There are a few different types of midwives in the United States. We are licensed Certified Professional Midwives. This means that our training is in home birth and birth center birth. We are trained in emergency skills such as neonatal resuscitation. Midwifery education also emphasizes shared decision making between the midwife and client, supporting the process of labor and birth by using minimal intervention, and holistic and individualized care for clients.

Home birth with a trained and experienced midwife is safe. Evidence shows that, especially for people who have already had a baby, home birth is as safe as hospital birth and has fewer interventions. Other benefits to home birth are continuity of care (you know who will be attending your birth), decreased rates of cesareans, and increased satisfaction with your birth experience.

Home birth is for any low risk pregnant person who wants one. We’re used to working with clients with many different backgrounds, family structures, and values. If you’re uncertain if you’re low risk, please schedule a consultation, and we can discuss your health concerns.

Midwives don’t offer epidurals or standard pain relieving medications at births. The comfort measures used are movement, massage, and hydrotherapy (birth tub). We recommend that all first time mothers utilize a doula to help with comfort measures throughout early and active labor.

Sometimes clients need to transfer to the hospital during their labor or immediately following birth. A variety of reasons can lead to transfer including the need for induction or pain management to emergency support for the mother or baby. In any case, we arrange the transport by calling ahead to the nearest and most appropriate hospital to let them know of your arrival. Then we would fax records along so that the team receiving you at the hospital has time to review it before your arrival. We expect collaborative and smooth transitions of care.

Transport would either occur by private car (non-emergent) or ambulance (emergent). If circumstances allow, one of your midwives will transfer with you and stay as a support person through labor, birth, and a few hours postpartum. Routine postpartum care resumes in your home after discharge from the hospital.

You can birth anywhere that feels comfortable to you. We’ve attended births in apartments, houses, trailers, yurts, campers, etc. Midwives are adaptable!

Our midwifery fee is $4500 and encompasses comprehensive care from conception through 6 weeks postpartum. The expectation is that clients will pay their fee out of pocket before 36 weeks pregnancy. Once care is complete we’re happy to help Tennessee based clients request insurance reimbursement through our insurance biller. Reimbursement isn’t guaranteed, but most families can work prenatally to find out what to expect for reimbursement before even signing on to care with us.

Sure do! Happy reading, and please feel free to reach out with any further questions.

Home birth safety in the US: https://mana.org/index.php?q=blog/home-birth-safety-outcomes

Home birth safety in North America: https://www.bmj.com/content/330/7505/1416.abstract

Home birth safety in the UK: https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/nice-recommends-home-births-for-some-mums/