What Postpartum Care Looks Like at a Birth Center

May 24, 2025

When you choose to have your birth experience at Roots, we are your partners throughout the process and even after that. With us, care does not end with the delivery of your baby but continues well into the postpartum period. We will continue to see you for a few weeks after delivery to ensure you’re doing well with the new changes in your life and body.

Here’s what postpartum care means at Roots Community Birth Center.

Why is postpartum care important?

We have a comprehensive postpartum care plan to ensure that:

Your transition as a new parent is going well: parenthood can be increasingly overwhelming in the initial days. We provide support and guidance during that period to help you cope with the challenges and transition into this new role more smoothly.

The transition for the newborn is going well: babies can have a hard time adjusting to the world outside. We are here to make sure they’re adjusting well and to see how we can help them during this time.
The baby is gaining weight: We check your baby’s weight on every visit and compare it to their last weight to see if they’re gaining enough weight. This provides helpful insight into how well-nourished they are.
You’re doing okay: Postpartum can be challenging emotionally and physically. We check your mood and overall health to ensure that you’re coping well. We might refer you to mental health experts if needed.

How many visits will I have?

After you deliver your baby, we do an initial check-up before discharge to make sure everything looks good for you and your baby. After that, you’ll have a total of 6 postpartum visits:

A 24-36 hour home visit: a midwife will visit you after 24-36 hours to check up on you and your baby. They will take a few vitals, do a quick physical exam, and provide guidance on how to go about the next few days.
A 3-day home visit: The next visit happens 3 days after birth. We usually do a mental health check-in at this time to ensure you’re doing okay. We might also check your lactation technique and assist if needed.
7-day home or clinic visit: after a week, you can choose to visit us at the birth center, or we can visit you at home. We usually discuss issues in the preceding week and come up with strategies on how to cope.
A routine 2-week, 4-week, and 6-week in-office visit: After that, you will see us bi-weekly, and we’ll continue to provide support wherever needed.

If you need more support, we can make referrals accordingly. For instance, we can refer you for postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy, lactation support, etc. We also have numerous resources for postpartum mood disorders or concerns.

For baby-related problems, we have a resource list for pediatric providers. Eventually, newborns will move from our care to pediatric care around the six-week mark.

Why does birth center postpartum care feel different?

At Roots Community Birth Center, we are your partners in care. We want to see you thrive in newfound parenthood while ensuring that you’re doing well not only physically but also emotionally. Here’s how we do that:

Individualized Care: There is no one-size-fits-all solution to care. We understand every client is different and has different needs. We are here to empower you to recognize your care-related needs, and let us fulfill them the best we can. You get to see familiar faces throughout, allowing you to get comfortable and more confident with your care at the birth center.

Time-rich appointments: Your appointments at the birth center are never rushed. We try to provide a space where your questions and healing matter. You have time to get to know us and build rapport.

Philosophy of treating the whole person, not just physical recovery: physical and mental health go hand in hand for us. Especially during the postpartum period, where mental wellbeing can be severely neglected. We take note of all aspects of your health and make sure you’re not suffering in silence.

We understand that postpartum can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right support and care, you can easily navigate through this period. To learn more about our care, send us a message!