Birth Services
We offer the following midwifery and birth services for southern and midcoast Maine. Visit our testimonials page to read about real birth experiences with Northern Sun midwives.
- Natural birth at home
- 24 hour on call service for all patients of Northern Sun
- Complete prenatal care
- Complete newborn exams and screenings
- Well woman and pediatric care
- Physicals and exams
- Pregnancy massage included in birth package
- Waterbirths, including birth tub purchases/rentals
- On site laboratory testing
- Pap smear testing
- Lab work options discussed and individualized
- Contraception counseling including fertility awareness (natural family planning), femcaps and hormonal methods
Waterbirth
Many women choose to labor and birth in water, which provides a calming, relaxing atmosphere and eases the intensity of labor naturally. At Northern Sun, we have been offering waterbirths since 1995. It is a safe and gentle way for the baby to transition from one warm watery environment to another. Birthing in water encourages a woman’s partner to be supportive and involved.
Clinical Laboratory Testing and Ultrasounds
Laboratory testing is an essential tool that allows the practitioner to evaluate a patient’s state of health. These diagnostic approaches allow us to look deeply into how the body manifests illness. We use local laboratory services as well as specialty laboratories around the country that may focus on more unique conditions such as food allergies, and evaluation of hormonal or neurotransmitter production during pregnancy and postpartum. We use local hospitals and ultrasound facilities to perform ultrasounds when appropriate.
Some tests are collected in the office, while others can be completed in the home and mailed directly to the laboratory where it will be processed and the results sent to our office for interpretation. Analysis and discussion of lab results is an integral part of the care our doctors provide, to ensure complete understanding to aid in the innate healing ability of the body.
Dispensary
Due to our concern with issues regarding quality ingredients used in the manufacturing of supplements, we provide a full line of botanical and nutritional products that are carefully chosen and researched by our doctors.
At Northern Sun we are committed to using the highest quality, organically grown or wildcrafted herbs available. We are conscious of supporting responsible harvesting and processing techniques so that the best products will always be available for our patients use.
Newborn Hearing Screenings
Northern Sun is pleased to offer screening for hearing loss, without sending your family to a hospital. Testing is done in the office while your baby is in your arms, sleeping, or in a car seat. Testing will not hurt your baby, and usually takes 10 to 30 minutes.
It is important to know if your baby has hearing loss as soon as possible to allow your baby to get the special help needed for language and social development. We cannot always tell by watching a baby how well he or she can hear. Studies show that many children with hearing loss are not identified until they are over two years old, but the first two years of a child’s life are critical for speech and language development.
Other services offered at Northern Sun
Childbirth classes, hypnobirthing, sibling classes, doula services and bellycastings with Tiffany Avery. For more information on childbirth and parenting classes call (207)798-2751 or e-mail Tiffany.
Acupuncture with Cheri Suzuki R.N., L.Ac.. For more information on acupuncture and NAET an allergy elimination technique, call (207)751-7987. See www.themainepointaccupunture.com.
Counseling for Families, Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Brenna Coughlin, L.C.S.W. For more information on counseling services call (207)751-8518 or e-mail Brenna at coughlincounseling@yahoo.com.
Pregnancy Massage and Hydrotherapy with Andrea Ando-Albert. For more information on massage and hydrotherapy services, call (207)215-7647 or e-mail Andrea at andreaandoalbert@yahoo.com.
