A Midwife is a health care provider specializing in caring for mothers and babies from conception to birth and beyond.  They also provide well-woman gynecological care and family planning.  There are several types of midwives:

A licensed  midwife in Texas has an apprenticeship to learn about pregnancy and birth. Licensed midwives take a certification exam provided by North American Regsitry of Midwives (NARM). They are certified as a  Certified Professional Midwife (CPM).

A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) receives Master's level education in Midwifery and is required to have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and 2-5 years of nursing experience in a field related to childbirth. It is the only credential that is accepted in all 50 states and many countries worldwide. A CNM provides care during pregnancy, birth, and after birth as well as well woman gynecological care and family planning. 

A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is an individual educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery and is certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

There is a wide variety of organizations and types of credentialing available to midwives. Here are some explanations for common abbreviations in this field:

ACNM = American College of Nurse-Midwives. The national certifying organization for CNMs.

CNM = Certified Nurse Midwife. A nurse who has special training in midwifery. CNMs work primarily in hospitals and Birth Centers. A CNM is not a direct-entry midwife.

CPM = Certified Professional Midwife, credentialed through NARM (see below)

LDM = Licensed Direct Entry Midwife. This is the title for a direct-entry midwife licensed through the Oregon State Board of Direct Entry Midwifery. See LM.

LM = Licensed Midwife. Licensing body varies by state

MANA = Midwife's Alliance of North America. An international direct-entry midwifery organization.

MEAC = Midwifery Education Accreditation Council. The accrediting body for direct-entry midwifery schools.

NARM = North American Registry of Midwives. The national certifying organization for direct-entry midwives. 

Nurse-midwifery care is available in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and some US territories. In 1998, the most current year data are available from the National Center for Health Statistics, there were 277,811 CNM-attended births in the U.S. This accounts for 9 percent of the vaginal births that year. The number of CNM-attended births has increased every year since 1975, the first year the NCHS began collecting this data. (From ACNM Webpage)

Any low risk woman wishing to have a home birth may have one.  Women are considered low-risk unless there are medical conditions, pre-existing or that develop during pregnancy, that cause a woman to be considered high risk.  

Homebirth is legal in most states, although the details vary from state to state.  It is legal in the state of Texas.

Midwives offer a higher level of individual attention.  This individual attention gives the midwife time to plan with the entire family for the upcoming birth.  Questions tend to be easily asked and answers are more in depth, as the midwife seeks to get to know each individual family.  During the birth, never having to leave home, being able to eat, take walks and baths, having the freedom to choose positions, level of lighting, and who comes and goes is much different than a hospital birth. The environment tends to be more serene and after the birth, it is often noted how different it feels to be able to get into your own bed with your baby rather than a hospital bed.

My cost is generally between $3200-$4800.

More and more companies are recognizing homebirth as a reasonable and cost effective option. Bay Area Birth Center accepts most insurance plans.

Prenatal visits are monthly until week 30, every other week until week 36 and then weekly until baby's birthday.  Postpartum visits are at your home around 48 hours and in the office at 2 weeks,  and 6 weeks after birth. Normally, birth fees covers prenatal and postpartum visits, as well as attendance at the birth.   

 

A complete physical at one of the first visits, blood pressure test, urine test, listening to and feeling the baby.  Weight gain is also monitored (some midwives watch the diet closer than the weight gain) and baby's heat rate is checked.  Visits usually last 30 minutes to one hour.

Our Parent's Checklist contains a list of things you need to get ready for a homebirth. We will also give you guidance on ordering a birthkit.

The birth kit normally contains all the disposable goods needed for the birth.  Underpads, sterile gloves, gauze 4X4's, a bulb syringe, sanitary pads, a peri-bottle are common elements.  Gentle Care Birth Services will give you information on how to order your birth kit during the last trimester.  You can order it online or via regular mail, and the birth kit is shipped directly to you, usually within 2 days.

You can do, for the most part, whatever is comfortable, soothing and pleasing to you. This is one of the distinct advantages of homebirth. In the early stages, you might want to just continue your household routine, or wrap up some loose ends in your life. When the labor becomes more serious, you might walk around the house or the yard. You can rock in your favorite chair, take a hot shower or bath.

Because the midwife provides labor support and management as well as delivering the baby, she will usually be at your home for most of your active labor. Since many women have difficulty determining where they are in their labor, the best plan is to always call as soon as you think you may be in labor.

We will bring all the medical equipment needed at the birth, as well as sterile instruments. We bring emergency equipment such as items needed for recusitation, oxygen for the mom or baby if needed, IV equipment, and drugs to treat postpartum hemorrhage.

Although homebirth is statistically safer, it does not guarantee a problem-free birth.  It is best to be well educated; read as much literature as you can, books specifically for midwives are a great source of the information that you will want.  If complications arise during the pregnancy, a woman may need to transfer care to a hospital-based medical provider.  If complications arise during labor or birth that are beyond the scope of care of a home birth practitioner, the mom and babe would be transported to the nearest hospital.