Question 1

What does a home birth cost? Will my insurance pay for a home birth?

Accepted Answer

The midwifery package for a home birth includes: prenatal care, labor, birth, a birth assistant, initial newborn care and postpartum care (immediately after the birth and in-home visits). This package costs $5200 and needs to be paid in full by 36 weeks.  Flexible payment plans are available. Homebirth with a CNM can at times receive reimbursement depending on your insurance plans. I have a biller who will do their best to make sure you are reimbursed to the full extent of your out-of-network benefits if you desire to do so. I am not in network with any insurances at this time and can not currently accept Tricare.

Additional out-of-pocket costs associated with home birth are childbirth classes, a doula (especially recommended for first births) and birth supplies.

Question 2

Can I use my HSA/FSA to pay for any of this?

Accepted Answer

Yes, home birth costs are allowable expenses for a health spending and flexible spending account.

Question 3

Can I pay by credit or debit card?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can pay by credit or debit card. If you pay by credit or debit card there is a 3% fee. Checks should be made payable to Whispering Lotus Birth Services, LLC .

Question 4

Is home birth safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for healthy women with normal pregnancies it is safe to plan a home birth and if something about the health of mother or baby makes it no longer safe, we change our plan to a hospital birth. Home birth is not for everyone, but it is a safe option for most women. Studies continue to show the safety of home birth. Home birth greatly reduces the incidence of c-sections (and from that, decreases risks for future babies and pregnancies) without compromising safety outcomes for mothers and their babies.

Question 5

Do you attend water births?

Accepted Answer

Yes, most homebirth clients choose water births. If you desire a water birth, and do not have a large enough tub at home then you can always rent a birth tub from me. Please include this in your birth plan and discuss it with me at your prenatal visits.

Question 6

Who will attend my birth?

Accepted Answer

In addition to me (and anyone else you invite), there will be one other trained attendant called a Birth Assistant at your birth.

Question 7

What is a birth assistant?

Accepted Answer

She is someone who attends your birth to assist the midwife. Just as someone giving birth at the hospital would have both an OB (or CNM) and a nurse, a home birth client is attended by both a CNM and a Birth Assistant. This is not the same thing as a doula. The birth assistant helps with labor and postpartum support, vital signs, charting, and is trained to assist the midwife in the event of an emergency. Your birth package includes cost coverage of a birth assistant.

Question 8

When does the midwife arrive in labor?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the way your labor starts, I might come the first time you call me or I might speak to you for several hours while we wait for active labor. I come to your house in active labor, earlier for mothers who have birthed before and later for first time mothers whose labors are longer. For this reason, childbirth classes and doulas are a great way for first time mothers to be prepared to do well in early labor before we arrive.

Question 9

Can I have a doula at my home birth?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We encourage you to have anyone at your birth whom you want there. It is wonderful for you to have the added support of a doula, whose sole job is your labor support. Because she is not there in a medical role, a doula will not replace your birth assistant.

Question 10

Does home birth leave a mess?

Accepted Answer

We do a very careful job of ensuring that your birth does not leave any mess with the use of disposable underpads, plastic fitted sheets and lots of experience! Before we leave, laundry is in the machine, trash is taken out, supplies are gathered up . A common thing I hear is, "Wow, you can't even tell we had a baby here!"

Question 11

I live in a small apartment. Can I still have a home birth?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We need your home to have water, electricity and room enough for a midwife and birth assistant. Your apartment is probably larger than the typical hospital labor and delivery room. As for noise, your baby will make far more noise for your neighbors over the next year than you make in a few hours of labor. It is rare for a neighbor to hear anything from your labor.

Question 12

How many people can attend my birth?

Accepted Answer

You may have whomever you wish at your birth. If you are inviting your older child to the birth, you should have someone there (other than your main support person) who is responsible for the child's care. You should prepare any people you invite by telling them that if you find you need more privacy for any part of labor you will ask them to leave.

Question 13

Can you prescribe medications? Do you have medications for me in the event of a postpartum hemorrhage or in the event I need a perineal laceration repaired?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I am a Certified Nurse Midwife, licensed to prescribe medications. This also means that I am licensed to carry medications that could be needed at your birth for safety. Some of these include oxygen, antibiotics, anti-hemorrhage medications, and lidocaine to numb if you have a natural tear that needs to be repaired.

Question 14

What if I need to go to the hospital?

Accepted Answer

Transfer to the hospital is, of course, not something that a mother planning a home birth wants. However, in your prenatal care, we always discuss our contingency plans. If you need to transfer during labor, we will nearly always be able to continue to support you for your birth at the hospital.

Question 15

What is the most common reason that a woman would need to transfer to the hospital?

Accepted Answer

The most common transfers are non-emergent transfers for very long labors in which the midwife and couple together determine that a hospital intervention is needed or desired. No arbitrary time limits are put on labor. I am very comfortable with slow progress at a home birth if mother and baby are doing well. Women who choose home birth do so because it is best for them and for their babies. In the few cases where a woman chooses to transfer to the hospital, she does so because of some development that has caused her (with the input of their birth team) to conclude that in this case a hospital birth may be best for herself or her baby.

Question 16

Do I have to take a childbirth class?

Accepted Answer

If you have not already had a natural birth, you should take childbirth classes to prepare. They need to be classes, such as Bradley Method or Hypnobirthing, that are focused on natural childbirth. Hospital-based childbirth education is usually not natural childbirth specific. I would be happy to refer you to online resources that may best suit you.

Question 17

Where will I get my ultrasound?

Accepted Answer

I will refer you for ultrasounds to one of the many local radiology offices and they will send us the report. For this ultrasound you can bill your insurance. In certain medical situations you could opt to get an ultrasound with a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist.

Question 18

How do I get a birth certificate and social security card?

Accepted Answer

I submit the appropriate forms to the Department of Vital Records for you to be issued a social security number and birth certificate.

Question 19

What is your home birth service area?

Accepted Answer

Our home birth service area includes El Paso and border cities of New Mexico

Question 20

What Services Do You Offer?

Accepted Answer

At Whispering Lotus Birth Services, we provide a comprehensive range of services to support you during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Our offerings include prenatal care, childbirth education, labor support, water birth options, postpartum care, breastfeeding support, and more.

Question 21

How Can I Schedule a Consultation?

Accepted Answer

Scheduling a consultation with Whispering Lotus Birth Services is simple and personal. Just submit your information through the form on the homepage, and Chloe will personally reach out to schedule a time to connect. During your consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to share your pregnancy journey, ask questions, and explore a care plan that honors your unique needs and vision for birth.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions