Frequently Asked Questions

Midwives are experts in caring for healthy pregnancies, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Beyond providing support during normal birth, they are specially trained to recognize when something falls outside of the expected range and can identify warning signs well before an emergency develops. Your midwife and her assistant are certified in both adult and newborn resuscitation, adding an extra layer of security to your birth experience. Throughout your prenatal care, you’ll learn what situations are safe for home birth and when a hospital transfer might be best for you and your baby. Should a transfer become necessary, your midwife will coordinate the details and help ensure the process is as calm and seamless as possible, continuing to support and advocate for you at the hospital. For further reading, see Midwives Alliance of North America, MN Council of CPMs, and our statistics.

No! It’s completely normal to wonder about the mess when considering home birth; this is one of the most common questions we hear. Birth at home is usually far less messy than what’s portrayed in the media. Your midwife will provide you with a birth kit that includes large pads to protect your bed and floors, keeping your space as comfortable and clean as possible. After your baby is born, your midwife and team start the laundry and thoroughly clean up before leaving, so you can relax, and your home will feel just like it did before.

There isn’t an easy yes or no answer, since it depends on the plan you have. Our midwives are considered out-of-network providers and will be covered based on your out-of-network benefit levels. Twin Cities Midwifery provides insurance billing services to make billing and insurance reimbursement smooth and easy. Many insurance plans cover a portion, if not all, of the costs of having a home birth. When you schedule your free consultation, we will gather your insurance information and call your insurance company to learn more about your plan’s benefits. By asking very specific questions about your plan, we can get a better estimate of what costs you can expect your insurance company to cover. Twin Cities Midwifery works with families to make affordable payment plans that are unique to each family’s financial situation. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) generally can be used to pay for midwifery services. Most often, even paying 100% out-of-pocket for your home birth is less expensive than the out-of-pocket costs for a hospital birth after insurance processes the claim and you pay your deductibles. For more information on insurance coverage of home birth services, check out our Insurance Benefits blog post.

There are two common types of midwives in the U.S. Nurse midwives are primarily trained in a hospital setting and most often attend births in the hospital. They are called Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs). Some CNMs gain additional experience to offer out-of-hospital care, as well. The second type is direct-entry midwives. These midwives are primarily trained and provide care in the home birth or out-of-hospital setting. Some direct-entry midwives earn the national credential of Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). In Minnesota, CPMs also have the option of becoming licensed by the state, which also gives them the title of Licensed Midwife (LM). It is a good idea to ask your midwife about her credentials, especially in Minnesota, where there are so many possible combinations and midwifery licensure is optional.

Every visit includes assessment of the baby and the health of the pregnancy, such as listening to the baby’s heartbeat, measuring uterine growth, and checking vitals (blood pressure, pulse, and weight). We discuss any pregnancy discomforts you might be experiencing and remedies for them. As various choices and options come up throughout care, we discuss them at least one visit prior to when decisions should be made, so you have ample time to ask questions, do further research, and determine the best decision for your family. In addition to discussing any questions or concerns you may have, hour-long visits also provide an opportunity for you and your midwife to build a close relationship.

Doulas are wonderful for continuous emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after labor. While our midwives include emotional and physical support as a part of your care, doulas focus solely on non-medical comfort measures and companion support for both the birthing person and their partner, from early labor until after the baby arrives. It’s important to know that doulas do not provide medical care, but their presence can be invaluable. We encourage every family to consider the support of a doula alongside midwifery care. Be sure to check out the Childbirth Collective for donation-based parent topic nights and ample opportunities to meet with and interview doulas.

Our midwives are certified in neonatal resuscitation and CPR and will have related equipment on hand. They will also bring medical supplies such as oxygen, suction for baby, medications for hemorrhage, a fetoscope and doppler to monitor baby’s heartbeat, a baby scale, equipment to check vitals (blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, a watch), IV equipment, suture and lidocaine for perineal tears, a pulse oximeter, and a variety of herbal and homeopathic remedies. Clients in our practice also have access to a birth stool and a birth tub during labor.

No. Planned home births can be in a house, townhouse, apartment, trailer, hotel, friend’s house, birth center, or even a backyard! Our midwives are pretty flexible with space needs and can make almost any “home” work. Ideally, there should be running water, electricity, and a phone (or cell phone service), but even those can be negotiated!

If your medical history before pregnancy is healthy, your current pregnancy is low-risk, and you feel genuinely drawn to giving birth at home, you’re likely a great candidate! To keep you and your baby as safe as possible, our midwives use an ongoing risk screening process that starts during your first visit and continues through the end of your care. This approach empowers you with knowledge and ensures the best possible experience for your home birth journey.

Occasionally, issues come up during pregnancy, in labor, or after birth that indicate we should consult an additional provider or transfer your care to a hospital. Our clients rarely transfer to the hospital; when they do, the most common reason is a very long labor with no or slowed progress. Transfers to the hospital are most common in first-time births. The vast majority of the time, transports to the hospital occur from our practice, they are non-urgent, and involve the family driving their own car, not needing an ambulance. Our midwives help make smooth transitions from home to hospital, and they stay with the family during and after the transport to continue supporting them. Learn more about the specific situations that require transfer of care. For the most common reasons people transfer out of our care, check out Twin Cities Midwifery’s statistics.