Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of Midwife are you? I am a Licensed Certified Professional Midwife holding a Bachelor of Science from the Midwives College of Utah.

Do you carry liability insurance? No, I do not.

Do you accept my insurance? The short answer is… maybe. Depending on your insurance carrier, your plan may or may not cover out of hospital birth, lab work, and ultrasounds ordered by a Licensed Midwife. With the 2021 licensure of Midwives in Oklahoma, benefits could potentially change over the course of 2021 and beyond as insurance companies become aware of this new licensing status. To see what your current benefits are, please contact Maggie at Napier Billing for a Verification of Benefits. SoonerCare WILL NOT cover any fees related to out of hospital birth, unfortunately. I offer a sliding scale to SoonerCare clients on a case by case basis. Payment plans are offered to every client.

Do I still have to pay your full fee if we have to transfer to the hospital in labor? Yes. My fee is expected in full by 36 weeks gestation, and covers my services throughout the prenatal, birth, and postpartum period, in addition to on-call time for myself, my second midwife, and my assistant. I will do my best to accompany you to the hospital and continue to provide birth support there, as allowed by first responders, the hospital staff, my health and fatigue level, and other clients labor status. After a transfer birth, postpartum services are typically resumed in my care.

Do I get a refund if I am risked out of care prior to labor? This will depend on how much you have already paid towards your fee and how long you have been in my care. There is also the potential for you to owe fees after care is terminated. The Informed Consent for Midwifery Care that you sign in the beginning of care has a pricing structure breakdown on services provided to allow for a refund of any overages paid when care is terminated by either the midwife or the client.

How many people can I have at my birth? I do not put a cap on the number of people you can have at your birth, I only ask that you be conscious of the bodys’ ability to birth in a crowd, and that all people involved are respectful surrounding illness and exposure to COVID-19. If anyone has had symptoms in the last 2 weeks, or has been exposed in the last 2 week, I respectfully ask that they refrain from being present.

Do I have to do the glucose screen (orange drink/Glucola)? Gestational Diabetes is a serious health complication to the pregnant person and the infant. In an effort to work within my scope of practice for home births in the community, I do ask that you screen for gestational diabetes in some way. You can drink the standard Glucola provided to me at no charge by my lab, then have your blood drawn at the one hour mark for the oral glucose screen. I do offer 2 alternatives to the Glucola drink. The first option is to drink the Simply Pure Glucose Drink, followed by a blood draw at one hour. I purchase this option specially for clients who are conscious of artificial ingredients and food colorings. It is 50 grams of glucose, just like Glucola. The second option is to keep a food diary and test blood sugars at home for 2 weeks with a glucometer. This will entail writing down everything you consume, along with your fasting and post-meal blood sugars at least 3-4 times each day over the course of the 2 weeks. It is the most accurate, if more time-consuming, option. You may also purchase and test with either of the following: The Fresh Test, Glugoganics

Do you have a back-up OBGYN? No. There is not currently a mechanism in place for OBGYNs to back up home birth midwives. Some OBGYN’s are open to co-care with any client who might have a need for such, but as autonomous care providers, Licensed Midwives are able to practice without physician oversight. Should you need to be transferred out of my care into the care of a physician, I will facilitate that process for you.

Do you have hospital privileges? No. There are no community based midwives who have hospital privileges in the state of Oklahoma that I am aware of, currently. The new licensure law allows for this option, however it would be determined by each individual hospital to allow a Licensed Midwife hospital privileges.

What happens in an emergency transfer at birth? My team and I expertly work to stabilize you and your baby while initiating EMS services to transport you both to the closest appropriate facility. We will activate any needed Birth Emergency Skills, Neonatal Resuscitation, or Basic Life Support for adults as indicated. Myself, and everyone on my team, is certified in Neonatal Resuscitation and Basic Life Support, and has trained extensively in Birth Emergency Skills specific to out of hospital birth settings.

Do you attend VBAC’s (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) at home? Yes, within parameters. All VBAC consultations must have their surgical report for me to review before being accepted as a client. Classical incisions, T-incisions, more than 2 c-sections, less than 18 months between due dates, history of uterine rupture, or wound infection will risk you out of my practice.

What about breeches and twins? On a case by case basis.

How many clients do you take per month? In an effort to be readily available for all clients, and to maintain a work-life balance, I choose to limit the number of clients I take into care monthly. I prefer to have about 4 clients per month, but will sometimes go up to 6 on a case by case basis.

Do you support members of the LGBTQIA community? Absolutely. My office is a safe, inclusive space for all people and family structures.

What happens if you are at another birth when I go into labor? I am so lucky to have wonderful midwife colleagues who will jump in to assist me should I ever need it. If you find yourself in labor while I am attending another client, I will send a qualified midwife to asses you, and stay with you as needed, until I am done and able to come as well.

When should I start prenatal care with the Midwife? Ideally, care is started between 8 and 12 weeks to ensure the best care is provided over the course of your pregnancy. If you find yourself wanting to transfer care from an OBGYN later in your pregnancy, I will require all OB records, including lab work and ultrasound reports at the start of your care. I do take late-transfers on a care by case basis, with complete records.

Do I still need to see my OBGYN while in your care? A Midwife is an autonomous care provider who is trained to give complete care to the pregnant person in the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods. There is no need to see an OBGYN for the person who is low-risk and healthy and in the care of a skilled Midwife. Should the need arise to have a second opinion from an OBGYN, the Midwife will initiate that consultation.

What medications do you carry for home births? My license with the state of Oklahoma currently allows me to carry and administer specific medications in specific instances as a community Licensed Midwife. These can include medications for postpartum hemorrhages, Antibiotics, Rhogham, Vitamin K, Erythromycin, Hepatitis B vaccine for infant, Lidocaine, Oxygen, EpiPen, and IV fluids. I cannot write prescriptions for you.

Are you licensed by the state of Oklahoma? Yes! All CPM’s are required to be licensed by the State of Oklahoma by July 2021. “Effective July 1, 2021, any person who holds himself or herself out to be, represents himself or herself to be or uses the title of Certified Professional Midwife or Certified Midwife, without holding a license issued by the Commissioner, or who is in violation of any provision of Shepherd's Law shall be subject to an administrative fine for each day found to be in violation. [59 O.S. Section 3040.9]”

If I only want one person at my birth, will you discount your fee? No. I do not work alone. Should the baby arrive before the rest of the team joins me at your birth, that is of no fault of the client or the midwife.

What items or services can we barter for your services? I do not barter for more than 50% of my total fee. Options included are to directly benefit my entire family. Current options include: local or organic food items (eggs, milk, meat, produce, wild game, fish, honey, etc.), dental care, vision care, car maintenance and repairs, lessons for my children (based on their current wants and needs- art, music, martial arts), chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, vacation opportunities, gas cards, pre-made organic family meals.

Should I get a doula? I love doulas. If this is your first pregnancy, I 100% believe you should have a doula and take a childbirth education course during your pregnancy. Consider these steps your insurance policy for a successful home brith. This is a great place to start for doulas. Doulas are dedicated to your physical and emotional well-being in labor. They are an asset to the home birth team and will support you in early labor before the midwife and her team are needed. I cannot emphasize enough just how important having a doula for a home birth is in aiding a successful home birth.

Should I take childbirth education classes? Yes! We have some great local educators, as well as online educators across the country. Choose one that feels good to you, or ask for a list of amazing childbirth courses at your first visit.

Do I have to purchase a birth kit for my home birth? No. My Midwifery Services Fee includes the birth kit. If you want a water birth, I will provide the pool but you are responsible for purchasing the accessories for the birth which includes the liner, new drinking water hose, tarp/floor covering, fish net, pump to drain the pool, etc.

Do you offer birth support in the event of a hospital transfer? Whenever possible, yes. Some reasons I might be able to offer that support include COVID-19 restrictions, hospital policies, first responder/EMSA policies, another client is in labor and needs me, illness or physical exhaustion.,

What days do you see clients in the office? I see clients Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday between 9am and 7pm in my Edmond office. I use Thursdays for home visits, and have an overflow day Friday morning. In an effort to maintain a work-life balance, I do not have appointments available on weekends.

Will a student midwife or trainee be involved in my care? I believe in growing the midwifery community through apprenticeship and training. There is always the potential for my practice to have a new assistant in training, or a student who is observing. With your permission, they will be present in as much of your care as possible.

Where do I go to file complaints? NARM, Oklahoma Board of Nursing, Oklahoma Licensed Midwife