Community birth is safe for low risk patients and babies. Midwifery prenatal care is designed to identify risk and prevent the onset or advancement of conditions that make birth high risk. Some high risk factors include blood sugar disregulation, current case of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, more than 2 prior c-sections. 

Also, being confident is the body's ability to birth without medical intervention is essential. It's ok to be anxious, especially in the beginning of pregnancy, but by delivery, you should know that you are safe in your body and with your chosen team. This confidence has a physiologic impact on your body and supports the natural birth process .

The midwifery model of care prioritizes shared and empowered decision making, connection with your chosen provider, and prevention of complication. First, our appointments are 45-60 minutes each time. This provides ample opportunity to get to know you, your family, how you make decisions, your desires for pregnancy and birth, and to process anxieties that can hinder the natural birth process. We also have time to provide information that helps inform your decisions about your care. My job is to inform and support, not pressure you into specific outcomes. Next, midwifery care seeks to prevent complications from arising in the first place. We use natural remedies, food based healing, and low intervention options as often as possible. Finally, it's been shown that connection with and trust in your provider lead to better outcomes. By truly getting to know you as human, rather than a medical record number, you know we see you, we hear you, we have your best interest at heart. This isn't just a job. We want you and your baby to be well, so we do everything we can ensure that outcome. 

You can submit your final receipt for services rendered to your insurance company for a potential reimbursement, although I cannot guarantee any outcome. If you have FSA or HSA, you can use these funds to pay for your services. Health Share Ministries will reliably cover the cost of midwifery care, home birth and use of a birth center for delivery. Here are two options, but you must enroll before you become pregnant:

Liberty Health Share

Zion Health Share

Yes! Everyone receiving eligible services is able to choose a payment plan. Your balance will be split into equal monthly payments, based on the number of months remaining in your pregnancy. For those who begin care early, it is usually 8 payments. 

You should begin care as soon as you are ready. There are several valid reasons to have a provider in the first trimester including extreme symptoms that need monitoring, confirmation of viability, prevention of miscarriage, and to have support for questions that lead to anxiety. To that end, you could begin care at 4 weeks (usually when you would have a positive pregnancy test) if that is when you are ready to begin.  It has been shown, that better outcomes are achieved when care is established in the first trimester. Also, your monthly payment would be lower if you begin earlier. 

Absolutely! I enthusiastically support VBAC birth! It is crucial to acheive a vaginal birth after your first C-section. This proves the soundness of your uterus for future births and prevents the serious risks associated with extensive abdominal surgery. You will need to provide your surgical report and have an ultrasound to evaluate the integrity of your lower uterine segment.