Whether you are birthing a baby or yourself anew, I approach care with the intention of supporting your body’s innate capacity for transformation, birth, and healing. It is my goal to provide a space where you feel safe and supported wherever we meet on the path.
My Approach to Care
Supportive
It is my intent to make you feel empowered, well-informed, and confident while simultaneously holding the challenges, fears, and uncertainty of pregnancy and birth with equal reverence. My thorough and regular care is focused on you and your baby's physical and emotional well-being throughout every phase of your journey.
Hands-On
From prenatal massage to postpartum realignment and restoration, I incorporate Abdominal Therapy into my basic care to ensure your body is in an optimal state of health. Ensuring you are aware and confident about your body’s potential is the best way to prepare you for the birth experience you desire.
Grounding
I am here to hold space for you – to allow you to tap into the wisdom you already hold to successfully navigate this journey. I have found that birth reflects a woman’s relationship to herself and her body. Because of this, I value embodiment and self-care, using techniques like aromatherapy, massage, and more to ground you in your journey and in your own body.
Hannah Neumann, CPM, LM
I am a Certified Professional Midwife trained in the art of homebirth midwifery. As the primary maternity care provider for my clients, I provide services throughout pregnancy, during labor and birth, and postpartum for six weeks. I am a licensed midwife in the state of Maine and accredited in CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation. I am also trained in normal newborn care for up to eight weeks of life.
I graduated in 2018 from Birthwise Midwifery School, an institution accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC). Prior to my midwifery education, I graduated from Bellarmine University in 2012 with a BA in Psychology. During my midwifery residency, I trained under the skillful guidance of midwives throughout the state of Maine.
In addition to my work as a midwife, I completed training through The Arvigo Institute of Mayan Abdominal Therapy with advanced studies in preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care. I am currently studying Ayurveda at the Mahatma School of Ayurveda, which I plan to weave into my care as a midwife and abdominal massage therapist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need additional details? You can reach me by email at: hannah@meadowsweetmidwife.com
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There are a few different types of midwives in the United States. I am a licensed Certified Professional Midwife which means my training is in home birth and birth center birth. I am also trained in emergency skills such as neonatal resuscitation. Although I aim to keep intervention to a minimum, midwives use the tools of modern medicine whenever it is appropriate. From labs to ultrasounds, we rely on aspects of technology-based medicine to ensure the health and safety of mother and baby. We also strive to minimize technological intervention. Though we carry oxygen, medications, are trained in neonatal resuscitation, and have the ability to administer IVs, these tools are only used when necessary and we always ensure that the benefits of any intervention outweigh the risks. Midwifery education emphasizes shared decision making between the midwife and client, supporting the process of labor and birth by using minimal intervention and holistic and individualized care for clients.
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Home birth is for any low risk pregnant person who wants one. I am used to working with clients with many different backgrounds, family structures, and values. If you’re uncertain if you’re low risk, please schedule a consultation and we can discuss your health concerns.
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Home birth with a trained and experienced midwife is safe. Evidence shows that, especially for people who have already had a baby, home birth is as safe as hospital birth and has fewer interventions. Other benefits to home birth are continuity of care (you know who will be attending your birth), decreased rates of cesareans, and increased satisfaction with your birth experience.
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I have found water to be an excellent tool to provide much needed relief during labor. About half of the clients I serve end up giving birth in the water. Whether or not you choose to give birth in the tub, a birth tub is made available to you at no additional charge.
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You can birth anywhere that feels comfortable to you. I’ve attended births in apartments, houses, trailers, yurts, campers, etc. Midwives are adaptable!
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Midwives don’t offer epidurals or standard pain relieving medications at births. The comfort measures used are movement, massage, hydrotherapy (birth tub), and even sterile water injections to treat back labor.
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Absolutely! We use the tools of modern medicine whenever it is appropriate. From labs to ultrasounds to dopplers, we rely on aspects of technology-based medicine to ensure the health and safety of mother and baby. We also strive to minimize technological intervention. Though we carry oxygen, medications, are trained in neonatal resuscitation, and have the ability to administer IVs, these tools are only used when necessary and we always ensure that the benefits of any intervention outweigh the risks.
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Sometimes clients need to transfer to the hospital during their labor or immediately following birth. A variety of reasons can lead to transfer including the need for induction or pain management to emergency support for the birthing person or baby. In any case, as your midwife, I will arrange the transport by calling ahead to the nearest and most appropriate hospital to let them know of your arrival. Then I will fax your records along so that the team receiving you at the hospital has time to review them before your arrival. The hospitals in Maine are familiar with home births and midwifery care, and offer collaborative and smooth transitions of care.
Transport would either occur by private car (non-emergent) or ambulance (emergent). If circumstances allow, I will transfer with you and stay as a support person through labor, birth, and a few hours postpartum. Routine postpartum care resumes in your home after discharge from the hospital.
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In an effort to make things as simple and straightforward for you and your family, I have worked to make my fee for midwifery services as comprehensive as possible. In addition to the standard of care midwifery services outlined in the Process section of my Midwifery page, I incorporate Abdominal Massage treatments throughout the course of your pregnancy and postpartum. Typically this includes two to three prenatal massages to help you release tension, soothe sore muscles, and prepare for birth, and one to two postpartum massages to aid in your healing process.
Comprehensive Midwifery Fee: $5,800
