Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent each year within the medical industrial complex maintaining and improving the current systems in prenatal, birth, and postpartum healthcare. Having a standard of care across midwifery and obstetrics supports both families and providers in making and growing healthy babies and parents.

But what about preconception healthcare?

Once a baby is made, you know you’re going to show up to your chosen provider’s office and a schedule of care will be offered, with evidence-informed labs to be run, and a general standard of care you can expect, regardless of where you are in the country.

But again, what about preconception healthcare?

Each year new families throw baby showers, sign up for gift registries, hire doulas, and spend hundreds of dollars on childbirth education and birth photography. We work hard to increase access to support in gestation and postpartum.

But what we keep hearing here at Village Midwifery & Family Care, is that there is a need for preconception healthcare—an evidence-informed care plan that supports the fertility process BEFORE a baby is made (especially if there are obstacles and challenges to building a family).

With a number of years of experience and hundreds of families served under the midwifery model of care, we believe this proven standard can be applied to the preconception and fertility period of family-building.

The key elements to this model include 1) time and attention through continuity and a standard schedule, 2) clinical and low-risk care through an evidence-informed and shared decision-making paradigm, and finally, 3) person-centered care that is inclusive, anti-racist, social-justice oriented.

The solution to the lack of preconception healthcare is actually quite simple! Since opening in 2022 Village Midwifery & Family Care has been carefully applying the midwifery model of care along with our background in functional medicine to our preconception protocols and care plans. The positive feedback we’ve had from our clientele has spurred us on to continue innovating and perfecting how we offer family-building services.

In July of 2023, we are making it official: “Purposeful Preconception” is a midwifery-led healthcare plan for preconception and fertility. It centers our clinical experience in midwifery, functional medicine, and low-intervention fertility procedures. We do this through the following key elements:

1. Time & Attention

a. A knowable and proven schedule of care

b. Time in each appointment to cover all the clinical, psychological, and educational aspects of care

c. Continuity with a personal care team to support safety, trust, and comprehension of needs

2. Evidence-Informed & Shared Decision-Making Policies

a. Clinical protocols informed by current and regularly updated research in fertility

b. Continued education in reproductive justice, functional medicine, and midwifery

c. Commitment to informed consent for each decision made

3. Person-Centered & Inclusive

a. Committed to centering BIPGM & 2SLGBTQ+ individuals

b. Advocates of “health at every size” policies

c. Resource-building and community-based services