FAQS
What is a midwife?
The California Licensed Midwife is licensed through the State of California Medical Board. They are experts in healthy pregnancy and birth. Licensed Midwives offer primary maternity care to healthy pregnant women and their newborn babies from early pregnancy, through labor and birth, up to six weeks postpartum. The midwife’s scope of practice is low-risk, healthy childbirth. We provide individualized and informed care making you an active participant in your care. Midwives care is built on listening, educating, caring and supporting.
Why choose a home birth?
Studies have shown midwifery clients experience lower rates of forceps, vacuum extractions, caesarean sections, episiotomies, infections and babies born requiring resuscitation. Home births allow for you to be in a safe familiar space that can encourage physiological birth to unfold. When you feel safe your body works in harmony to help baby out. At home with a midwife you will be treated with respect and encouraged to participate/make informed choices on your birthing process.
Do you offer pain medication during labor?
No epidurals or IV pain medications are offered during home birth. The only place to receive those modalities are at a hospital where baby can be monitored continuously, an anesthesiologist to administer and also the options for more medical interventions in case of adverse effects. We do have access to water which can be a relief, as well as the ability to move freely in your own safe space, and being around familiar faces.
How do you monitor baby during labor?
Midwives bring a Doppler that is used to assess Fetal Heart Rate baseline, variability, accelerations, and decelerations to keep baby safe. In labor, she will listen every 30 minutes during the active phase of labor, every 15 minutes during transition, every 5 minutes or every other contraction during pushing. We also monitor baby during any major change such as water breaking, change of position, entering into the water etc.
How often do transports to the hospital occur? And why?
Most home birth midwives transport rates to the hospital range between 3%-10% on any given year. With a cesarean rate that typically stays between 3%-6% and an emergency transport rate under 1%. The most common cause for transport is due to maternal exhaustion or desired pain relief.
What type of supplies do midwives bring to births?
Some of the main supplies are equipment to take vitals, oxygen, medications for postpartum hemorrhage, resuscitation equipment, IV supplies, antibiotics, supplies for suturing (yes, that means numbing medication too!), as well as herbs and homeopathies. This is not a complete list but it gives you an idea. In addition we will request you buy an individual birth kit from an outside site.
Do you accept insurance?
In short, we do not accept insurance but there is the possibility of being reimbursed by your insurance.
As a licensed midwife I am considered an out of network provider and most Insurance companies will not cover midwifery costs automatically. We are contracted with an outside medical billing service and for a nominal fee you can have them verify your benefits and submit your subsequent billing. The medical biller knows the insurance companies language/ins and outs and will be advocating for your reimbursement. You are more likely to be reimbursed with A PPO or POS insurance plan.