Obstetrical & Newborn Care
Non-Surgical Maternity Care
Dr. Harnisch-Boyd is a Family Medicine physician that joins our practice as of February 2024. She practices low-risk non-surgical obstetrics, meaning, obstetrical care for women without the expectation of a cesarean delivery similar to that of a Midwife. However, Family Practice Obstetrical care is unique in the that she can partner with her patients to care compassionately and intelligently for BOTH mom and baby that extends beyond just maternity care! This unique skill-set creates valuable relationships, keeping both the whole person and family unit in mind during the care that is delivered always!
Dr. Harnisch-Boyd delivers her patients at Kootenai Health where there are 24/7 OB/Gyns (hospitalists) and Anesthesiologists available for surgical back-up should an urgent or emergent need for a c-section develop. Pregnant patients of Coeur Vitality will be seen by Dr. Harnisch-Boyd for the entirety of their 40 week pregnancy, unless a complication arises that warrants consultation from an OB/Gyn or Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist.
Dr. Harnisch-Boyd shares call coverage and is a part of the Family Medicine Faculty at the Kootenai Clinic Family Medicine Residency. This means that she delivers patients of the Residency clinic when she is on-call, and if she is not available at the time of delivery of her patient, one of her colleague Faculty Family Physicians and Family Medicine Resident may deliver her patient in cross-coverage. For more information regarding the Kootenai Clinic OB faculty, click here.
In addition, Dr. Harnisch-Boyd will provide postpartum and newborn care following delivery for the duration of the hospital stay as well as post hospital maternal and newborn care at the patient’s own home (limited to patients who live within the CDA/Post Falls region).
In-office testing and monitoring available at Coeur Vitality:
- Urinalysis
- Venous labs draws for routine screening and diagnostics
- Point of Care ultrasound
- Fetal heart monitoring and Fetal non-stress test
Dr. Harnisch-Boyd is excited to care for pregnant patients, their newborns, and their growing family at Coeur Vitality.
Newborn Care
Congratulations. This is an exciting and sometimes, let face it an exhausting time. We are here to help support you through this process. We want you to be able to focus on bonding and loving your baby, while we help tend to their medical needs.
Establishing Care
If you have not yet established care with our practice, please apply here as soon as possible. We like to see our newborns within one to two days after discharge from the hospital, or delivery with midwifes care (if delivered at birthing center or home).
Hospital Births
Please inform the hospital staff that you have established care with us when you check in for your labor and delivery. They will then give us a call to let us know so we can coordinate hospital rounding on your newborn. Routine care during your hospital stay includes Hepatitis B vaccine, Vitamin K shot, and antibacterial eye ointment—if you have any questions about these, we can discuss them further prior or during your hospital stay. We will then help to coordinate your follow up in clinic 1-2 days after discharge from the hospital, to help keep close track of weight gain and other important well newborn monitoring items. You will be provided a green envelope with your babies newborn screening card—please hang on to this and bring it to your follow up clinic appointment, as we will need this for the second screening due at your 2 week old clinic visit.
House Call
After your initial newborn visit (hospital rounds count here), Dr. Burns is happy to offer home visits for those that live within the city limits of Coeur d’Alene ID so that you and your baby can focus on bonding. If you are a patient of Dr. Burns, please talk to Dr. Burns on how to coordinate this! The next clinic visit will then be at 2 weeks of life.
Birthing Center or Home Births
Please call the clinic as soon as you are able after the birth of your baby to allow enough time to schedule your first appointment. We prefer to see your baby within the first 24 hours of life. Many outpatient midwives offer newborn care for up to 2 months of age, which is excellent for the continuity with your growing family. Our hope is to also be a part your baby’s health care team from the beginning to get to know you, assist in care/support, as well as not be a stranger if more advanced health care needs arise during this vulnerable early time in your baby’s life. We can and frequently coordinate with your midwife to alternate visits. If you call the clinic, the receptionist can help coordinate this prompt appointment. If your birth occurs over the weekend or after hours, you can still call the clinic line and relay the message to our answering service so this can be coordinated by our providers after hours.
Lactation - Breastfeeding
This is such a gift we can give to help our newborns thrive. Breast feeding is a combination of innate drive, and frequently a lot of trial and error to get into a good rhythm with your baby. If this is your first baby, we strongly recommend meeting with a lactation consultant to help breast feeding go more smoothly and give you tools to help navigate the early weeks that can be sometimes challenging. Kootenai hospital is staffed with some wonderful lactation resources, so make sure to take advantage of their knowledge and tips while in the hospital and don’t be shy about scheduling follow up after discharge if needing more support!
For more breastfeeding resources, check these out:
La Leche League (Great overall resource for lactation)
Breastfeeding, Inc (Dr. Jack Newman’s site)
Can I breastfeed if…? (Answers to common breastfeeding questions)
Medication use during breastfeeding (Also don’t be shy to call us if you have any questions on safety of medication or supplements while breastfeeding!)