Considering Home Birth in Michigan's Upper Peninsula? | Midwives & Doulas
Your Home Birth Team Should Feel Like Home!
As a doula and a mom of three, I know that there is no “right way” to give birth. However finding the right birth team for your family can make all the difference in your birth experience. Your care team should help you feel seen, supported, and at peace. While providing a space that gives you the confidence to ask questions, make informed decisions, and experience birth in a way that feels right to you!
Maybe you’ve considered home birth before, or maybe this is the first time you're learning about it.
A planned home birth allows families with healthy, low risk pregnancies to receive care from a qualified midwifery team throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Prenatal care includes routine checkups, recommended lab work, ultrasounds, and ongoing assessments, just as you would expect with any pregnancy.
One reason families are drawn to midwifery care is because of the relationship that develops along the way. Midwives often care for fewer families at one time, appointments are longer and tend to allow for more conversation, education, and personalized support, giving them the opportunity to truly get to know your family's unique needs and birth goals.
Choosing a home birth doesn't mean choosing less care. It simply means receiving that expert care in a different setting!
For many years in the UP, home birth options were limited and when families would ask me about out of hospital options, my answer oftentimes was “unfortunately we don’t have a home birth provider that support our area.” This had many families travel out of state for care or delivering at a hospital because they felt it was the only option.
Now I am excited to share that there’s a growing number of home birth midwives and birth center options across the Upper Peninsula!
Meet Your Local Home Birth Midwives Supporting 906 Mamas
Upper Peninsula Midwifery Services
Tesa and her team services families in Marquette, the Keewenaw, and South to Iron Mountain.
Website: https://www.upmidwife.com/
Phone: 661-858-3188
Keewenaw Community Midwife
Fiona services families in the Keewenaw, Houghton and surrounding areas.
Website: https://keweenawmidwife.com/
Mindful Birthing U.P North
Amber and her team services families in the Escanaba and Iron Mountain area. They have birth centers located in Green Bay, WI and Escanaba, MI.
Website: https://www.mindfulbirthinggreenbay.info/michiganmidwife
Phone: 920-873-0656
If I have a midwife, do I need a doula?
Every family is different. While you don't need a doula to have a beautiful home birth, many families choose to have both because a midwife and a doula each bring something unique to the birth experience.
Throughout pregnancy, your midwife and doula both spend time getting to know your family, providing education, answering questions, and helping you prepare for birth. As labor unfolds, our roles naturally become more distinct.
Your midwife is able to focus on your clinical care and protecting the normal process of labor. As your doula, I'm by your side offering hands on comfort measures, emotional support, position changes, and guidance. Your partner can simply be your partner, knowing there is always someone by your side.
Each member of your birth team has a unique role and none replaces the other. Instead, we work together to create a birth team that supports you in different, but equally important, ways!
Exploring all of your option, check out A Doula's Guide to Choosing Your Labor Hospital in Upper Peninsula!
Lacy Anderson, mama of 3 beautiful children!
Certified Doula, Childbirth Educator, Fitness Instructor, Midwife Assistant and Car Seat Safety Technician!
Phone: 906.458.5678
Website: www.upfamilydoula.com
A little about me & Doula care
I'm Lacy, owner of UP Family Doula Care located in Marquette County, MI. I know I have mentioned the term "Doula", but what's a Doula? Well the simply version is, I'm someone who's here to help in any way that I can! I support families during pregnancy, labor and the first year postpartum. Now this support can be done through education, emotional support, helping the families prepare for the baby and upcoming delivery, helping families to advocate for what they need and want, and helping families feel empowered and confident! If you are interested in learning more about how I can support you and your family, schedule a meet and greet today!
