- Personalized care plan – this is bigger than people realize. You and your midwife can take the time to discuss options, discuss why tests are done and what the results will mean, to incorporate different wellness modalities (chiropractor, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, osteopathy, etc.) to create a care plan that’s perfect for you. We are not one-size-fits-all people and our care should be as individual as our needs.
- Continuity of care – many home-based midwives operate either independently or in pairs (sometimes in small groups). During appointments you will have the opportunity to get to know each midwife, or your single midwife very well. This enhances the relationship you create together, increasing trust and understanding. When labor begins you know exactly who will be there to support you – it will not be a new face walking through the door who is just now reading your chart.
- Home visits – one of my favorite things about doing home visits is how much more comfortable my clients usually are. With each appointment midwife and client get used to being together so that when labor begins it feels pretty natural to be there. Plus, you could roll out of bed and enjoy your appointment? Yes please!
- Long appointments – appointments are 1-1.5 hours long. Some of the postpartum appointments can be even longer! Plenty if time to chat about all the important things coming up in pregnancy, discussing questions, checking baby’s growth and position, and making sure you are healthy and supported overall. Usually by the time labor begins you will have spent many hours with your midwife.
- The ability to ask your midwife questions by email, calls or text – if you didn’t have time during your appointment to discuss everything or you finally remembered that last question, don’t worry, your midwife is very reachable! You have the option of calling, emailing or texting with your midwife.
- Getting the whole family involved – I love when friends and family are around during appointments. Everyone from older siblings to grandmas to friends are welcome to appointments, but especially those older siblings! They are so happy to be involved with squeezing blood pressure cuffs and measuring bellies! This kind of family involvement helps to support everyone through the changing dynamics of adding a new baby.
Teach older siblings that a new baby doesn’t mean they get pushed out. - 6 weeks of postpartum care – this is really one of the gems of midwifery care. Having your midwife come over for long appointments to check out both you and baby together many times over the first 6 weeks makes so much sense. What’s happening with one directly affects the other. For example, if we weigh baby and are concerned then we go directly to looking at how baby is eating and how the client is coping with breastfeeding if that’s what’s happening. We ask about sleep and who is needing more support in transitioning to being a parent of a little one – no small life change! Midwifery care can also be done alongside pediatric and OB/Gyn care to address more complex issues. (Didn’t get a chance to have a midwife for your pregnancy and birth? You can still have midwifery care just for the postpartum period!)
- Affordable care – hospitals charge thousands of dollars for prenatal care and the birth (postpartum care not included) – an average of $32,093 for an uncomplicated, vaginal birth according to Childbirth Connection from a 2013 study. Midwives in my area charge $4000-7000, and many have sliding scales and payment plans for those who need them. For all the care that clients get from their midwives, it’s a really low cost option. (Unfortunately many insurance companies will not reimburse home midwifery fees at in-network rates, but we are all really hoping this changes with increased demand! PPO plans will reimburse some amount of the fee, especially if you work with a biller. Please ask a midwife if they have a sliding scale, payment plan – it doesn’t hurt to ask.).
- Culturally competent care – I have a whole other post on this but the basic idea is that we can increase the health equity of our clients and babies by having midwives who are a part of historically discriminated groups serving clients from these same groups. With horrible statistics like black mothers and babies being 3-4 times more likely to experience serious complications during birth than their white peers, and disparities in birth outcomes in other racial groups, we really need to be working on all fronts to address this epidemic of deaths. Having a growing body of midwives who are culturally matched with their clients will increase their safety and choices.
- Increased satisfaction with your care – all of this together amounts to increased satisfaction because, in many cases, clients are finding a midwife who respects their choices, who listens to them, and whom they trust. Midwives are passionate about providing high level, competent care through their client’s entire prenatal, birth and postpartum experience. And midwives are fun people, really! Find a midwife today and see what you think!