FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Most insurance companies offer some coverage for the cost of midwifery services. We use an excellent insurance biller who specializes in homebirth midwifery (Birthing Professional Billing) to file our insurance claims.

If you would like us to submit a verification of benefits to determine your out-of-pocket costs for home birth services, we are happy to do this free of charge! Additionally, we are able to accept payment from HSAs.

We want to be transparent and upfront with costs so that there are no surprise bills following the birth (which is frequently the case following hospital births!).

Not at all! We attend birth in all sorts of spaces, including apartments, Airbnbs, hotels, backyards, mobile homes, tiny homes—you name it! All that we require is that there will be running water, electricity, and cell service. At 36 weeks, we will visit and tour your birth space and work out any details.

This doesn’t happen often, but it is always possible! Fortunately, there are three of us, and we can always divide and conquer if necessary.

With your permission, we would be happy to document your birth! However, as a disclaimer, we are not professional photographers and cannot guarantee the quality of the photos. If you are interested in keepsake photos, check out our recommended resources to see local birth photographers in the area!

Most likely! The easiest way for us to answer this question is through a consultation appointment. We will discuss your health and birth history and determine the safest place to give birth.

Nope! We provide plenty of supplies to keep your home clean and tidy and ensure that any blood or fluids are immediately cleaned up following the birth. We like to leave your space as clean (or cleaner!) as we found it!

No. Births that happen at home are all-natural and spontaneous. We don’t administer any pain medications for contractions. However, we do have a variety of pain-relieving techniques that help parents cope with labor successfully (including water immersion, acupressure, massage, positioning, etc.).

We do, however, offer lidocaine to numb any tissues that need to be stitched after the birth.

Yes! We have a deluxe inflatable birth tub for rent. We can set it up with a sterile liner and help you break it down after the birth. Laboring in the water is a great way to relieve discomfort and rest, even if you get out of the tub for birth.

Not for low-risk populations! Multiple studies have shown the safety of home birth for low-risk parents to be the same (or safer) than birth taking place in the hospital. There are (of course) risks involved with any birth, and we are trained and skilled in managing emergencies and unexpected complications. We are happy to provide you with research and resources for more information upon request!

We are midwives, meaning we are licensed medical care providers qualified to catch babies, administer medications, and provide prenatal and postpartum care. Most midwives spend 4-7 years gaining their education and training before becoming licensed.

Doulas are trained labor-support people who are experienced in comfort measures and education for labor and birth. Many of them also provide postpartum services, which can include infant care and meal prep. Emotional support is a key part of their role. Most doulas spend 2-6 months becoming certified.

It probably will! Most births begin at night due to natural hormonal shifts that occur in the evening. We are on call for you around the clock and are very used to being called out at 2 a.m.!

We follow the same care schedule and offer the same tests you can have with an OB. During a low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancy, there is no need to see an OB besides your midwife. However, certain complications or situations may arise where we will want to consult with a physician, such as gestational diabetes, etc. If necessary, your midwife will refer you to a local OB or Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor.

We have excellent relationships with the hospitals and hospital staff in the Austin area. If we need to change birth settings, the hospitals we transport to are happy to take our transfers, and we often end up with a continuation of midwifery care in the hospital setting! 

The midwife caring for you at home will facilitate the transport by calling ahead, giving a report to the on-call physician or midwife, faxing records, and going to the hospital as an advocate and support person. Our rate of transport during labor is low, but we make sure that those families get as much support as possible during and after their birth.