plans
Birth Advocacy
Second opinions
Birth Trauma Debriefing