Functional Medicine refers to finding and treating the root cause of health conditions and concerns. As midwives we fully believe that pregnancy is not a condition or an ailment in any way but a normal physiological function of the body. However, we recognize that clients may have some health conditions before pregnancy and those health concerns may play a role in developing complications later on in pregnancy. Our biggest goal is to help keep you low risk so that we can accommodate your wish for an out of hospital birth. Therefore we are adding on the option of full lab testing to get a deeper look into all body systems as you start your pregnancy journey. The sooner we can start working on things like thyroid dysfunction or low iron stores the better chance we have at mitigating those risks for complications later on.
These screening labs include: ❖ An additional blood draw with your standard OB panel that looks at:
➢ Thyroid function ■ TSH ■ Total T4, total T3. ■ Free T4 and Free T3 ■ TPO and Tg antibodies
➢ Full Iron panel ■ Serum iron ■ Total iron binding capacity ■ Ferritin
➢ Full gluten and celiac panel ■ HLA-DQ2 (gene) ■ HLA-DQ8 (gene) ■ Anti-tTG IgA ■ Anti-tTG IgG ■ Anti-DGP IgA ■ Anti-Gliadin IgG ■ Total IgA
➢ hs-CRP (inflammatory marker) ➢ Vitamin D ➢ HbA1C and fasting insulin ➢ MTHFR genetic panel ➢ Homocysteine **This is the only panel that has to be paid before the kit is shipped to you. $225 cash or HSA.**
❖ Organic acids (urine done at home, blood draw done in office) ➢ This test can be done either as a: ■ Stand alone organic acids panel as cash pay ($225). This panel gives great insight into cellular health, insulin resistance, inflammation, methylation and detox pathways. ● See an example report ■ OR it can can come in an expanded panel called NutrEval. NutrEval is covered by most insurances so if you want to check in with your insurance, the ICD10 codes are: (R53.83 , E61.9 ,E63.9 , F41.9 , G47.9, L30.9, R53.82) The NutrEval is a very comprehensive panel , it includes the organic acids profile plus other biomarkers like heavy metals. ● More info on NutrEval ● Initial payment with insurance: $180 ● Cash pay for NutrEval $429
❖ GI map (done at home) This is a comprehensive stool analysis. This test is usually used to find pathogens that are not routinely tested as well as looking at the immune system in the GI tract. If pathogens are found, it will not be eradicated with antimicrobials during pregnancy since most of them are not safe. BUT we know that building the immune system in the gut eventually eradicates the pathogens in time. THis panel includes H.Pylori and this pathogen is a cause for excessive nausea and iron deficiency in pregnancy and this can be addressed during pregnancy. ● Cash pay $311 ● The full GI map is covered by most insurances. Check in with your insurance. The ICD 10 codes are: R10.9, R14.0, R19.7, K58.0, K58.9, K59.00 ● H.Pylori $90. ● Sample report
Optional additional tests:
❖ Food sensitivity test: ➢ MRT (mediator release test). ➢ Tests for 170 foods ➢ This is not the usual IGg test. IGg is an immunoglobulin that does not give enough information on current food sensitivities. This test looks at various mediators that cause inflammation due to specific foods. ➢ Foods that score low are safe, avoid foods that score higher. This is helpful in an elimination diet to decrease inflammation. Cost: $335 cash