The Role of a Midwife’s Assistant
A midwife’s assistant (also referred to as a birth assistant) is a healthcare provider who provides hand-on care to families birthing at home. She is trained to provide birth support, able to utilize clinical skills in order for her to appropriately assist the midwife during prenatal and postpartum visits as well as during a birth. She provides physical, emotional, and informational support to the birthing person and partner. She helps to set up the birth space, monitor the laboring person’s vitals, monitor baby’s fetal heart rate, palpate to determine fetal position, assist with charting, assist with medical events (if indicated) and assists with postpartum care of the mother and newborn.
I am humbled to be able to serve as a midwife’s assistant to 4 reputable midwives: Taryn Goodwin, CPM with Spirited Birth Services, Yvonne Silbernagel, CPM with A Mother’s Love Midwifery, Dawn Karlin, CPM with Bliss Birth Services, and Brandy Harris, CPM with Willow Birth Services.
My Credentials and Experience
I have completed didactic as well clinical training as a midwife’s assistant. I’ve completed the coursework necessary for Midwifery Assisting at Sacred Transitions Midwifery Institute. I’ve also trained along-side 4 local midwives for the clinical portion of my training. I’ve had the honor of serving families as a doula for home and hospital births. I am also an internationally board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), a certified lactation counselor (CLC), as well as a licensed occupational therapist (OT). All of my experiences help me to provide a well-rounded approach to serving families. I am the founder and owner of Epiphany Birth Services, llc, a community-based business providing doula, birth assistant, and lactation services to help families during their prenatal and postpartum journeys.
My Commitment to You
As your chosen midwife’s assistant, I will provide you with the following services:
- Attendance at a minimum of 5 clinical prenatal visits including a home visit in your third trimester to go over your birth preferences
- Continuous support via phone/text/email from time agreement is signed through 6 weeks postpartum
- Assistance creating your birth plan including one for transfer circumstances
- On-call labor support throughout your active labor with access to a back-up assistant if necessary
- Physical and emotional support during active labor and delivery
- Maternal and fetal vitals monitored and charted during visits and labor
- Assistance with emergency management (if indicated)
- Breastfeeding support with baby’s first feedings in the first couple of hours after birth
- 3 to 6 hours of immediate postpartum support
- 2 postpartum visits
- I will remain a part of your support team as you desire should you transfer from a home to a hospital birth
My Fees and Optional Available Services
- The fee for midwife assistant services is 1000$
- Epiphany birth assistant clients also get 10$ off of virtual Breastfeeding 101 and Newborn Basics Classes.
To schedule a free consult for midwifery assistant services, click here.