Thoughtful Midwifery Care Right Here in Brooksville, Florida

A first time mother-to-be is beyond elated for the life blooming in her womb and at 19 weeks, is beginning to feel little flutter-by movements within. They started seeing the obstetrical practice that a friend recommended because they have midwives too! Their appointment was at 10am and they’ve been waiting for 38min to be called. They finally call her name, take her back for a weight & blood pressure check and then shuffle her into an exam room, where she waits for another 10 minutes. The doctor or midwife comes in with a polite “Hello, how are you today?” but immediately sits down to look at her chart and proceeds to ask if she’s having any concerning symptoms or questions. At first, this doesn’t bother the patient, but as the appointment goes on she realizes the provider is just going through motions. She begins to feel like a number on a check list. The provider reviews labs that were already reviewed at a previous visit and asks if she’s had her 20 week fetal anatomy scan yet because they don’t have a report yet. The patient feels defeated. The providers & staff are perfectly lovely, but she clearly is one of many many other patients and she craves a more personalized experience.

Everyone deserves thorough, personalized care during such a delicate time of transition. Whether it’s your first pregnancy or your 6th! We commonly hear from clients who are sitting in the waiting room of their OB or CNM’s office, as they realize there is something left to be desired. Women frequently seek out practices here, in Hernando County, that boast midwifery services. Unfortunately these practices are still overseen by physicians & practice managers who limit time spent in visits, education, protocols, etc. Not to mention the all-too-familiar “bait and switch”, for families hoping for a Trial of Labor/Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC); who are given false hope for a VBAC during the earlier stages of pregnancy only to be told right before their due date that it would be better to do a repeat cesarean. (Please check out our Spring Hill Birth & VBAC Options blog!)

Barefoot Birth offers many different care options for families. Desire a home birth? CHECK! Desire prenatal care in your home, but feel more comfortable delivering in the hospital? CHECK! Hospital birth with a midwife as your doula? CHECK! Whatever your needs, we can meet them.

Your care experience with Barefoot Birth will include the same schedule of prenatal/postpartum visits, routine lab work & ultrasound referrals that all maternity providers offer. However, we focus on healthy lifestyles for improved birth outcomes by discussing diet, exercise, discomforts and supplements throughout your entire pregnancy & postpartum journey. We utilize current, evidence based practices, yet offer you options that fit your desires and beliefs. We believe in your body’s ability to grow, birth & nourish a healthy baby and that is reflected in our low-intervention, hands-off philosophy. So while we may send you for a consultation with a physician if necessary, we will NOT be checking your cervix once you are 36 weeks!

Visits with us tend to include a healthy mix of serious discussions & counseling while also keeping it fun and hope you leave in a great mood with a smile (and maybe a hug)! We want everyone to have a positive outlook on their care & birth, no matter what that looks like for you & your family. We love home birth but understand that it is not for everyone, however midwifery care IS.

We are currently the ONLY home birth practice that has a midwife based right here in Spring Hill. Our Brooksville clinic is located at 651 South Broad St. and is held by appointment only, every Thursday, with very flexible hours to meet all types of schedules! We are serving all home birth families within a 1 hour radius of Brooksville, to include all of Hernando & Pasco counties, most of Citrus and some of Sumter. Please give us a call anytime at 813.515.0825, or shoot us an email, if you are interested in scheduling a free, no-pressure consultation to see if we are the right fit for you!