Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)?

A CPM is a midwife who has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). CPMs are experts at normal childbirth and they are specifically trained for out-of-hospital birth.

Are you a doula?

I am not a doula. Although there is overlap in what midwives and doulas do, they are not the same or midwives have undergone a lot more training. During childbirth doulas provide physical and emotional support to the mother. Midwives may also do this, but their primary role is to monitor the health of the mother and baby and to keep the birth as normal as possible while minimizing technological interventions.

Is homebirth safe?

For the majority of women home birth with a qualified midwife is safe. For women with certain preexisting conditions or women who develop problems during their pregnancy, home birth may not be safe. This is why prenatal care with a qualified midwife is essential when planning a home birth. The most comprehensive study of homebirth with CPMs is here.

What are the different types of midwives?

Here is an explanation of the different types of midwives you might encounter in the United States:

• Direct Entry Midwife (DEM) This just means that the midwife did not become a nurse prior to becoming a midwife. It does not mean that they have fulfilled any formal certification.
• Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) Midwives Certified by the North American Registry of Midwives. The only credential that specifically requires training in out of hospital birth.
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Midwives certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
• Certified Midwife (CM) Midwives who are not nurses who have been certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives. There are not many programs for this credential, and most non-nurse midwives choose the CPM credential instead.
• Licensed Midwife (LM) A midwife that is licensed by the state, other states have different designations to refer to their licensure, such as CPM-TN in Tennessee.

What is your schedule of care?

I will see you prenatally every month until 30 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and then weekly until the birth. I will see you 3-5 times postpartum. The specific schedule varies according to your needs, but typically I will see you twice during the first week, at 2 weeks and at 4 weeks. I do all the prenatal and postpartum visits at your home and they usually last an hour.

What is included in your fee?

I believe prenatal care is essential in order to monitor your health, make sure you are informed and well prepared, and to get to know your wishes for your birth. Also, the first few weeks postpartum can be difficult and are critical to establishing a good breastfeeding relationship. For these reasons, my fee includes all prenatal and postpartum care as well as the birth and the assistant's fee. I do not offer care for the birth only without the prenatal and postpartum care because they are essential to your health.