Vibrant Wellness Midwifery: Women's care practice opens in Plattsburgh

PLATTSBURGH | A new healthcare provider has opened their doors here for women. Vibrant Wellness Midwifery provides home birth and a full range of women's wellness, obstetrical and gynecological services. Routine women's exams, including pap smears, mammograms, infection testing and treatment are available through their new South Peru Street office, along with appointments to manage birth control, teen care, perimenopause and menopause, education. They also offer telehealth appointments. The new midwifery practice was founded by Susan Pantano, DNP, CNM, LM in the Capital Region with an office in Saratoga Springs and admitting privileges at Belleview Women's Hospital. The practice expanded with Certified Nurse Midwife Carly Loelsch and, in Plattsburgh, with Lena Casamento, MSN, WHNP-BC, CLC. Casamento has provided care to women in the North Country for the past seven years. Branching out to shared practice for home birth and reproductive continuum care is a step forward, one she hopes will welcome a local source for patient-centered focus on women's wellness. "At the very base of women's care is empowering women to make educated healthcare decisions," she said in a recent interview. "There is such a lack of education for women and their care. My role is to provide information so you can make the decisions that are right for you. "I don't think our area has seen this type of care. I'm offering a setting that feels more like chatting with a friend," she said, "welcoming and calm. I'm here to present what the options are for care, and you're going to tell me what you want. The woman I am with is in the driver's seat." Home birth is the center of Vibrant Wellness practice, adding licensed midwifery to the region. Home birth care and planning is an option for individuals with low-risk pregnancies. "We will carefully review your medical history and pregnancy history to determine if any risk factors are present. We will establish a plan for transfer to a higher level of care should that become necessary during your pregnancy or birth," Vibrant Wellness says of frequently asked questions. Obstetrical visits are scheduled every four weeks during the first and second trimesters, then every two weeks through the third trimester. At 36 weeks, the visit is held at home to plan for the upcoming birth. Postpartum visits are at the family's home for the first two weeks with newborn screenings and infant weight checks. "At 4 to 6 weeks postpartum, we invite you for a visit in the office. During this visit, a full exam is offered and we review any infant feeding concerns; we assess for postpartum depression; and we can discuss birth control, if desired." If a woman chooses hospital delivery, Vibrant Wellness Midwifery can begin prenatal care with an option to transfer. "We can do obstetrical care up to 20 weeks for those who choose a hospital birth, then they transfer to other care," Casamento said. Currently, UVM Health Network - Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) and the Stafford New Life Center at Adirondack Medical Center (AMC) are two locations available nearby for hospital birth, unless women travel south to Albany Med Health System facilities, or to hospitals in Vermont. Twenty weeks is halfway through a pregnancy, usually when the anatomy scan is conducted, Casamento said. The 20-week scan assesses baby's overall health and development. "That tends to be the best point if you're not delivering with us. Then you have half your pregnancy to get to know the provider you're going to." PAYING FOR CARE Vibrant Wellness Midwifery provides the time and a place to discuss a woman's questions and concerns. "You want to be heard, you want to be safe. We provide the space for you to ask questions," Casamento said. Vibrant Wellness Midwifery services are out-of-network. "Our patients pay at the time of service and receive an invoice to submit for reimbursement to their insurance company. All lab work done is usually covered through health insurance off-site, which includes pap smears, blood work, imaging and mammograms," Casamento said. In New York State, midwifery is insured health care, coverage varies by individual plan. Midwives are trained expressly to manage women's health. The American College of Nurse-Midwives defines the profession of certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) to encompass "the independent provision of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period; sexual and reproductive health; gynecologic health; and family planning services, including preconception care. "Midwives also provide primary care for individuals from adolescence throughout the lifespan as well as care for the healthy newborn during the first 28 days of life." Midwives are licensed providers for health promotion, disease prevention, risk assessment and management and individualized wellness education and counseling. Information about Vibrant Wellness Midwifery is available on their website with a patient portal and contact form. Women with questions can send their name and phone number with the type of care requested via contact form online. The office is located at 135 South Peru St. in Plattsburgh. vibrantwellnessmidwifery.com or call: Vibrant Wellness Midwifery 518-212-7317

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Vibrant Wellness Midwifery: Women's care practice opens in Plattsburgh

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