Midwifery Services at Birth Center Stone Oak
THE BIRTH CENTER STONE OAK DIFFERENCE
PRENATAL CARE & MIDWIFERY SERVICES FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY
Exceptional prenatal care is essential for the development of a healthy pregnancy, labor and birth. Birth Center Stone Oak is committed to delivering the best midwifery services in San Antonio, Texas. We focus on prenatal development through education, nutrition, exercise, and mental well-being throughout a series of visits during your pregnancy. The prenatal visit is a time for learning, asking questions, and preparing for parenthood.
We provide a nurturing, sensitive environment where you are truly heard and respected. Building a strong relationship with each midwife facilitates trust, an important part of our prenatal care. We encourage family members to attend prenatal visits and participate in your care. Throughout your care we will continue to monitor your low risk status. Your initial prenatal visit lasts an hour and a half and subsequent prenatal visits last approximately 45 minutes.
We offer a full range of labs through 2 major in network laboratories and can order sonograms as well. In addition, we have recently partnered with Sequenom to provide prenatal genetic testing.
Birth Center Stone Oak Prenatal Visits
Birth Center Stone Oak follows the recommended schedule for routine prenatal visits (same as obstetricians):
Monthly visit
28 – 36 Weeks:
Visit every two weeks
36 – 42 Weeks:
Weekly visits
What to expect during your prenatal visits:
- 45-minute sessions with a midwife (much longer than your average doctor visit)
- Throughout all your prenatal visits you will meet and interact with all the midwives
- Patient education including counseling and recommendations on nutrition, fitness, stress management and more
- Birth preparation and labor plan – all options for labor will be discussed
- Talk through any questions and concerns (tip: keep a running list with any new questions you have between visits)
- Physical monitoring to include blood pressure, pulse, temperature, swelling, diet, hydration, vitamins,urinalysis, weight, position of baby, baby’s activity and fetal heart rate
- Review and assessment on your progress and how you are feeling
- *We encourage our expecting couples to enroll in the Bradley Method childbirth education course and can recommend locations in San Antonio that offer it
LABOR AND BIRTH SERVICES
Your choices for childbirth are very important. How you are supported in those choices enhances, not only your labor, but also your memory of your birth experience. With that in mind, we monitor your labor and birth safely while respecting your space and needs. During your labor you may choose to lie in bed with your partner, walk, talk, eat, drink or relax in the tub. We also facilitate any number of birthing positions, including in the soaking tub.
Since your birth is your occasion, you may choose whom to invite inside your birth suite. It can be a private time with you and your spouse/partner, or with family and friends. We encourage and support their involvement in this process. In addition to your private suite, we have a designated family lounge for family and guests to wait in comfort while at the center.
During your labor, the midwife will monitor you and your baby’s well being while supporting your choices for birth. You will have been prepared for this moment through all your visits with the midwives. When your baby is born, we understand the importance of those first moments for mom, baby and dad. We facilitate bonding within this new family, while caring for and monitoring mom and baby together.
Interested in Water Birth?
POSTPARTUM CARE FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY
Continuity of care is the foundation for the Midwives Model of Care. Therefore, postpartum care begins immediately after the birth of your baby. Exams on mom and baby are performed together to not interrupt the bonding process. Breastfeeding is encouraged and supported. Your midwife or assistant will help you and your baby with your first breastfeeding session. Before leaving the birthing center, parents are taught what to expect in the coming days and weeks. Our midwives will advise you on how to monitor your baby’s health as well.
The typical length of stay after the birth of the baby is 4 to 8 hours, but may vary from family to family. Most moms are eager to take their new baby home and settle in. We recognize your new family’s needs and will visit you in your home within the first 24–48 hours. A clinic visit is scheduled with mom and baby at 2 weeks to ensure a successful breastfeeding experience and a healthy start together as mother and child.
A 6-week postpartum visit is scheduled to discuss family planning and to make sure the process of transition is normal. This schedule is flexible and can be adjusted according to the family’s needs.
We Have Experience With Multiple Births!
Our midwives have been recognized for their work in multiple births.
BIRTH CENTER STONE OAK OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES
In addition to our midwifery services, Birth Center Stone Oak also offers optional counseling, chiropractic, and massage services at our facilities for your convenience. Schedule your prenatal visits to coincide with these providers’ availability (see our calendar). Contact the specific provider to schedule your appointment.
Exams/Testing
- We offer a full spectrum of maternity related labs
- We can order sonograms
- We are partnered with testing labs to provide prenatal genetic testing
Additionally, we offer the following services for you and your newborn:
- Newborn Hearing Screenings – Now Offered Every Thursday! Newborn hearing screenings are critical in the early detection of potential hearing issues with your baby. Screenings have become an essential facet of newborn care, with long range benefits to your baby’s speech and language development. Tests are safe and comfortable for the your baby and only take minutes to perform. Newborn Hearing Screens are considered preventative care and generally reimbursed by your insurance. A receipt of payment will be given at the time of service for your submission to your insurance for reimbursement. Appointments are required. Please call 210-481-7549 to schedule your baby’s appointment.
- Infant Weight Checks Tracking a newborn’s weight throughout the first few weeks and months allows care providers to monitor the baby’s general health and development. Infant weight checks may also help put new parents at ease, who often have many questions about their baby’s weight gain or weight loss. Weight checks are complimentary and available to our clients. Please call 210-481-7549 to set your appointment.
- Lactation Classes Our lactation class, taught by an (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is offered on an as-needed basis.Lactation classes have been shown to:
- Identify benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and baby
- Give guidance on breastfeeding tips and techniques
- Offer solutions for breastfeeding problems
- Help with information on pumping
- Improve breastfeeding outcomes
Registration required. Call 210-481-7549 for information and class prices.
Check our calendar for dates and times.
Prenatal Chiropractic Benefits
Chiropractic services are offered at our office location through Abundant Life Chiropractic. Appointments are available weekly, with Monday appointments available the first week of the month from 2 – 6 pm and Wednesday appointments available from 10:30 am – 12 pm on the subsequent weeks..
Angelina Artho D.C. has been a chiropractor for more than 10 years, and loves to provide natural chiropractic care, especially to babies, children and pregnant women.
With chiropractic care during pregnancy, you can expect to experience many benefits, including:
- Pelvic balance and alignment and overall body balance
- Controlled symptoms of nausea
- Improved comfort during pregnancy
- Potential reduction of labor and birth
- Relief of back, neck or joint pain
- Reduction of stress on your uterus
- Optimal fetal positioning
Availability:
1st Monday of the Month: 2 – 6 pm
Subsequent Wednesdays: 10:30 am – 12 pm
Appointments are available to our clients.
Please call 210-434-5772 for insurance questions, fees and scheduling.
Massage Therapy
We offer prenatal massage through Abundant Life Chiropractic at the same appointment times.
Prenatal massage throughout pregnancy has been shown to reduce some of the discomforts of pregnancy, including aches and stress, and promotes overall wellness.
Prenatal Massage Benefits:
- Improves relaxation
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Alleviates headaches
- Helps reduce back and leg pain
- Relieves muscle tension and swelling
- Increases blood flow and the flow of lymphatic fluid
- Aids in better sleep
Appointments are required, and available to our clients. Call 210-434-5772 for insurance questions, fees and scheduling.
Prenatal Counseling
As part of an overall healthy pregnancy, we offer prenatal counseling through Gurno Counselling, LLC. Due to the change in dynamics within yourself during pregnancy, both physical and emotional, it is important to have the right kind of support and understanding throughout the journey. Angela Gurno, MS, LPC, NCC, can help you and your family with issues that may arise during your pregnancy with guidance and resources.
Postpartum Counseling Benefits
Angela Gurno, MS, LPC, NCC, is also available for postpartum counseling at our location. After your baby has arrived, you may experience any number of feelings. Postpartum counseling assists you in coping with the flood of emotions including postpartum depression. Counseling also helps rebalance families and addresses any sibling issues that may arise.
Counseling appointments are available to our clients. Appointments are required. Please call 210-502-5004 for Insurance questions, rates and scheduling.