Alma Services

 
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The Experience of Midwifery Care at Alma - The Sweet Spot

Alma is the sweet spot to give birth in Portland, Oregon because of its blending of the ancient craft of midwifery with the most up-to-date evidence based practices. We think you will love our “menu” approach of options.  We serve a wide range of people and do not assume because you have chosen midwifery care that you will want a certain type of care.

Some menu offerings will include: genetic & laboratory testing, gestational diabetes screening and cultures for group beta strep (GBS) and appropriately-timed ultrasound. We don’t just hand you the menu and say “choose now”  because we want you to see us as your guides. Obstetrics in the 21st century is growing more technologically complex. Alma midwives keep abreast of the newest studies & practices while remembering that our ancestors have been giving birth for six million years. You may opt to keep your care to the most minimal of testing and procedures. This is okay as long as you understand the potential benefits of the tests/procedure you are declining.

Our job to keep up on the latest evidence based practices, learn about you & your health history, listen to your desires, provide education about your options, give true informed consent, allow for smart declining of tests & procedures, and design individual care plans. Midwifery care is so much more than tests and procedures!

This kind of care takes time. We have that! We will spend up to an hour with you at each prenatal and postnatal visit. While working together on this most precious project, we will get to know you & your family. Beyond taking vital signs and checking in on baby, we will chat about an endless variety of pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenting topics. Do you want to breastfeed? Are you going to circumcise? What’s the deal with baby shots? Do you recommend a TDaP in pregnancy? Can I birth in the water? What happens to baby immediately after birth? What if there are complications? Do you file birth certificates? Can I get an IUD at Alma in my postpartum? We are ready to meet you, answer your questions, ask a few questions and LISTEN. Listening is key to respectful care.

 
 
 
 
 

Insurance

 
 

Alma Midwifery is in network with:

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Your insurance company here in the future. If your company isn’t listed above, contact them and tell them you want Alma Midwifery to be in network with them ASAP - it may not happen during your pregnancy, but it is helpful for them to hear of the consumer demand.

 

Can I still birth with Alma if my insurance company is not in network?

YES! We can also bill your insurance plan out-of-network and often the “out-of-pocket” expense is thousands below the cost of a hospital. We also have “early bird" discounts, OHP discounts and payment plans. If you believe this is the place for you to receive care, our client liaison will sit down with you and make a care/payment plan.

We are also working diligently with many other insurance companies  to gain in-network status. At this time (02-03-19) there is a 2019 Access to Midwifery Care Bill that would increase access to midwifery care for all Oregon families. We cannot take OHP but hope to in the future, once this bill passes.   

 
 
 

Services

 
 

“All health care begins with the care of the mother”
- Mary Breckinridge founder of Frontier Nursing Services

 
 

  • COMPLIMENTARY TOUR AND MEET & GREET FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE (if partnered, bring your support person)
  • PRECONCEPTION COUNSELING
  • PRENATAL CARE
  • IN-HOUSE LAB DRAWS
  • BASIC BEDSIDE ULTRASOUND & OTHER FETAL SURVEILLANCE UP TO AN HOUR PRE & POSTNATAL VISITS (including home visits)
  • BIRTH CENTER BIRTHING SERVICES
  • AT-HOME BIRTHING SERVICES
  • HOSPITAL BIRTHING SUPPORT AND (IN MID-2019) HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES IN A FEW CLOSE-BY HOSPITALS
  • WATER LABOR AND BIRTH AT HOME OR IN BIRTH CENTER

  • EXCEPTIONAL POSTPARTUM CARE (to 6 weeks)
  • WELL BABY CARE (to 6 weeks)
  • BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT (including referral to IBCLC and in-house weekly lactation support for public)
  • WELL WOMAN EXAMS (all ages, pelvic floor assessment and therapy)
  • BIRTH CONTROL, MENOPAUSAL SUPPORT, BLADDER HEALTH
  • CONCEPTION EDUCATION AND SUPPORT INCLUDING IUI (intrauterine insemination)
  • PARTNERS ARE HEARD, SEEN, AND SUPPORTED THROUGH THIS VITAL PARENTING TRANSITION

 
 
 

Insemination Services

Alma Midwifery offers insemination services to help families who are using donor insemination to build their families. Please see Conceptions for more information.

Well-Woman Care

Alma midwives offer annual exams. We offer a full range of contraceptive options including hormonal birth control and Intrauterine Device (IUD) insertion or removal. We provide gentle and respectful gynecological care, and pre-conception care and education.

“We cannot thank you enough for our two beautiful births in the birth center! We will forever cherish our time with you and your team. You have created such a valuable service and space for Portland families and we feel so lucky to have had such thoughtful and loving care from you. The only downfall to Alma is leaving after 6 weeks and knowing we won’t be back. We will all miss you and your support. Thank you for the special memories during this amazing time” - Alison S

Thanks for your kind word Alison, now you can stay with Alma beyond that 6 week postnatal point and receive well-woman care to menopause and beyond.