Home birth in Kauai with Midwife Mieko Aoki, CPM! Find out what to expect for your prenatal visits, labor and birth, postnatal period and newborn care! Read Aoki Birthing Care philosophy to familiarize yourself with the benefits of home birth.

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR YOUR MIDWIFERY CARE!

Prenatal Care

Prenatal care generally includes:

  • “Meet & Greet”: Free initial consultation. This is an interview to make sure you are a good fit for a home birth and that we are a good fit for each other. We care and attend births at home for twin pregnancy, breech delivery, HBAC or home birth after cesarean. This includes at home births with our beloved Hanalei, Wainiha, Hā`ena community! (No moving necessary!)

  • You will receive a welcome packet full of important and helpful resources that you can refer to throughout your pregnancy and postnatal period. Please bring to your visits!

  • Prenatal visits at the Kapa`a studio are monthly until 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks, and weekly until your baby is born. A home visit is scheduled around 36 weeks. More or less visits are scheduled as needed. (Average of 10-12 visits)

  • Each visit with consent, monitors the vital signs and well-being of motherbaby (blood pressure, pulse, urine check, abdominal palpation, belly mapping, fetal heart tones, diet, hydration, movement/stretches/posture, supplements, emotions, mood, etc.). Lab work, ultrasound and screening tests are offered.

  • Education is the primary aspect of your prenatal care. Information covered are on: how to stay healthy to prevent pregnancy related illnesses, risks & benefits of screening tests, risks & benefits of treatments, physiology of labor & birth, relaxation techniques, birth preferences, birth supplies, preparation for your postnatal period, breastfeeding, placenta care, newborn care, etc. Research, resources and opinions are provided to support your informed choices.

  • I practice in the MotherBaby centered model of care.

  • Nutrition, herbal & homeopathic remedies, Spinning Babies©, Body Ready Method, belly warming wraps, and therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, craniosacral, spinalflow) are commonly encouraged with my practice.

  • Emotional well-being is important during pregnancy and space is given for expression.

 
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Labor & Birth

We know each birth is unique and special, and generally speaking:

  • You will contact the midwife when you begin to show signs of labor.

  • We will come to your home when you are ready for support.

  • You will meet my assistant at least once during your pregnancy.

  • A set of birth equipment is brought to your home, including: doppler to monitor your baby's heart rate, oxygen, herbal and homeopathic remedies, and anti-hemmorrhagic drugs.

  • We encourage you to eat, drink, rest and change positions frequently during labor.

  • We are calm, gentle and offer encouraging words, respect your privacy, bonding and birth preference.

  • Mindful attention is paid to the mother and baby’s vital signs and to the overall unfolding of the birth.

Postnatal & Newborn Care

Care for the Mother & Baby up to six weeks after birth generally includes:

  • Midwife visits at your home for the postnatal period on day 1, day 3, 1 week, 2 week and 4 week. The intent of the home visit is to give you the opportunity to bond, breastfeed and recover well in order to return to the world with vigor. The 6 week visit is at the office. More or less visits are scheduled as needed. The 3 month visit is to check on your abdominal healing, scheduled as needed. (Total of 6-8 visits)

  • Vital signs of mother & baby are monitored, patterns of eating & sleeping are noted and breastfeeding assistance is given.

  • Education, resources, nutrition, herbal remedies, moxibustion, belly wrapping and traditional Maya abdominal care are offered as needed to speed recovery.

In the Event of a Transfer

We transfer care to a physician or to the hospital when:

  • Presenting warning signs indicate that intervention is necessary beyond what is available at home.

  • A mother’s or midwife’s intuition, vital signs outside of normal limits, or other warning signs that sometimes occur during pregnancy, birth or postnatal period.

  • Usually, transports are not an emergency, but rather something we can talk about calmly at the time and make the best decision.

  • If we transport during labor, we will go with you to the hospital and continue to advocate for you and provide support as needed.   We are unable to be your primary care provider at the hospital.

  • Your postnatal care continues with your midwife after you are released from the hospital.

Midwife Mieko’s Birth Philosophy

I trust in the power of nature and thus in women's ability to give birth.  The body knows how to birth.  The mind must find the way to focus in deep. I respect women's intuition & choices.  My job is to guard the spectrum of normal.  If something outside of healthy presents itself, we talk about it.  The mother has to make her informed decisions, I will help her where she needs assistance.  Great diet, daily movements and pleasure are key to your pregnant health, smooth labor, birth and recovery. Our ancestors and ancient home birth midwives share their wisdom that the task of the mother is to live each day in happiness from the moment she finds out she is pregnant! This only supports your baby to comfortably travel through one hundred million years of cellular growth and change every week inside of you!  When the baby wishes to live a radiant life, they begin labor to be born and your body responds to team up to birth.  The mother has all the strength, wisdom, power and confidence within to push through the most expansive time of her life.  When any challenges arise, you can tap into the source from your birth and own how you can overcome anything!  We encourage birth partners to participate in the only time this child will be born as they depend on you to witness how the family came to be, and offer words of appreciation for the task they just accomplished.  The first two hours in the postnatal period is a crucial and delicate time for the mother & newborn for greeting, bonding, healing and nursing. This can play an instinctive role to secure the bonding as a family together, for this is the time when your baby is calm, learns who to trust, depend on and believe in for the rest of their life.

Midwife Mieko

Contact Midwife Mieko with any questions!

*Please let us know if you are not feeling well or have any symptoms of illness as we prefer you heal well first at home.

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