Better births.

Nurturing Dreams: Moms, Dads, Miracles.

70-90% of all pregnant women experience back pain during their pregnancy and 50-75% experience back pain during labor. In a study conducted among pregnant women who sought chiropractic care for back pain, more than 7 out of 10 expectant mothers benefitted from care.

Birth Collective

Midwifery

Chiropractic

Doula

Birth Collective.

We believe in better.

Your birth plan at the Meraki Collective starts the moment you decide you want a better birth.

Maybe you had a previous birth that you didn’t feel heard, supported or guided well in, and want something different.

Our concierge birth team is here to make sure you feel heard, supported, encouraged, and empowered to make the best choices you can for the healthiest, happiest pregnancy and birth you can imagine.

Our focus in epigenetic preconception health and fertility has transformed what we see in pregnancy, birth and postpartum. For this reason, our standards are higher, the quality of care is better, and our outcomes are significantly greater in terms of quality of life, health, and experience.

We practice an integrative, whole-body approach and recognize a woman as a unique individual, preparing to give birth to her baby. We also honor the partner that is evolving just as much as the woman giving birth.

Personalized care every step of the way.

Our mission at the Meraki Birth Collective is to provide conceirge prenatal and postpartum care and support to each family as they seek to welcome their baby in a safe, warm and loving environment.

Who We Are

The Meraki Birth Collective is rooted in the belief that birth is a normal, natural physiologic process. Women have been birthing
children since the beginning of time. It’s a normal process that women’s bodies are designed to do, demonstrating her inherent
strength, resilience, and inborn power.

Historically, women worldwide have come together to support the laboring woman in order to soothe her discomfort, calm her
nerves, share their focus, and create a safe emotional space for her labor and deliver her baby.

By contrast, modern society has transformed the concept of labor and delivery into what we see on TVE, which is not an authentic portrayl. Add the intimidation of the high tech hospital environment, and it is no wonder people expect childbirth to be a chaotic and scary experience.

It doesn’t have to be your experience. In our experience, it is usually a calm, focused process as we work together toward our common goal.

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Meet Your Team

The Meraki Birth Collective consists of chiropractors, midwives, and doulas, as well as support locally in our community through numerous practitioners including but not limited to craniosacral therapy, pelvic floor PT, and prenatal massage and acupuncture. We are growing this collaborative team by the day, and have your needs taken care of before you may even realize you need the additional support! After all, we’re supposed to be the ones who do the heavy lifting for you, so you’re open to learn, choose, and move with what is best for your family, needs, and goals.

We believe meeting with a lactation consultant prior to birth is a vital piece of breastfeeding success.

We also believe meeting with a pelvic floor PT prior to pregnancy is also a vital key to success.

Having craniosacral work done for baby as soon as possible postpartum not only ensures a better breastfeeding journey, it also means better sleeping, less spitting up, and overall a happier baby.

This is why our team is unlike one that you would have elsewhere.

Not only is it part of your program, it’s something we deeply understand will enhance your journey, giving you the safest, best pregnancy, birth and postpartum possible.

It takes a village, and while we may not all be under one roof, we look forward to being the resource of trusted providers to support you in your fertility through postpartum journey.

Meraki Birth Collective Offers:

Licensed Midwives

Licensed by NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) and the
State of Wisconsin.

Licensed Chiropractors

Licensed by the Chiropractic Board of Wisconsin.

Doula Support

Trained and certified by independent agencies, and continue their
training, skills and education at Meraki

Whole Person Approach

A whole person approach to fertility, pregnancy, childbirth and healthcare.

Holistic Health

Holistic health and wellness resources to support your journey.

We know that every woman’s experience is different, and so are your hopes and expectations, so we work with you to understand what matters most to you. You know what you want for your own healthcare, and you know what’s best for you and your family. We advocate for your choice to make the best decisions you see fit for your family.

We encourage informed consent, and informed refusal, and provide space for medical freedom and not just telling you how to be a good patient. You’re a member of our birth collective, and your voice matters. We want to support your birth plan and help you prepare for the birth of your baby. We deeply feel women shouldn’t need to have a second pregnancy to heal from their first, so there will be plenty of information and discussions on your options, as we spend a lot of time getting to know each other, building a trusting relationship, and working together to promote a healthy pregnancy and birthing experience.

Midwifery

Midwives are trained medical professionals who specialize in normal healthy pregnancies and natural, physiological birth, providing holistic care, with an amazing insight and appreciation for what matters most to you. Midwives also provide annual exams and labs, and often begin working with families in the preconception period, as well. Regardless of where you are in your life cycle, our approach is customized to your goals and desires, so that your family feels heard, supported, and encouraged.

When it comes to bringing new life into the world, there is no greater gift than the support of a Midwife. Midwives are specially trained to provide not only excellent maternity care, but to focus on what matters most to you. This type of compassionate care promotes bonding between partners, and with your baby, even before they are born.

During your prenatal care, the relationship that you build with your midwife can make all the difference in the experience of welcoming your baby into the world. You are not just a patient. You are a unique person, preparing to birth your baby, and we
are here to support you in your journey.

That journey doesn’t end the day your baby is born. We know the first year will be full of it’s own unique challenges, and with our concierge care, we will keep that bridge of communication open, provide resources and be available to help with questions or concerns that will arise. Having a baby is just the beginning of the amazing experience of parenthood, and we’re here to support you with a full year of postpartum support.

Questions

What is a midwife?

Midwives are trained healthcare professionals who provide care for all stages of a woman’s reproductive life. Most often, the focus is on pregnancy, labor and delivery, and throughout the postpartum period. Midwives often begin working with a family in the preconception period, as well. Midwives are trained to recognize complications during pregnancy, labor and childbirth, and specialize in physiologic pregnancy, provide holistic healthcare to support the ever changing pregnant and postpartum body. Meraki Midwives collaborate closely with obstetricians and perinatologists, or other specialists if necessary. Often, through healthy lifestyle, education and personal choices, midwives can help prevent and improve conditions that often accompany pregnancy. Midwives also provide annual exams, labs/paps, and ongoing holistic healthcare.

What's the difference between a midwife and a doula?

A midwife is a healthcare professional who has been trained to serve women through all the stages of a woman’s reproductive cycle, including assisting women through pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. They are also able to provide care for the newborn baby following the delivery, and the first few weeks of life.

A Birth Doula is professional birth worker who has been trained to provide educational, emotional and physical support to the couple before, during, and after labor. They are not medically trained, but they understand the labor process, and offer professional guidance and support throughout labor.

Why would a midwife recommend a doula?

A Midwife and a Birth Doula have completely different roles. A Midwife is there to provide the medical aspect of care, and while they do help with position changes, comfort measures and encouragement during labor, it is not the same as having a Birth Doula, who is there, dedicated to providing the hands-on physical support, massage, verbal encouragement and helping with distractions through each contraction. Doulas help support both you and your partner, and help prevent “Partner Fatigue.”

Providing that type of support is a demanding job, and your Midwife, while she will be there supporting you, making suggestions as needed, and overseeing the labor and birthing process, cannot be so tired from serving as a Doula, that when it’s time to make medically-minded decisions, that she is worn out and not as sharp as needed.

If I have a midwife, do I need a doula?

A midwife is a medical professional who specializes in pregnancies and births, while a doula provides emotional and physical support to a woman during labor. Some women find that having both a midwife and a doula gives them the best possible care and support during childbirth. While midwives focus on the medical aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, focusing on keeping things progressing normally, doulas provide support to the mother and her partner to help ease anxiety, provide information and emotional support, offer massages and other forms of physical comfort. While midwives also provide some comfort measures and encouragement, you do not want a midwife who is physically and mentally exhausted when medical moments arrive. Being a doula is indeed, physical work. Midwives and doulas work well together, and each have distinctively different roles.

Do you take insurance?

We are private pay, meaning our agreement is between the couple or individual birthing, and the Meraki Collective.

Why is a chiropractor on the birth team?

Chiropractic has been shown to shorten the length of labor, decrease the need for pain medication in labor, increase the chance of physiologic birth, and provider easier recovery from birth. Imbalances in the pelvis can change how the baby can move and how comfortable mom is during labor, and with our focus on the quality of her experience, we choose to have a chiropractor for every birthing mom at the Meraki Collective.

Do the Midwives carry medications?

Our midwives are licensed by the State, and they do carry medications. From holistic and herbal approaches to IV’s and
emergency medicines, protocols are in place to protect you and help ensure your safety.

Can I have a VBAC here?

Yes, our team is adquetly trained and certified to support a family that desires a VBAC

Do you support twin and breech birth?

Yes, our midwives are certified to support twin and breech births, and they have advanced training and skills to support families in these normal pregnancy and birth presentations.

I'm having a hospital birth, but I want more support. Can you help?

Absolutely! Co care is an option available to families who want to birth in the hospital, but would like the care of a midwife to
answer questions, provide nutritional support and additional pregnancy and postpartum support.

Prenatal Chiropractic

Chiropractors are trained healthcare professionals who specialize in detecting and correcting spinal subluxation. While getting out of pain is an excellent goal, our chiropractors have a purpose to optimize your health, so that your pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey can be as smooth and healthy as possible.

Meraki Chiropractors begin working with families in the preconception period, optimizing and regulating hormones so you have a higher quality pregnancy.

In pregnancy, the goal of chiropractic care is to ensure you’re able to continue living the life you’ve wanted to have – maybe you’ve already got two toddlers to chase, and you’re terrified of having no energy in another pregnancy, wondering how you’ll navigate taking care of them.

Maybe you’ve been so sick that you’re scared of being pregnant again, knowing that’s what you’ll endure. The great news is, that doesn’t have to be true, in fact, when we have BOTH partners on our “Prep for Pregnancy” Protocols, we rarely see morning sickness!

Regardless of where you are in your life cycle, our approach is customized to your goals and desires, so that your family feels heard, supported, and encouraged.

Prenatal chiropractic care is tied in with your midwifery care, meaning, when you come to your midwifery appointments, you’ll also be seen by our chiropractor. This is to ensure our team understands and knows your body well, so that in the event a chiropractor is needed in labor, there is no question of safety or comfort in your care. Because this care is focused on birth preparation, if you have a chiropractor you regularly see, we do suggest maintaining care with them, so you are seen as regularly as you should be.

Not only does chiropractic care in pregnancy lead to a decreased need of pain medication in labor, it also has been known to shorten labor times, and provide parents greater comfort and mobility throughout pregnancy, labor and postpartum.

Having a chiropractor available to check your baby first thing after birth and the golden hour is another amazing benefit of our collaborative care. From latching to sleep, to even regular pooping, chiropractic care for your newborn is a key to their health!

Questions

Why is a chiropractor on the birth team?

Chiropractic has been shown to shorten the length of labor, decrease the need for pain medication in labor, increase the chance of physiologic birth, and provider easier recovery from birth.

Imbalances in the pelvis can change how the baby can move and how comfortable mom is during labor, and with our focus on the quality of her experience, we choose to have a chiropractor for every birthing mom at the Meraki Collective.

What if I have a chiropractor already?

That’s fantastic! You’re on a great path to staying well balanced and healthy during pregnancy. The goal of our prenatal care is so you can have a chiropractor present at birth should the need arise. The only time you will see the chiropractor here is with your prenatal visits, when you’re also seeing your midwife.

Our chiropractor, Dr. Marcia Schaefer, is internationally known for creating the Schaefer Protocol, which is adapted to pregnancy and able to address many health concerns and issues to prevent them before they arise. Alongside chiropractic care, she’s a wealth of knowledge for movement patterns and stability in pregnancy to ensure your journey is smooth.

Why would a midwife suggest a chiropractor?

Simply put, because chiropractors make their job easier!

Not only does baby have a spacious, balanced pelvis to move around in with chiropractic care, birth outcomes are better when a chiropractor is on the team, so they’re a vital piece of a great birth puzzle.

Do you take insurance?

We are private pay, meaning our agreement is between the couple or individual birthing, and the Meraki Collective. We do not accept any third-party reimbursement, HSA or FSA.

What if I don't want a chiropractor at my birth?

As always, CHOICE is a vital key to your success and journey. You are always free to choose what you want, don’t want, and we are here to answer questions and provide insights if you desire them.

If you do not want a chiropractor at your birth, we honor your wishes and will not have one there.

Can MY chiropractor come to my birth?

Due to multiple reasons, we are not allowing personal chiropractors to be at births. They are more than welcome to come visit postpartum if you’d like!

Doula Support

Experienced doulas provide physical, emotional and informational support to a couple before, during and after birth.

Bring a whole new birth experience with doula support. Many couples find that having a doula present at their birth significantly reduces the fatigue they experience during labor.

Doulas are specially trained to support our members before, during and after labor, which can help reduce the stress and anxiety often experienced in labor.

Doulas are also support partners, helping them feel more confident in their roles. Additionally, postpartum doulas can provide invaluable support in the early weeks after giving birth.

They are instrumental in helping to ease the transition to parenthood and the expansion of your family.

The Meraki Birth Collective is the perfect place for those who want to utilize the support of doulas. In a family-centered collective, we know all too well that partners often feel ill-equipped to be the birthing coach. They definitely want to participate, but don’t have the professional experience of knowing the “what now,” or “what position is best,” or “how can you help my back pain?”

That’s where Birth Doulas come in. You will meet with your doula many times prior to birth so they can get to know your goals and desires.

Sometimes there are questions that just aren’t for the midwife, or maybe you just need to vent, a doula is here to support you, answer questions, and ease your fears. Doulas really can help you have a safe, warm, and loving birth experience.

Questions

What is a doula?

The word “doula” is an ancient Greek term meaning “she who serves.” Nowadays, it’s commonly used to describe a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical and emotional support during pregnancy and the postpartum period for mothers-to-be before they give birth and potentially even after their babies are born.

Historically women have supported other women through labor.

In the US, that job has transferred to hospital nurses. While we love our nurses, families meet them the day of labor, and shift changes mean they come and go, but a doula is a professional birth companion who supports the mother before, during, and after labor. They are specially trained to help reduce the stress and anxiety a mother feels and can also support partners.

Doulas do not replace partners, but rather help support you both through the birth process. Postpartum Doulas can be an excellent resource for mothers in the early weeks after giving birth, helping to ease the transition to parenthood. They can support breastfeeding, proper naps and nutrition, and help with newborn care education, as well.

Why should I use a doula?

Doulas have the opportunity to support members with continuity of care because, unlike the nursing staff in a hospital, they don’t have “shifts.” Instead, they are there until you give birth, plus 1 to 2 hours postpartum. (Some doulas work in teams if labor needs a rested doula to tend to a laboring woman’s needs.) They are also present postpartum to provide additional assistance and support.

What are the benefits of having a doula?

Having a doula present at birth can significantly reduce the fatigue you experience during labor. Doulas are specially trained to support mothers before, during, and after labor, which can help reduce the stress and anxiety a mother feels. Doulas can also support partners, helping them feel more confident in their roles. Additionally, postpartum doulas can provide invaluable support to mothers in the early weeks after.

If I have a midwife, do I need a doula?

A midwife is a medical professional who specializes in pregnancies and births, while a doula provides emotional and physical support to a woman during labor. Some women find that having both a midwife and a doula gives them the best possible care and support during childbirth. While midwives focus on the medical aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, focusing on keeping things progressing normally, doulas provide support to the mother and her partner to help ease anxiety, provide information and emotional support, offer massages and other forms of physical comfort. While midwives also provide some comfort measures and encouragement, you do not want a midwife who is physically and mentally exhausted when medical moments arrive. Being a doula is indeed, physical work. Midwives and doulas work well together, and each have distinctively different roles.

How much does a doula cost?

Because we honor the whole person experience, we have a doula to support each family that births at the Meraki Collective. This is part of the program of care, available to anyone who desires to birth with our team.