Frequently Asked Questions & Resources

FAQs

What is a midwife?  

Midwives are health care professionals that specialize in providing care during pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum for parent and baby.  They are also knowledgeable about preconception care and routine well-body reproductive care.  There are several types of midwives practicing in different settings, but all are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), like me, is trained and experienced in assisting families birth in an out of hospital setting such as a stand alone birth center or in your home. CPM’s are required to be licensed in Vermont. To learn more about CPM’s check out the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives .

How is midwifery care different from standard maternity care?

There are some fundamental differences in midwife led care and obstetrical care.
The Midwives Model of Care includes:

• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle

• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support

• Minimizing technological interventions

• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

The application of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section. Copyright (c) 1996-2008, Midwifery Task Force, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Midwives are experts in providing care for low risk pregnant people and their babies. Often they carry a much lower case load which gives them time to have hour long appointments to truly check in with clients about their physical and emotional health; answer questions and concerns; and perform vitals (often the very last thing done in the last 10 minutes or so). Care focuses on building trust and relationship between midwife and client. Postpartum care is also more comprehensive in that clients are seen an average of five times in the first six weeks after birth. Obstetricians and family doctors carry high patient loads with varying levels of underlying medical conditions that may or may not impact the pregnancy and birth. They are experts in managing high risk pregnancies and births. Postpartum care is often limited to 2 visits.

Who will be at my birth?

Your midwife, their assistant (often another licensed midwife or someone knowledgeable and skilled about birth), and whoever you invite to your birth, including children and pets.  I strive to be sure you get a chance to meet whoever will be assisting me at your birth during your home visit at 36 weeks.  I also like to meet whoever you plan to invite to your birth when possible.  When considering who, or if, you want to invite people to your birth think about who in your inner circle you can truly be yourself with (there may be poop involved).  For children and pets it is a good idea to have an alternate plan in case they have an unforeseen reaction to the birth scene.  You may (likely) make noises, say/yell expletives, move in ways they are not used to; and there is usually more blood and other fluids spilled than on a typical Tuesday.

Is homebirth safe?

Homebirth is a safe option for pregnant people whose pregnancies are without complications and are full-term at the start of labor when monitored and attended by professional midwives. For some babies and parents who are at higher risk for complications, a hospital birth is a safer option. To learn more about the safety of home birth, check out this study, Outcomes of planned homebirth with CPMs in North America.

What if something goes wrong?

Midwives are trained in assessing vital signs, symptoms, and lab work.  We are extensively trained to recognize when something is not normal. Midwives carry equipment and medication for more complex situations and maintain current certifications in adult CPR and newborn resuscitation (helping a newborn breath).  While healthy pregnancies and births are often “unremarkable,” home birth is not a guarantee. We always make a plan ahead of the birth of where (what hospital) we would transport to in the event of a non-emergent or emergent situation.  Some non-emergent reasons to transport include long labors that have exhausted all the tools we have for home birth, your water is broken for an extended time, you ask to transport to the hospital, or you sustain a perineal tear that is beyond our scope of practice for repair to name a few.  Oftentimes we travel to the hospital in your private vehicle.  An emergent reason to transport to the hospital is any situation in which the life of you or your baby are at risk.   This is very rare.  In that case we call 911 and transport to the hospital by ambulance.  In either case we remain with you until you give birth and/or everyone is stable.

Can I have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) at home?

Many midwives offer the option for VBAC.  Some people are better candidates for VBAC at home than others based on several factors including: the reason for Cesarean, the length of time between pregnancies, type of uterine surgery and how it was repaired to name a few considerations midwives look at when considering a client for VBAC.  Vermont has several rules and regulations for midwives about VBAC and a specific informed choice document developed by the state must be signed by yourself, your midwife, and a witness that is not related to you.

Can I have a water birth?

Absolutely!  Water has proved to be a wonderful and safe place to labor and birth.  I have a lot of experience with water birth.  Even if you do not want to ultimately birth in water a tub is a great tool for labor.

Is midwifery care covered by insurance?

The question of the hour.   The answer is yes...sometimes...and no.  Many midwives forgo taking insurance due to paperwork, increased overhead costs (which often includes paying a biller and carrying malpractice insurance), and poor compensation.  Each midwife practice is different so it is worth checking both your own insurance policy regarding midwifery care coverage and which midwives take insurance.  I am now accepting Medicaid!

Where can I find more information about pregnancy and birth?  

There is so much to learn and know about!  I couldn’t possibly list every resource as there are so many pathways to receive information: classes, books, video, blogs, Instagram, the dreaded Google search.  Since you have made it this far into my site I am assuming you are looking for midwife-centric information.  The following are some suggestions on where to start.

Resources

Books:

• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

• Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

• The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Romm

• Birthing from Within by Pam England

• Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah Buckley

• The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

• Birth and Breastfeeding by Michel Odent

• The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henri Goer

• Childbirth without Fear by Grantley Dick-Read

• The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin