What happens in an emergency? What if we need to go to the hospital?
Midwives are trained and skilled to deal with emergencies. Midwives are trained to handle certain complications at home We are trained to recognize when signs are ranging out of normal and when they indicate a hospital transfer is necessarry. In those circumstances, we transfer to the nearest or preferred hospital depending on the circumstance. We keep our certification in NRP and CPR up to date.
Midwives in California are legally licensed to carry equipment and medications to safely manage normal deliveries at home. Some of the equipment we bring includes:
Resuscitation equipment for baby and mother: a bag and mask resuscitator and oxygen.
Antihemorrhagic drugs and herbs to stop excessive postpartum bleeding.
Monitoring equipment for you and your baby, including a doppler, blood pressure cuff, adult stethoscope, and infant stethoscope.
Supplies for the newborn exam and any newborn procedures that you choose, including a scale, measuring tape, erythromycin ointment, and vitamin K.
Suturing equipment to do repairs if any tearing occurred, and lidocaine for pain relief when suturing.
IVs for hydration and if necessary, bleeding.
We will go through the emergency plan at the 36 week visit. Should a complication occur during the labor, we call emergency medical professionals, we manage the situation until they arrive and transport immediately to the hospital.
Our transfer rate is less than 10% but is unpredictable in nature. This is why home birth midwives are trained for the inevitable. It is a common concern amongst home birth parents, and we are always happy to discuss fears and provide facts.
What are the payment arrangements? Will my insurance cover it?
Home birth is at least half the price of an unmedicated vaginal birth, and it only goes up with intervention, so for many families and insurance companies, home birth is the most affordable option.
Typically we accept cash, check or zelle up front. I charge $6,000 total with a $1,000 non refundable deposit at initial prenatal. Payment plans are discussed at initial prenatal and all fees are due by 36 weeks, no exceptions.
Some insurances do reimburse partially for home birth. Namely PPO’s. HMO’s, Kaiser and Medicaid do not cover out of hospital birth. Although, most insurances do cover lab work.
Is it legal? Can I get a birth certificate?
We are proud to say that California was one of the first states to legalize midwifery! If you are outside of California, each state has different requirements for home birth.
In order to receive the birth certificate, we fill out some paperwork, and you take it to the Department of Vital Statistics, and a couple of weeks later, the birth certificate is in your mailbox.
What about the pain?
We use simple tools to move through the intensity of birth. These tools include freedom of movement, hydrotherapy (birth tub and showers), mindfulness practices, physical touch, and labor support. Labor support includes affirmations and reassurance about the progress of the labor. Both tradition and modern science show that this type of support leaves birthing people feeling confident and empowered during their birth, as well as reducing the need for medical interventions. We are unable to provide medical pain management in the home birth setting.
We strongly encourage our families to consider labor support from a doula and to take childbirth preparation courses to prepare for the journey of a physiological birth.
Is my space too small to have a home birth?
You don’t need a lot of space to have your baby at home! We have attended births in studios, apartments, cottages, houses and even RVs. We do need access to running water and a clean environment. You can create your birth space anywhere you call home!