FAQs
INVESTMENT-RELATED QUESTIONS
While we have been paid by a few insurance companies, we are not participating providers (or in-network) with any. We work with a billing service through which claims are processed and handled. Most clients do not have to file their own insurance claims. However, due to the uncertainty of the insurance company's willingness to pay, we do require payment prior to the birth. It's important to note that different insurance plans reimburse different amounts for out-of-network providers. Clients with PPO insurance tend to have greater success with reimbursement than clients with HMO insurance. Our Financial Contract addresses the fact that this is a substantial out-of-pocket expense. Therefore we have created options to simplify payment requirements.
Sadly, there is no homebirth midwifery coverage through MassHealth at this time. For folks insured through MassHealth, you may qualify for a reduced rate.
If you are a teenager or family receiving government aide (WIC, TAFDC, EA, RAFT, etc.), you may be eligible for a discount.
To better accommodate our clients and make our services more available, we offer three different packages: In-Home Visits Only, a mix of Home Visits and Office Visits and In-Office Appointments Only. Our packages range from $4250 - $5700. We supply you with a birth kit and a birth tub. We limit our births to 6 to 8 a month and we fill up fast.
Clients are asked to put a deposit down early in the pregnancy to secure their spot on the calendar.
Occasionally, we offer a flexible payment plan for those experiencing financial hardship. Please do not hesitate to ask. We don't want to turn anyone away who truly desires to have a homebirth. Potential clients who are receiving government aide (transitional assistance, food stamps, WIC, etc) and/ or have MassHealth, may also qualify for a discounted rate.
HOMEBIRTH QUESTIONS
In the Netherlands and Sweden, homebirths and birth centers are actually quite the norm! The people who help you are trained midwives or nurses or physicians.
We operate a balanced practice - which means we offer all the testing you'd have in a hospital setting, but allow you to have your baby at home.
Obviously, an important question and one with a long, thorough answer. But here it is in brief. The general consensus is that midwives are experts in normal, uncomplicated pregnancy and birth. In order to be a good candidate for homebirth midwifery care, you must have an uncomplicated pregnancy and be in good overall health. Throughout pregnancy, we will be working together to keep you in optimum health and good balance. We will also be vigilantly screening for complications. If, in spite of our best efforts, complications do arise, and the balance required for safe homebirth cannot be restored, an individualized transfer of care plan is in place. If a transfer of care is done during pregnancy, we will be available to provide doula support through the remainder of the pregnancy and birth. If a transfer of care is done during labor, we will make the necessary arrangements and accompany our clients to the hospital. Once there, we will remain with our clients and function as in-hospital labor support the entire time.
We care for our clients with the same reverence as we would our own sisters, daughters, selves. A homebirth is not our goal. Our primary goal is a healthy mother and healthy baby. If it can happen at home (which it usually does), then that's wonderful. We come to births well-equipped to handle the very rare unforeseen emergency, we carry emergency medications and equipment, and we are trained and certified in Neonatal Resuscitation and CPR.
We represent a younger generation of midwives, and in doing so, strive to find a balance between traditional midwifery and contemporary maternity care. We hold on dearly to the traditional skills we have been taught so they are not lost, but we embrace and use the appropriate technology and testing available today. We consider ourselves a good fit for parents who are interested in homebirth, but want to utilize some of the tests and resources available in conventional care settings.
We bring a Doppler for listening to the fetal heartbeat during labor, medical equipment for monitoring maternal vital signs, herbs, homeopathics, and various other supplies and equipment. We also carry oxygen and resuscitation equipment, emergency medications to stop bleeding, IV supplies, and suturing equipment with local anesthetic.
We love waterbirth! Warm water in labor can make a tremendous difference for many women, and there is some evidence that water can make a smoother transition for baby. We offer waterbirth tub rental for an additional cost.
We do accept certain VBAC candidates, it depends on a variety of factors.
Drugs aren’t an option, and seldom does it even come up as a request. When you are in your familiar surroundings and feel safe and supported, you move through labor smoothly. Being well-informed and in the right mind set really works well. Birth tubs keep the temperature warm and soothe contractions naturally and we offer hands on labor support. We bring a birth stool and a birth ball. You are welcome to fill your space with the people you love, your music and any other comfy things.
Don't be. It's really not as loud as you might expect. We are conditioned to believe that birth is a loud, dramatic affair. The truth is birth is just another normal human biological process. Beautiful and amazing, yes. But also pretty quiet and kind of boring. Chances are pretty good your neighbors won't know you've had a baby until you make a formal, public announcement.
The mess is a universal question. Everybody wonders what to do about the mess. And it's just not an issue. Families are often surprised (and relieved) to find that the midwives have left their homes as tidy as it was before the birth (sometimes tidier!) You may not have even believed a baby was born there, except that you are holding the little one in your arms!
We adore having children present for the births! Moreover, we think it's of significant importance for the bonding of the family and welcoming of the newborn. It's important, though, to have an adult present just for your child. Ideally, that adult should be someone who can be completely present and responsive to your child. And, of course, it should be someone with whom your child is comfortable. There are wonderful books and materials for preparing children for the sights and sounds of labor and birth; we can help you find these. Rest assured that children generally do great with birth, especially when they've been adequately prepared.
We provide the necessary paperwork required by the state to obtain these documents. Massachusetts recognizes homebirth as a valid choice and you'll have no problem with this legal process.
ABOUT DOULAS
A doula is someone who provides emotional, physical, and informational support for a laboring woman and her family. A doula provides continuous care with full attention to the needs of clients for all of their labor and birth.
One of the main responsibilities of Doulas is to help create a safe, trusting and compassionate space for a woman to birth her baby. Our goal is to honor the mother's and/or family's choices and needs for their birth experience.
Please visit the Services tab to find out what our approach is like as well as the whole process. If you have additional questions, please contact us directly.
These are just to name a few...
- Reduction of cesarean rates
- Reduction in use of forceps
- Less requests for epidurals
- Shorter labor
- Reduction in oxytocin augmentation
- Lower rates of newborn complications
- Reduction of maternal bleeding after birth
- Increased success with breastfeeding
- Reduction in postpartum depression
- Increased maternal satisfaction