Are you considering Magnolia Birth House for your prenatal care? If so, you might be wondering how things work — when you make that initial phone call and when you arrive for your first appointment. You may even be nervous about talking to new people and meeting the folks who will help guide you through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

It’s normal to have these types of questions! We welcome them, and we strive to give you all the information you need to make decisions about your care. In this blog, we’ll explain who’s who on the Magnolia team and cover how they’ll make you feel welcome when you call and visit the birth center.

Who Will Greet Me at the Birth Center?

When you express interest in becoming a client at Magnolia, your first point of contact is Patricia, our patient care coordinator. Over the phone, she will explain our services and let you know when you can come into care, especially if you are transferring care from another practice during your second or third trimester. If you are newly pregnant, your first appointment will be between 8-12 weeks. During this first encounter, Patricia can answer basic questions about birth center care. Some of the most common ones can be found in our FAQs. Over the years, many folks have shared that Patricia treats Magnolia clients as one of her own.

The next person you’ll interact with is Kerra, our administrative coordinator. You might talk to her on the phone because she helps to schedule appointments and gives folks information about childbirth education and parenting classes. When you arrive at Magnolia for an appointment, Kerra will greet you at the front desk. She takes temperatures, processes electronic and in-house paperwork, gives tours, and assists with prescriptions for things like breast pumps and vitamin K. Clients describe Kerra as welcoming, friendly, and kind.

It’s important to note that neither Patricia nor Kerra discusses finances in detail. Patricia is able to give you a brief snapshot of your financial obligations and talk about costs in general. She also can facilitate you having your insurance benefits verified.

What Role Do Student Midwives Play at the Birth Center?

At the start of each appointment, one of our student interns will greet you. In the prenatal room, they will record your pulse, blood pressure, and weight. They’ll also conduct a urinalysis and ask if you are having any problems or discomforts that you want to discuss with the midwife.

We choose to have student interns involved in this portion of your care because we have a commitment to raising the next generation of midwives. Direct-entry midwifery is very much based in apprentice-style learning, so we try to replicate that in our modern era by making sure that we participate in learning. We are particularly dedicated to growing midwives who represent the diversity of South Florida, which is a core tenet of ours. Allowing student midwives to assist with your care also provides time for you to get to know them and for them to build a relationship with you, a connection that’s really important during birth. All that said, we respect your wishes, so let your midwife know if you want to discuss how much interaction you want to have with the student midwives, whether that’s none, observation, or some hands-on care.

What is a Midwife Assistant?

Another important role at Magnolia includes our midwife assistants. Our lead assistant is Na’imah. She teaches many of our childbirth education classes, so you’ll have the chance to meet her through that process. Na’imah also provides nutrition consultations for clients who need more guidance about wellness and diet.

One of our midwife assistants will also attend your birth, arriving toward the end of labor when the midwife-on-call determines it’s time for the assistant’s support. During birth, the assistant’s duties include setting up supplies and checking vitals, like the birthing parent’s blood pressure, pulse, and temperature as well as the baby’s heartbeat. The birth assistant might also help with record-keeping, such as noting when pushing started or what time the baby was born.

What Does a Midwife Do?

During your appointments, our licensed midwives provide holistic, individualized care. An important component of our prenatal care at Magnolia is time for discussion. First-time visits are 90 minutes long, while repeat appointments usually last 45 minutes. This personal care allows for you and your family to build strong and trusting relationships with each midwife so that you’re comfortable with whomever is on call when your labor starts.

Thanks to our call system, our Miami midwives are available 24/7, meaning we’re here for you during evenings, weekends, and holidays if you have a problem or go into labor. This on-call method helps to avoid burnout among the midwives. It’s also part of ensuring that the midwives are able to give their undivided attention and support during birth and that they’re well rested. In addition, a call system allows for the midwives on our staff to have time to live their lives and to be with their families.

Miami’s Premier Natural Birthing Center – Prenatal Care and Birth Services in Miami

If you’re expecting and considering midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth, we hope you feel ready to give us a call at 786-953-6534. The team at Magnolia Birth House is prepared to answer your questions and help you determine if our South Florida birth center is right for you. For those interested in a more natural birthing environment, you might want to explore our water birth services. You can also set up a free consultation by filling out our form. You can also set up a free consultation by filling out our form.