Homebirth Services and Fees

Initial consultation. A free, no-obligation, one-hour long interview. This is your opportunity to ask me anything about home birth and my midwifery practice, and for me to share with you how I work in concert with you. In most cases, it is best if your partner or main birth support person also attends. My practice is inclusive and supportive of ALL families.

My comprehensive package fee is $5000.00. $6000.00 for families who choose to have all prenatal care in home. A $500.00 retainer is required to begin care with the balance due and paid by 36 weeks of pregnancy.   I accept cash, PayPal, Venmo, and credit card or HSA card payments (via Square) and offer flexible monthly payment plans, as well as sliding scale options for a limited number of families with financial need, so please talk to me about payment options. Midwives work long hours and do deserve to be well paid for their skilled work, but we can often work something out that makes home birth possible.  I am also open to discussing equitable barter for goods and services. 

This practice is not in-network with any insurance companies. While all Midwifery Services must be paid in full, prior to birth, verification-of-benefits (VOB) and insurance billing for out-of-network coverage is available via Birth Professional Billing, a billing company specializing in out-of-hospital care.  Billing is submitted only after your birth and postpartum care is fully completed, and it is possible that you will be reimbursed, by your insurance company, in part or full, on an out-of-network basis (results not guaranteed and are dependent upon your individual insurance company, as well as deductibles and specific insurance plans). There is a fee for this service, based upon actual reimbursement amounts. 

There are no discounts for late entry into care, as this often requires MORE work, and more in-depth prenatal visits, in a shorter period of time, in order to provide safe and healthy home birth care. All labs, tests, and midwifery care recommendations are offered on the basis of informed choice or refusal, but declining included care does not reduce the global cash fee for midwifery care, unless expressly stated. More information is located in my services contract & financial agreement.   

The fee INCLUDES:

• Complete Prenatal Care: Prenatal visits help build a foundation for healthy pregnancy and birth, provide opportunities for shared decision making, and are also a lot of fun! Siblings are always welcome and often get great joy from "helping" the midwife. Visits typically last 45-60 minutes and include prenatal physical assessment to assess the health of your pregnancy and growth and well-being of your baby as well as nutritional, educational and emotional support that is tailored to your personal needs. Visits occur monthly until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and weekly until birth, with a "run-through" home visit scheduled around 36 weeks.

• The Initial Prenatal: Our first prenatal appointment is a longer appointment which allows us to review your pregnancy, birth, and health history; complete necessary paperwork & finalize financial arrangements; discuss expectations for care; assess your nutrition status, as well as address any concerns or questions you may have.

• Phone, text, and email support during your pregnancy, early labor, and postpartum. Ask me anything and I'll help you find answers, resources, or just lend an ear. I do maintain office hours for non-labor and non-emergent inquiries, Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm.

• The Home Visit. An exciting time! The home visit occurs around 36 weeks of pregnancy and is a chance for us all to talk more about logistics, and setting up your home for birth We combine our normal prenatal appointment alongside a review of your birth desires (& you have the reassurance of knowing that your midwife knows how to get to your house!) This is a great appointment to include anyone whom you plan to have in attendance during labor or birth, including family members and friends or a birth doula or photographer.

• 24-hr On-call from 36 weeks. In labor at 3 am? Or on a holiday? No problem!

• Continuous labor and birth support and midwifery care from active labor through the birth of your baby. Early labor support may include intermittent home visits and phone consultation. Should a transport to the hospital become necessary; the midwife will accompany you and provide emotional and physical support, and guidance, as well as making sure that your hospital provider has all the information needed for a seamless transfer of care. Postpartum, lactation support. and well-newborn care, continue on our normal schedule, or as close to it, as possible.

• A paid birth assistant and second midwife, who will typically be called to come during active labor, when at all possible.

• Back-up midwife. In the event of illness or emergency; a trusted colleague and assistants will provide care at no extra cost to you.

• Non-disposable birth supplies, emergency herbs, homeopathy, &/or medications, and emergency equipment (as needed)

• Use (if so desired) of a waterbirth tub for active labor and birth.

• Immediate postpartum support from birth until you and your baby are stable and settled, including watchful patience with placental birth; initial bonding and breastfeeding support; an herbal bath (if desired); and full clean-up, (typically 2-3 hours after your birth).

• A Comprehensive Newborn Exam completed after birth to assess newborn health and development, and identify any referral needs.

• Postpartum care for you and well-newborn care for your baby for the first 6 weeks after birth. Postpartum home visits and well-baby and breastfeeding check-ups are routinely done at 24-36 hours; 1 week, and 2 weeks. A final office visit is offered at 6 weeks. Additional visits will be provided as necessary.

• For baby: Vitamin K prophylaxis (injection or initial oral dosing); and Health Department screenings for Critical Congenital Heart Defect screening, Newborn Metabolic Screening, & referral for Newborn Hearing Screening. (As of 07/23, newborn metabolic screen cards are purchased by me by the state lab at a price of $98, your options will be discussed at the 36 week visit.)

• Filing of your baby's birth certificate and social security number

• Access to my extensive lending library of pregnancy and childbirth books.

• Tuition-free access to any group educational classes or workshops offered by my practice.

What is NOT included: 

• Routine labs, testing, and ultrasounds/Biophysical Profile may be offered, requested or referred out but will generally incur additional costs. Your medical insurance may cover these directly.

• Non-invasive prenatal genetic screening, such as the Panorama or Harmony tests, although I can facilitate ordering these tests & performing the necessary blood draws or specimen collection.

• Nutritional & herbal supplements (although I do recommend some herbs and supplements & may occasionally provide these or offer discounted pricing on my favorite brands, as a part of your care)

• Doula support (although I love doulas and highly recommend them, especially to first-time parents!)

• Childbirth Education Classes outside of any group classes offered by my practice

• Bodywork such as pregnancy massage, yoga or chiropractic care (highly recommended, but not required)

• A Birth Kit (consisting of disposable birth supplies) specific to my practice, ordered by you, in the last 4-6 weeks of pregnancy

• Waterbirth tub LINER, new potable water hose, and any special hose connections specific to your location. (required for use of a rental waterbirth tub)

• Rhogam (for Rh- mothers only) and postpartum neonatal blood typing/Eldon card for baby's of Rh- mothers or pregnant people).

• Antibiotics for Group B Strep infection

• Vaccinations for pregnant person or newborn (referrals as desired)

• Circumcision (if you plan to circumcise and don't have resources, I use a mohel who is very kind and will come to you!)