How many births have you attended?

As of February, 2020, I have attended over 175 births— approximately 80 as a doula and over 95 in a midwifery role, 40 of which I was the primary midwife providing all hands-on care with an assistant midwife supporting.

What is the training like to become a midwife?

The training to become a midwife requires both academic coursework and clinical training. I completed my academic coursework through the Association of Texas Midwives. It was a full-time coursework load that took me about 4.5 years to complete. I trained with two midwives in Austin for the majority of my clinical work; however, I also spent a month at a busy birth center in Salt Lake City to gain some experience with high-volume midwifery care. I have attended births with multiple other midwives in Austin to increase my exposure to different styles of midwifery care and learn from as many people as possible. Licensure requires ongoing Continuing Education courses as well as current CPR and NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program).

What do you bring to a birth?

My birth kit is like a mini traveling L&D room with extra comfort items. Although emergencies are extremely rare, I come prepared to deal with many situations just in case. A small sample of what I bring: a doppler for monitoring your baby’s heartbeat, oxygen with masks for both client and baby, IV supplies and liquids, medications to stop bleeding, anesthetic and sutures in case of a tear (rare), homeopathics and herbs of many kinds, instruments for clamping and cutting the cord, a birth pool (wonderful for minimizing pain during transition), a birth stool, an inflatable birth ball and peanut ball, a rebozo, and other items to enhance your safety and comfort.

Do you do waterbirth?

Yes! About a quarter of my clients deliver in the water, and many more than that labor in the birth pool. It’s a wonderful way to ease transition from active labor into pushing. The inflatable cushioned pool is included in my fee, and I set it up when I arrive at your home. There is no extra charge for using the pool.

What is included in your fee?

The fee for homebirth is comprehensive. It includes all your prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care for you and your baby up to 6 weeks after the birth. In addition, I am available to you 24/7 from the moment you sign your contract until we say good-bye six weeks after your baby is born. For every single client, I spend somewhere in the neighborhood of 500-840 hours on call. Included are all normal labwork (OB profile, glucose testing, GBS testing), medications, IV fluids, medical equipment, and state health and registration forms (newborn screening, birth registration). Not included are the cost of an ultrasound if you choose to have one and approximately $75 for a birth kit of disposable medical supplies to use at birth.

Do you offer discounts?

I am happy to negotiate a payment schedule that works for your family. Payments may be made by cash, check, Venmo, credit card, or HSA. I have an insurance biller who can determine whether your insurance company will cover your care. If so, you are responsible for paying upfront, but my biller can provide us with accurate information about how much the insurance company will cover and when to expect reimbursement. I am also open to bartering. If you or a family member has a service or trade or product that might be of interest to me, let me know!