SERVICES

We are pleased to offer annual exams, gynecologic appointments, and prenatal care. We also offer sports physical for school-aged females:

  • New pregnancy appointments are typically 1-1.25 hours long and scheduled around 8-11 weeks of pregnancy. If you know you desire genetic testing, 10 weeks is the soonest this testing is available.

  • Repeat OB appointments are typically 20-45 minutes long and occur at an individually scheduled interval, generally every 3-6 weeks, until 36 weeks of pregnancy when they become weekly appointments.

  • Midwife-attended hospital birth for normal vaginal birth (if an obstetrician is needed, care will be transferred, as appropriate, and we will remain at your side, in a support role).

  • Midwife-attended home birth for low risk pregnancies on Fidalgo and North Whidbey Islands.

  • Inpatient newborn care of the normal, well newborn (if a pediatrician is needed, the care of the newborn will be transferred in hospital). Care after discharge will be coordinated with the pediatric provider of your choosing.

  • Postpartum visits are offered at 2 and 6 weeks postpartum.

  • Problem visits are offered at any time during the pregnancy and after the birth, when problems occur between regularly scheduled appointments.

  • Annual exams and gynecologic appointments, including preconception counseling and early pregnancy confirmation, are generally 30-45 minute appointments.

  • Contraception appointments are typically 30-45 minutes to allow for appropriate counseling prior to the initiation of all contraception options: IUDs, Nexplanon, prescription medication, as well as non-hormonal options.

  • We offer sports physicals for middle and high school females. This includes a physical exam, applicable counseling and completion of school forms. We ask that you bring the required form to the exam, if it is not the ASD athletics form.

  • Telehealth visits are most useful for complimentary meet & greets, problem follow-up and mental health concerns.

  • Appointments can be self-scheduled.

  • We are happy to provide routine prenatal care for women who desire a repeat cesarean. We will coordinate care with the obstetrician of your choice.

  • We are happy to provide routine prenatal care for women who desire a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). While local hospitals do not currently offer this birth option, we will coordinate care with an obstetrician at a facility that does. Your prenatal care can be here in Anacortes and your birth will be at a larger medical center. We highly recommend Northwest and EvergreenHealth which are just over an hour away (most labors allow plenty of time to get there).

“Every woman needs a midwife, and some women need a doctor too...”
— Jane Sandall PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), RM, RN, HV

Most pregnancies are low risk and are recommended for midwifery care. However, there are occasions when referral to an obstetrician is indicated. Indications include:

  • Preexisting hypertension with or without medication

  • Conditions requiring cardiac medication

  • Preexisting diabetes and gestational diabetes requiring insulin

  • Pregnancies with multiples

  • Prior cesarean (Island Hospital & WhidbeyHealth do not offer TOLAC/VBACs at this time)

There are also risk limitations for home birth that should be carefully considered.