Integrated Care

“Integrated Care" refers to the integration of our contracted educators, specialists, and providers into our current care model. We are taking on an "all-in-one" approach to prenatal and maternity care by offering pelvic floor therapy, mental health support, nutrition education, and more to our prenatal appointment schedule. Now, you'll be able to attend these necessary classes and receive quality prenatal care during the same visit! We are offering a total of 6 specialized group sessions, or "classes", combined with a quick individual prenatal visit with a midwife. These classes give our clients the opportunity to expand their knowledge about pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. We have noticed that our clients who have attended these classes in the past are better prepared to navigate the trials of new parenthood, while also expressing a sense of strong support from other mamas in our Tree of Life community.

Group Prenatal Classes

  • Ariel, one of our beloved staff doulas and lactation counselor, will lead a class all about what to look forward to in pregnancy. From food aversions to sleep changes, she'll talk about it all with our parents to be. This is a great class for couples to attend together if possible, and particularly helpful for first-time moms and dads.

  • Hayley, our occupational therapist will guide you through prenatal pelvic floor care, including strengthening the muscles and learning to relax them during labor. This class can be especially helpful for those experiencing a subsequent pregnancy and having common symptoms such as stress incontinence and pubic symphysis pain.

  • Hayley will guide our clients through a more focused look at the pelvic floor to isolate the how-tos of pushing during labor. She will also demonstrate optimal positions for pushing, protecting your perineum, and the differences between an effective push and a less-effective push.

  • Gwen, our LCSW, will lead a group dialogue on autonomy and preparing your mental space for birth. She will encourage reflection on your own mental space leading into your birth, and provide mindfulness exercises to incorporate into your routine.

  • Ariel will guide couples through the ins-and-outs of the labor and birth process at Tree of Life, including the mechanics of childbirth itself. This group session highly encourages the accompaniment of your partner, spouse or support person who will be present at your birth, and is held at a later time in the evening in order to accommodate a broader range of schedules.

  • Ariel will teach latch basics, hunger cues, and give a rundown on the How-Tos of pumping. This class can be useful for first-time moms as well as anyone else who is looking for something a little different from a previous breastfeeding or pumping experience.

  • Gwen will guide parents through the development of a Postpartum Plan, as well as lead a dialogue about what support from external family and friends may look like. She will also help parents uncover a better understanding of what their own needs may be in the early postpartum days, as well as addressing some more sensitive topics such as postpartum depression and anxiety. This class is preferred for both parents to attend and is offered at a later time to accommodate a broader range of schedules.

  • Hayley will provide information on re-strengthening the pelvic floor after childbirth, and what to expect from your body in the next year. She will review how to safely resume higher-impact physical activities, including running, weight lifting, and intimate activities with your partner. This will be the last appointment/session with Tree of Life, and is considered our “final hurrah” with our clients.

  • Many of our classes are available to families outside of Tree of Life care. Sign up here! 

Note: Some of these classes are not intended to be attended by the father of the baby/male partner or support person. This is because, particularly in Hayley and Gwen’s classes, sensitive and/or intimate topics concerning anatomy and mental health will be discussed, and the presence of a non-pregnant attendee does have the potential to endanger the emotional safety of other clients. Check with our administrative staff before bringing your partner. If a non-pregnant person arrives with the intention of attending the class with their partner, they may be asked by a member of our staff to wait outside of the classroom.

Integrated Care Need-To-Knows 

✓ Our group prenatal sessions will be held on a six-week cycle and can be attended without conjunction of a prenatal visit. 

✓ First-time clients of Tree of Life will be required to attend each of the six classes available to them. This is because each class contains vital information that will be useful during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. We’ve found that parents, particularly first-time parents, who have had access to these classes in the past have felt more confident and prepared during labor and postpartum. 

✓ Clients are encouraged to attend each class during their corresponding gestational age (indicated above), but this is not a requirement. This consistency also encourages clients to attend group sessions with other expecting parents who may have similar due dates, creating a “built-in” community for our clients. 

✓ During each group prenatal session, clients can be pulled out of the class for an individual 15- min clinical check-up with a member of our midwifery team. Due to the minimized clinical time during these sessions, clients should be aware that these may not be the moments to prepare too many non-pressing inquiries regarding their pregnancy. 

✓ These group sessions will not replace all individual appointments with the midwives, but are intended to add to the maternity care experience. Clients will still be able to schedule individual full prenatal appointments with the midwives.