Fertility &Preconception
framing of term, what it entails, Tessa’s vision here
Insemination
Miscarriage management
Hormone support
So much more
Empowered Preconception Care
At your 90 minute fertility consultation, we will thoroughly review your medical history, screening for common causes of infertility and working together to create an individualized plan to optimize your fertility through nutrition, lifestyle changes, supplements and herbs. I can review your charting if you have already started, and I will help you learn about detecting and tracking fertility signs in your body to optimize intercourse or insemination timing. I can also order any relevant lab work.
Following your visit, I will be available to you for three months over phone and email to review your cycle charting, follow-up on lab work, and checking in about your personalized fertility plan. I charge $150 for preconception visits.
Home IUI
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a simple procedure where washed sperm in placed in the uterus to achieve pregnancy. IUI increases the chances of conception when using frozen sperm.
Families choosing home IUI get all of the perks of home birth midwifery – a personal relationship with your midwife, the comfort of being in your own home, and care uniquely tailored to your family’s needs. Unlike fertility clinics, I do not use a tenaculum (metal forcep) to open the cervix. Instead we work together to determine your optimal fertility window so your cervix is soft and open for the procedure. A preconception visit is required to utilize home IUI services. The cost of home IUI is $250.
midwifery style of care is applied to your conception process. For some of us, the ability to conceive in the privacy and comfort of our home, the power to choose who attends our insemination, and the right to receive gentle and respectful care are incredible supports to our becoming pregnant. Home insemination can also be a wonderful backup for those times that the doctor’s office is closed or over-booked. I would be honored to assist you and your growing family to become more informed about your options, to get in sync with your natural cycles, to closely listen to your body’s messages, and to create your beautiful baby.
IUI is a safe, simple procedure that can easily be performed by a Licensed Midwife with specialized training in the comfort of your own home. We provide IUI services in homes throughout the greater Seattle area and in our Seattle office in the Columbia City neighborhood.
Studies show that when conceiving with frozen sperm, intrauterine insemination (IUI) doubles your chances of conception. Because the sperm are placed directly inside the uterus, they can travel quickly to the fallopian tubes and get ready to fertilize an egg. For those who have access to fresh sperm, IUI may be performed to increase chances of conception, especially for those who have tried for a while without success.
The IUI procedure is the same at MAIA as anywhere else – we just do it differently than most other providers. We provide a gentle, comfortable experience, explaining everything as we go. As with all pelvic exams at MAIA, we utilize a trauma-informed approach, which means that you say when the exam begins, and your consent is given before we proceed to each step of the procedure. Unlike most IUI providers, we never use a tenaculum (metal cervical clamp) to assist the IUI procedure. Instead, we prefer to rely on a gentle touch, finesse and good timing, which is key for easy passage through the cervix. The glowing feedback we receive about the comfort and ease of our IUI technique speaks volumes – most notably from those who have experienced IUI with other providers.
Sperm Washing and Fresh IUIs
‘Sperm washing’ refers to spinning a fresh/raw sperm sample in a centrifuge to remove the seminal fluid and create a sample of an appropriate volume for Intrauterine Insemination. (An average sperm sample’s volume is too great to be placed directly in the uterus, and the seminal fluid contains prostaglandins that would cause intense cramping were they introduced into the uterus.)
‘Fresh IUIs’ are for clients working directly with known-donors at home, who seek to optimize their chances of conception via IUI. (IUIs are about twice as effective as vaginal inseminations.) Fresh sperm can be more effective than frozen sperm.
This is a safe, gentle procedure that can happen at any time of day or night in the comfort of your home. It is similar to a Pap smear, and a thin, plastic catheter is placed through the cervix, passing into the uterus (‘intrauterine’), in order to perform the insemination. This event is yours: it can be romantic, fun, spiritual, private, quiet, celebratory… dream up what you would like it to be!
info here
Conception & Insemination
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