Frequently Asked Questions

A Certified Professional Midwife, or CPM, is an autonomous maternity care provider who has met the standards for certification established by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). These standards include competency in the knowledge and skills required to offer expert care, education, counseling and support during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum periods. A Licensed Midwife, or LM, is a midwife who is licensed to practice within the state in which they are licensed.  CPMs are uniquely suited to provide home birth care, as they are the only nationally-credentialed midwives in the U.S. whose certification requires special training in providing out-of-hospital care. We are both Certified Professional Midwives and Licensed Midwives in South Carolina.

Though birth is not risk-free in any setting, giving birth at home with a midwife is generally considered a safe option for healthy, low-risk mothers. Studies have shown that planned home birth with a Certified Professional Midwife is associated with lower rates of medical intervention but similar outcomes for mothers and babies to planned hospital birth.

Working with a two-midwife team means that you can count on both of us to offer the care, support, and attention you're looking for. We'll both be there for most of your prenatal visits, though working as a team of two means that if we have a mom in early labor or a mom who needs to be seen for a timely postpartum visit during one of our normal prenatal days, we can split up and still give each client the attention and care they deserve. We attend most births together but, in the unlikely event that two women are in labor at the same time, our two-midwife model means that each can be attended by a midwife she knows and trusts rather than by a backup midwife. You'll see both of us a lot during the first couple of weeks after you have your baby. Depending on where you live and when you have your baby, you'll see one or both of us at each of your postpartum visits. For us, working together means we're able to give our clients better care; with a little more rest and a lot more balance, we're able to bring our best selves to each prenatal and postpartum visit and every birth we attend.

Yes! Water birth offers a variety of benefits for both moms and babies, and lots of women who choose home birth have a water birth. Use of a water birth kit is included in the global fee. The single-use items that each client needs to purchase to complete their water birth kit can be purchased with your birth kit for between $40.00 and $70.00, depending on your personal preferences.

While the potential of a mess is a common concern, families can generally expect that by the time their midwives leave their birth, their space will be as clean as it was before they welcomed their baby. After your baby is born, we'll handle any post-birth clean up that needs to happen, including emptying and cleaning the birth pool, starting the laundry, and taking out the trash.

You can begin care as early as you'd like, although most people schedule their first prenatal visit for when they are between 10 and 12 weeks pregnant. Prenatal visits are scheduled every four weeks until you are 28-32 weeks pregnant, every two weeks through your 36th week, and weekly from 36 weeks until your baby is born.

Absolutely! I usually recommend small, easy to digest snacks with water, fruit juice, and electrolytes throughout labor. As your due date approaches, we'll talk more specifically about what snacks you'll want to have on hand for the big day, as well as other important ways you can prepare to stay well-nourished, well-hydrated, and energized enough to finish labor feeling strong.

At your first visit, you'll receive a workbook that's yours to keep. Your workbook contains resources, information about how to care for yourself and your baby during pregnancy, and the practical information you need to help you prepare for your birth, including a supply checklist. ​​The supplies you'll need include a customized birth kit that contains the disposable items we'll use during your birth (estimate $60-$120 depending on preferences) and a short-list of items (such as paper towels, trash bags, and towels) that you likely already have in your home.

Most women who plan a home birth end up having their baby at home, but hospital transfer does occur for a small percentage of women each year. If, at some point in labor, we determine together that transfer to the hospital is wise or desired, you can count on our continued support. We'll facilitate your entrance into hospital care, remain by your side until your baby is born, offer breastfeeding support in the first hours, and resume your planned postpartum care once you're home. The vast majority of hospital transfers are non-emergent; meaning that there's ample time to make choices that are likely to lead to a satisfying and empowering birth experience, even if it doesn't occur at home. Mothers who find in labor that they need something that the hospital has to offer tend to be grateful both for it's availability and for the prenatal care, labor, birth support, smooth transfer and postpartum care offered by their midwife.

It's your birth, so you get to decide who's present! Over the course of your pregnancy, we'll discuss what's most important to you and help you make a plan you feel good about. Older siblings are always welcome at prenatal visits and, if you plan to have your children at your birth, we have resources to help you prepare them for the big day.

Yes, placenta encapsulation can be added as an additional service for $250. If you'd like your placenta encapsulated, we'll take it when we leave your birth and return your capsules around the third day after birth.

We offer lactation support during the course of normal postpartum care and find that when mothers are given the opportunity and support they need to establish a strong breastfeeding relationship right from the beginning, significant or longer-term breastfeeding problems are much less likely to occur. If more support is needed due to any special circumstances or considerations beyond the normal, you may request an additional lactation visit be added to your postpartum care schedule or we may recommend a trusted lactation consultant.

Whether or not home birth is covered depends on the specifics of your plan. Many health share programs cover the total cost of care, while most traditional health insurance companies don't. We are considered an out-of-network provider with several insurance plans. If you're interested in billing insurance, our biller can review the specifics of your plan and offer insight into what may or may not be covered. Those who file with insurance may find that their total costs are applied to their out-of-network deductible or may receive some reimbursement.

The fees associated with midwifery care and home birth are generaly considered FSA and/ or HSA eligible expenses. We are able to accept payment directly from most FSA or HSA plans and can take FSA or HSA cards directly through our client portal.

We offer several payment plans that spread the total cost over the course of your prenatal care, but also welcome clients to create their own payment plan. We require a $500 deposit to start care, and payment in full by 36 weeks, but are flexible about how you get there. We are able to accept payment directly from most FSA or HSA plans and can take credit cards and FSA or HSA cards. We accept electronic payments through Zelle or PayPal and welcome payment via cash or check.

As licensed midwives in South Carolina, we file all of the paperwork necessary to record your baby’s birth with the Office of Vital Records. Your baby’s birth certificate will be available as soon as their birth is recorded. Like parents who give birth in any location, you’ll obtain a copy of their birth certificate by making a vital records request. Your baby'ssocial security card will be mailed directly to the address listed on their birth certificate within several weeks of their birth.

I am grateful to be able to offer a discount through FullScript, a trustworthy and affordable source for vitamins and supplements. Once you start care, you'll receive an invitation to FullScript that will give you access to a list of my top recommendations as well as the ability to shop the entire FullScript catalog with a discount. Additionally, I keep a small stock of popular supplements in my office that clients can purchase as-needed to avoid shipping costs. ​

Whether home birth is right for you depends on your underlying beliefs about birth, your philosophy surrounding health and personal responsibility, and where and with whom you feel safest. Your chosen birth team will share their experience and knowledge, offer monitoring and education, and help you understand what you need to know to make informed choices, but only you can decide if home birth is right for you and your baby. ​Birthing at home does not require a high pain tolerance, an Instagram-ready birth space, or a vast knowledge of the physiology of birth. But it does require the desire and ability to take responsibility for your choices and all the possible outcomes of those choices, a willingness to surrender to the unknown and unknowable facets of the process, and the ability to build a trusting relationship with your chosen birth team. If you have questions about whether your past birth experiences or personal medical history make you a good candidate for home birth, you're welcome to schedule a consultation so that we can discuss what's on your mind.