FAQ's
Some questions we are frequently asked...
What is the difference between a CPM, LDM, CNM, anD Traditional midwife?
CPM - A Certified Professional Midwife learns through an apprenticeship model. She attends births, usually for 1-3 years with an experienced midwife in conjunction with the completion of an academic program. The training a CPM receives is specifically designed to prepare her to safely support pregnant, birthing, and postpartum women outside of the hospital. With the completion of their training, the midwife is well versed in and able to utilize a variety of modalities, including herbal, nutritional, physical, and emotional support. While licensed CPM's in the state of Oregon are able to carry life saving medical equipment and anti-hemmorhagic drugs, they do not have hospital privileges or access to many in-hospital interventions and medications.
LDM - A Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife is a midwife who has completed a CPM program and has then followed the state guidelines for licensure. The requirements for licensure differ per state as do the regulations and laws which determine risk criteria that licensed midwives abide by. Click here to see Oregon's absolute and non-absolute risk criteria.
Traditional Midwives - A traditional midwife has not pursued a formal midwifery education, choosing instead to learn through experience within her community. Often traditional midwives choose not to become licensed for religious, personal, and/or philosophical reasons. Traditional midwives are unable to carry any regulated medications or equipment and in the state of Oregon are restricted from marketing themselves as midwives.
CNM - A Certified Nurse Midwife is typically a licensed RN who chooses to complete an additional program for Nurse Midwifery certification. Most CNM's practice in a hospital setting under the supervision of an obstetrician. CNM's are able to prescribe pharmaceuticals and have access to in-hospital interventions. Occasionally CNM's choose to practice outside of the hospital in home birth or birth center practices.
Learn more about midwives at: Midwives Alliance of North America
Is home birth safe?
Your midwives are trained in normal, physiological birth. They have witnessed time and time again the beauty and safety of birth when left to unfold naturally. Our goal is to support you by providing a safe space in which you are able to pursue the birth you desire. This usually means we are providing the least amount of intervention while also protecting you and your baby's clinical and emotional wellbeing. We are honored to do the sacred work we do, and truly believe that every person should be able to make informed decisions surrounding their healthcare. We strive to educate our clients on the risks and benefits of various procedures, tests, and situations throughout pregnancy, birth, and in the postpartum that require a decision to be made. For women who are low risk, out of hospital birth with midwives is a safe option that is the standard of care in many other countries.
Links to current research:
1. The safety of home birth: Is the evidence good enough?
2. Outcomes of Care for 16,924 Planned Home Births in the United States
Why do women choose home birth?
A 2009 study of 160 home birth mothers revealed that women choose home birth because (1):
Safety
Avoidance of unnecessary medical interventions common in hospital births
Previous negative hospital experience
More control
Comfortable, familiar environment
An innate trust in the birth process
Links to current research:
1. Choosing Home Birth - The Women's Perspective
Do you take insurance?
We can bill Oregon Health Plan for most clients but are not in-network with any other insurance companies, we do use a billing service that has experience working with out of hospital birth and midwives in order to get the highest reimbursement rate. Depending on your plan, sometimes a “Gap Exception” may be granted. Overall, reimbursement rates for out of hospital birth are low.
What about the mess?
We will discuss ways to protect your home during your birth and will ensure the mess is taken care of before we depart.
What are the benefits of having a doula?
A review of the research on more than 15,000 birthing people revealed that "...people who received continuous support were more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births and less likely to have any pain medication, epidurals, negative feelings about childbirth, vacuum or forceps-assisted births, and Cesareans. In addition, their labors were shorter by about 40 minutes and their babies were less likely to have low Apgar scores at birth(2)." If you are planning to have a hospital birth, a doula is a fantastic way to have continuity in support and to ensure that you will have a trusted, well informed advocate who understands your desires for birth.
Evidence on Doulas:
1. Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth
2. Benefits of Birth and Postpartum Doulas
What are the benefits of placental encapsulation?
Much of the benefits of consuming one's placenta are anecdotal but plentiful. Many clients report feeling more energized, emotionally stable, and as having an increased milk supply, when compared to not taking placenta medicine following a previous birth. The research neither supports nor disproves the idea that placenta medicine has health benefits in the postpartum period.
References:
1. Boucher D, Bennett C, McFarlin B, Freeze R. Staying Home to Give Birth: Why Women in the United States Choose Home Birth. J Midwifery Womens Health 2009;54:119–126. http://www.yourbirth.com/uploads/1/0/9/6/109699049/boucher_et_al_staying_home_to_give_birth_jmwh_2009_mar.pdf
2. Rebecca Dekker. Evidence on: Doulas. https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/. Aug 14, 2017.