What is a Midwife?

Midwives are health care professionals specializing in pregnancy and childbirth who develop a trusting relationship with their clients, which results in confident, supported labor and birth. While there are different types of midwives practicing in various settings, all midwives are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. Many midwives also provide preconception care and routine well-body reproductive care throughout the life cycle.

Is Home-birth Safe?

Home-birth is a safe option for pregnant people whose pregnancies are without complications and are full-term at the start of labor when monitored and attended by professional midwives. For some babies and parents who are at higher risk for complications, a hospital birth is a safer option. To learn more about the safety of home birth, check out these studies:

• New Studies Confirm Safety of Home Birth With Midwives in the U.S.

• A Larger Role for Midwives Could Improve Deficient U.S. Care for Mothers and Babies
  
  

If I have had a previous cesarean can I still have a home-birth?

The short answer is YES! The long answer is there are a lot of considerations to planning a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC.) While for some folks a VBAC at home is the right choice there may be health considerations for other folks that makes a hospital VBAC a better choice. Either way we can support you in either setting! We’d love to answer your questions about VBAC options and help set you up for your best birth no matter where it needs to occur!

What are your payment options?

We accept the following forms of payment: Cash, Checks, Debit/Credit Cards, HSA/FSA, Mobile Payments, Electronic Bank Transfers, and if you need assistance, we have partnered with United Medical Credit to secure affordable payment plans for you!

Does insurance cover Midwifery Care?

Possibly, but not well. Often, PPO insurance companies will reimburse for midwifery services at the out-of-network or sometimes the in-network rate. We work with an insurance biller, STM Billing, for our billing needs. If you are interested in using your insurance, the first step is for STM to verify your benefits. The cost of verification is $14. Most people will have to pay out of pocket then may be reimbursed.

Additionally, we are able to accept payment from HSAs, offer payment plans, and in some cases, barter.

Do you accept Medicaid?

Accepting medicaid for an out-of-hospital birth has been something the state has made very challenging. Due to overhead costs and low payment rates, we are unable to accept Medicaid.

Who is a good candidate for home birth?

Anyone in good health, experiencing a normal and low-risk pregnancy is a good candidate for home delivery. Our midwives follow Florida Law and Rule in regards to risk assessment which means that we can care for folks with certain considerations with collaboration. If you have questions about whether or not you’d be a candidate just reach out!

Can I have care with you and deliver in a hospital?

Yes! We love providing all of the benefits of traditional home birth midwifery care to folks who would prefer or need to have a hospital delivery. We have lots of options for care with our practice!

What are the benefits of a Water-birth?

In the last few decades, water births have become more popular. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), being submerged in water during the first stage of labor can be beneficial to the mother (1).

Although the ACOG recognizes the benefits of water during the first stage of labor, that is where their endorsement stops (2). They don’t have the same recommendation for the later stages of labor, although some research points to an increase in energy towards the end with a water birth.

There have been smaller studies about water births that may show they decrease the rate of needing a cesarean section (3). However, this needs further research to be more conclusive.

Other reported benefits of water birthing include:

• The warm water can be soothing.

• The buoyancy of the water can relieve the mother of some body weight, making her more comfortable.

• Being submerged may make you feel less anxious, thus lowering blood pressure.

• The warm water relaxes the perineum and reduces the need for an episiotomy.

• Mothers often feel less inhibited while submerged in the water, thus more inclined to act and behave naturally along with the process.

Will I still need to see a doctor if I hire a midwife?

We follow the same schedule of care and offer the same tests that you can have with an OB. During a low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancy, there is no need to see an OB in addition to your midwife. However, there are certain complications or situations that may arise where we will want to consult with a physician, such as gestational diabetes, etc. If this becomes necessary, your midwife will refer you to a local Perinatologist, OB or CNM and will communicate and collaborate as needed to provide you with the safest plan of action.