Homebirth can be just as safe as a hospital birth when supported by an appropriate healthcare provider. Midwives are highly trained professionals with expertise in normal, uncomplicated pregnancies and births. Most individuals experience healthy pregnancies and go on to have safe, natural births. During your consultation, we will work together to determine if homebirth is the right choice for you, while carefully monitoring your health throughout the pregnancy. Licensed midwives are educated similarly to nurse practitioners, allowing us to assess, treat, and consult with specialists when necessary, should any issues arise. Multiple studies on planned homebirth have shown a significant reduction in interventions, improved outcomes for babies, lower rates of cesarean sections, and a high success rate for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

Insurance coverage varies depending on your policy, and in many cases, insurance companies reimburse part or all of your care. We do accept Medicaid. Please note that we are out-of-network for all insurance providers, but our billing team works directly with your insurer to maximize coverage.

Once you provide written consent for us to care for you, we will contact your insurance provider to secure any necessary prior authorizations in writing. Your insurance will not be billed until after your baby is born. At that time, we’ll submit claims for your pregnancy, birth, and newborn care.

Reimbursements typically take between four weeks and six months after birth. We collaborate with a professional billing service and follow up for up to one year from the date of service to help ensure you receive the fullest coverage possible.

For some, the choice to pursue home birth comes after experiencing birth trauma, while others may carry past trauma unrelated to childbirth. Trauma-Informed Care recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands how it can affect a person’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This approach emphasizes creating a safe, supportive environment that actively works to prevent retraumatization, ensuring compassionate, individualized care every step of the way.

We offer hour-long appointments to ensure comprehensive care and ample time to address your questions. Appointments are scheduled every four weeks from the beginning of pregnancy through 28 weeks, then every two weeks until 36 weeks. From 36 weeks until delivery, we see you weekly to closely monitor your progress. Additional visits can be scheduled as needed to address any concerns that arise. These extended appointment times allow us to provide personalized education and support, promoting a healthy pregnancy and birth experience.

Our practice is grounded in the value of informed consent. Throughout your pregnancy, our goal is to provide the time and education necessary for you and your family to make informed decisions that align with your unique needs. Education is a cornerstone of the midwifery model of care, and we strive to empower you every step of the way.

At your first appointment, we’ll review your health and pregnancy history, answer any questions you may have, and begin building a personalized care plan. During most subsequent prenatal visits, we’ll discuss any concerns, provide education tailored to your stage of pregnancy, monitor your health, and, of course, listen to your baby!

Around 36 weeks, we’ll have a dedicated birth planning meeting. This visit is an opportunity to share your vision for a birth experience that reflects your family’s preferences. Our birth assistants will attend this appointment as well, allowing you to get acquainted. Together, we’ll help you envision how your home will serve as your birthing space. We’ll also familiarize ourselves with the layout of your home, locate your birth supplies, and note the best entry point for our team when you’re in labor.

Additionally, we’ll create a personalized, comprehensive hospital transfer plan to ensure that, in the unlikely event a transfer is needed, the process is smooth and well-coordinated.

We thoroughly discuss all standard and routine prenatal testing, outlining the risks, benefits, and pros and cons of each recommendation. Our goal is to empower families with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions that best suit their unique circumstances.

Prenatal labwork recommendations are constantly evolving, and we ensure you’re informed about the most up-to-date guidelines. Most labwork can be conveniently performed in-office by the midwife, with billing processed directly through LabCorp. Additionally, we offer pap smears and cervical or vaginal cultures as needed during your visits.

Ultrasounds are typically performed at facilities within your community, with location options depending on your insurance coverage, your preference to use insurance, and where you live. We frequently recommend Mobile Mama Ultrasound, a service that provides professional in-home or in-office ultrasounds, often at a lower cost than standard insurance deductibles.

Many of our clients deeply value the personalized care they receive with us. We are committed to building a trusting relationship with you — ensuring your questions are answered, providing support during illness or emergencies, and being on call throughout your due month. Sometimes, a little reassurance from your midwife can make all the difference.​ For your convenience, our patient portal messaging system allows you to reach out whenever you have a concern. Additionally, we provide a HIPAA-compliant phone line for urgent situations, ensuring you can contact your midwife at any hour — even at 2 a.m.

In addition to our knowledge, education, and experience, we bring a range of equipment and supplies to monitor and support you and your baby’s health during labor. This includes tools such as a waterproof fetal heart rate doppler, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, and infant stethoscope. We’re also equipped to perform the initial newborn exam and carry supplies for any newborn procedures you choose.

We carefully prepare for potential emergencies, bringing standard medications for excessive postpartum bleeding, nausea, antibiotics, as well as IV kits and fluids if needed. Our sterile instruments ensure a safe cord-cutting process, and we have the necessary supplies to repair lacerations, should they occur.

Our Licensed Midwife (LM) and Registered Nurses (RNs) are certified in Neonatal Resuscitation, and we carry oxygen, suction, and resuscitation equipment for both the baby and birth parent. Additionally, we bring a birth stool, which can be used during labor or as a seat in the shower, ensuring comfort and support throughout the birthing process.

We love using pools for labor and birth! Water is a fantastic tool for promoting comfort and supporting healthy labor progress. You have several options for obtaining a tub — you can purchase your own, borrow one from friends, or rent one directly from us.

​

In addition to the tub, you’ll need a new hose and an adapter for your hot and cold water source. We’ll provide clear instructions, but you’ll be responsible for setting up the tub for labor and birth. To ensure everything is ready when the time comes, we strongly recommend having your tub and supplies prepared by the 37th week of pregnancy.

Doulas, or professional labor companions, can be invaluable resources both prenatally and during the many hours of labor. They offer comfort, physical support, and reassurance. If you plan to have a doula at your home birth, they must be comfortable with the home birth setting and midwifery care. The doula is a member of the team, not a go-between.

​

Ideally, your doula will attend the 36 week prenatal visit with you to meet the staff and address any questions or concerns about their role at a home birth. Postpartum doulas also provide tremendous support for families during the first weeks after birth.

Most children handle birth remarkably well, often surprising their parents! Children tend to have the best experience when they are well-prepared, have a trusted adult with them for support, and have the option to leave if they choose. The designated support person is there to focus on the children and their needs throughout the process and is not necessarily expected to be present when the baby is born.

Pets can be wonderful companions during labor. Cats often enjoy "labor sitting" with you, offering quiet support. Dogs, however, should be given special consideration during the birth of the baby and the delivery of the placenta. It’s helpful to have a designated space where your dog feels comfortable during this time, taking their unique temperament into account.

We clean up as we go, doing our best to minimize and manage any mess. We typically help drain your birth pool, but if you rented it from us, we’ll provide instructions on how to clean and return it. By the end of the birth, you’ll have just one bag of garbage, which we’ll take out, and we’ll start one load of laundry. Our goal is to leave your home so tidy that you wouldn’t even know a birth took place.

We typically stay for about three hours after the birth, ensuring everyone is well, fed, clean, and ready to be alone as a family. During this time, we take care of the cleanup, perform a thorough newborn exam, support the initiation of breastfeeding, and review what to watch for and when to reach out to us. Additionally, we provide detailed postpartum instructions in your client portal for easy access.

Postpartum home visits are a vital part of our practice. Typically, a registered nurse (RN) visits your home 24 to 36 hours after birth to support feeding, answer questions, perform a cardiac evaluation of the baby, and conduct physical assessments.  The midwife returns between days 3 to 5 to perform another physical assessment, assist with feeding, and screen for signs of jaundice. The RN visits again between days 7 to 10 to evaluate feeding and perform the newborn screening test. Additional visits can be arranged if needed.

An in-office visit is scheduled at 3 weeks postpartum for a check-up, though this is optional if everything is progressing well. A final in-office postpartum visit takes place at 6 to 8 weeks, during which a comprehensive physical assessment is conducted. This visit may include checking the healing of any lacerations, performing a Pap smear if indicated, and discussing or initiating contraception if desired.

Babies are not seen at the 6-week visit, as they typically transition to their family practice or pediatric provider around 4 weeks of age. 

We prioritize caring for the baby exclusively during the first four weeks postpartum. If anything notable arises during this time, we consult with the baby’s chosen healthcare provider. Official care of the baby is transferred to their healthcare provider at four weeks, and we recommend contacting the pediatric provider at that time to determine when they would like to begin seeing the baby.

Yes, our team has extensive experience supporting lactation and addressing common challenges that may arise. If the difficulties exceed our level of knowledge or experience, we will provide a referral to a local lactation consultant. By working exclusively with our clients and their babies, we’re able to closely follow the individual needs of the nursing pair. There is no extra charge for lactation support from our team during the first six weeks postpartum.

At your 36-week home visit, we will create a personalized transfer plan with you. This plan takes into account factors such as your proximity to the nearest hospital, available transportation options, and access to 911 services. With private homebirth midwifery care, most signs of potential complications can be recognized and addressed before they become emergencies. If a higher level of care is needed for you or your baby, we will contact the appropriate facility to arrange the transfer, ensuring the receiving hospital is informed of your situation. The midwife will fax over medical records and accompany you to the hospital, remaining with you as an advocate as appropriate. We are still able to bill your insurance for the care we’ve provided, and in many cases, we can receive full reimbursement.