Midwifery Services
I provide care from preconception through six to eight weeks postpartum. Besides the obvious prenatal care, labor and delivery care, and postpartum care, my services include preconception care, some (limited) well-woman care such as Pap smears/HPV swabs, cultures, and hormone testing, breastfeeding help and the state-required newborn screen testing (commonly known as PKU). I attend mostly home births, though I do have privileges at the birth center in Mt Pleasant, TX, and at the birth center in Longview, TX, on a case by case basis.
I give prenatal care in my office in Longview on the same schedule as a doctor would: monthly until about 7 months (28 weeks), every two weeks until your last month (36 weeks), and then weekly until your birth. If any problems should arise during your pregnancy, I am able to consult with and/or refer you to doctors in your area. In the event of an emergency, I carry anti-hemorrhagic drugs and herbs (to stop excessive bleeding after the birth) and oxygen. I am also trained in infant and adult CPR and neonatal resuscitation. Thankfully, those types of emergencies are rare, but I am prepared. I also bring a trained assistant or another midwife to all births so that there are two trained people to take care of both mom and baby. In the case of twins, we have at least three trained birth attendants present.
My goal is to help you have a healthy pregnancy, a safe birth, and a smooth transition for you and your family afterward.
Philosophy of Care
It is Summer's adamant belief that birth is a natural, normal process; that a woman's birth into motherhood impacts her for the rest of her life, regardless of whether the outcome was what she wanted or not; and that informed decision making and connection to local resources leads to the health and well-being of the entire family. To that end, she seeks to educate and empower women and their partners throughout the pregnant year. She is especially passionate about first-time parents and helping them on their path to parenthood.
My philosophy is to prevent problems before they happen as much as possible. To that end, I stress good nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate hydration as a primary defense against common complications. I also try to suggest non-allopathic (non-medical / non-pharmaceutical) remedies such as herbs and homeopathy for minor problems before sending you to a physician or pharmacy.
Free Consultation:
I am happy to sit down with you and discuss my services in more detail and answer any questions that you may have. We may even be able to listen to the baby's heartbeat if you would like to. There is no charge for this visit. Please email or call 903-315-6191 to set an appointment.
The fees for my services are based on amounts customarily billed to insurance. I offer a sizable discount for payment of these fees by your 36th week of pregnancy. Medicaid may pay for part of your care, and I also offer a hardship discount based on family size and income.
Lab work and sonograms for mother and baby is billed to insurance, Medicaid, or paid out of pocket.