Midwifery FAQs

What hospitals do you deliver at?

Our practice is on staff at both Boca Raton Regional Hospital and West Boca Medical Center. For those patients who require a level 3 neonatal Intensive Care Unit, our practice will deliver at West Boca Medical Center, and all other deliveries are performed at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

Boca Raton Regional Hospital
800 Meadows Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33486
(561) 955-7100
www.baptisthealth.net

West Boca Medical Center
21644 State Road 7, Boca Raton, FL 33428
(561) 488-8000
www.palmbeachhealthnetwork.com

I don't want routine interventions at birth. Will you support that choice?

Our philosophy is to empowering you throughout your birth and support the health and well-being of mom and baby, and to implement procedures and interventions only when necessary. We are committed to keeping you informed of any necessary interventions as the need arises. If labor is normal, and you and your baby are healthy; we don't anticipate any reason to intervene. We do have minimum interventions that are hospital policy. These will be specific to your situation in labor.

I want to be active and mobile in labor; can I be free from monitors and cords?

Absolutely! Movement during labor plays a crucial role in enhancing the birthing experience - It can help facilitate your little one's journey into the world! We encourage mobility and want you out of bed as much as possible. The hospitals have wireless fetal monitoring systems to enable you to be mobile and still allow us to monitor your baby per hospital protocol.

Do I have to deliver on my back?

This is your journey and we are here to support you the best and safest way possible. The hospital beds can accommodate a variety of positions: reclined, side-lying, squatting or kneeling position.

Do you offer delayed cord clamping?

We routinely allow for delayed clamping of the cord - allowing more blood to transfer from the placenta to the newborn. If you choose to bank your baby’s cord blood, we will discuss appropriate timing of clamping the cord, usually 30-60 seconds. If there is a complication at the time of delivery, it may be necessary to clamp and cut the cord quickly to allow the pediatrician to take care of the baby.

Will I be placed on time restraints in labor?

Your labor will be allowed to progress on its own time frame without arbitrary limits or expectations of progress. There are certain situations in which delivery must be expedited, but typically labor progresses best on its own, when left undisturbed.

What if I get to the hospital too early – will I have to stay?

No, if you are not active in labor, and the baby and you are both doing well, we will recommend that you return home until labor is better established.

If I deliver with a midwife, will she be with me throughout my whole labor?

For guaranteed one-on-one support, we recommend you hire a doula for labor. A doula will likely come to your home, labor with you and help you decide the best time to come to the hospital. We love doulas and enjoy working with them! Our midwives will make themselves available to support you in labor as needed. We try our best to be with you from the active stages of labor, through delivery, and through the immediate post- partum period.

Can I have a water birth?

Boca Raton Regional welcomes labor tubs, however, they will have you get out for delivery. They do not allow water birth. If you are interested your doula can assist with the renting of a tub for your delivery.

If I go past my due date, will I be encouraged to be induced?

Unless specifically recommended by the Perinatologists for medical reasons, we prefer to avoid induction of labor whenever possible. We know it is normal for pregnancies to extend beyond the due date. In these cases, we schedule more frequent visits and ultrasounds to make sure the baby and placenta are still doing well. Should the pregnancy approach the 42-week mark (2 weeks past the due date), we will schedule an induction.