Midwifery and Doula Services
What is a CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE (CPM)?
A CPM is a direct-entry midwifery practitioner who has met all the certification standards set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). What distinguishes a CPM from other nationally certified midwives is that CPMs primarily attend to low-risk pregnant women in an out-of-hospital 
setting. CPMs are trained via a competency-based model of education, which requires them to gain direct hands-on experience in an out-of-hospital setting. NARM recognizes that this is the optimal model for educating midwives because it requires clinical experience, continuity of care, and risk assessment skills, which are required to determine when referral, collaboration or consultation with a physician is necessary.
Prenatal visit schedule:
0-28 weeks; once a month
29-36 weeks; every other week
37-Birth; every week
We will schedule a home visit at 36 weeks to meet your birth companions and to go over details of your birth. We typically spend an hour together at our prenatal appointments. During a prenatal, we check your vital signs and the baby’s size, position, heart rate and we will discuss any physical and emotional issues that arise. We provide routine prenatal lab work if needed. We will also offer you information, resources and support on how to nurture yourself through pregnancy and beyond. Boston Community Midwifery believes that a nurtured and well-nourished mother is the best assurance of a healthy baby and birth.
At your birth you will be assisted by Tara Kenny, another certified professional midwife and possibly an apprentice training with us. We work as a team, where each assists and contributes. We will make every attempt to introduce anyone who will be present at your birth ahead of time. This kind of teamwork allows for empowered, personalized care. We also will work with you and your insurance provider through our billing service to include some or all reimbursement for your care.
Postpartum Visit Schedule:
We will visit your home within 24 hours of the birth and another two times in the first week after the birth, at 2 weeks and at 6 weeks postpartum.
Read more about our midwives.
What is a Birth Doula?
Doula is an ancient greek word that has come to mean “mothering the mother.” A doula stays with a laboring woman throughout her entire labor and birth experience, helping her and her partner (if applicable) with this major life event providing the continuity of care that is not 
possible in the medical model. The doula provides emotional, physical and informational support. She works with the mother to employ comfort measures, relaxation techniques and other non-medical methods of coping with the intensity of labor. She educates and supports the choices the birthing family makes while helping the mother feel empowered and confident.
Course of Doula Care
Includes a free initial consultation, 2-3 prenatal appointments, prenatal education, and assistance with a birth plan, on call for you starting at 37 weeks, one postpartum visit including the birth story and breastfeeding support. For one of your prenatal appointments, you can choose to have your doula attend one of your prenatal checkups with your doctor or midwife. We see ourselves as a team member during your birth process. We strive to empower partners during the prenatal appointments and birth experience.
Includes a free initial consultation ideally before the baby is born, lactation counseling and support, education on baby care, providing community resources, sibling support, meal preparation, laundry and light house keeping. We typically work in 4 -hour increments from 9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm with flexibility. Depending on the needs of your family, we work with families anywhere from a few weeks up to several months.
Read more about our doulas.
