Ch.11/ 10 Questions for your homebirth midwife
Choosing a midwife for your homebirth is deeply impactful on your birthing experience. Let these questions guide you in making that decision.
Okay, you decided on a homebirth. Great! Now you need to find a homebirth midwife to be your care provider (unless you’re having a freebirth but that’s a topic for a different post!).
Here are 10 questions to ask a midwife before hiring them:
What is your training and title? There are different kinds of midwives (as discussed in my blog post here) and it’s important to know what title your midwife holds. This can help with insurance reimbursement but also it helps you know what you’re signing up for.
How many clients do you take each month? Finding out a midwife’s client load will help you understand the likelihood of your midwife actually being at your birth. Do they have a backup? Can you meet the backup?
What is the cost of your care? Midwives often can assist with insurance reimbursement but as we know in America, there is no guarantee that it will be fully covered and at the minimum it will be super confusing to figure out. Finding out the full cost of their care and if they’ve had success with insurance reimbursement is helpful in making a decision.
What warrants a transfer prior to labor beginning? Sometimes people get transferred out of a homebirth midwife’s care long before labor starts. What would constitute that? What happens to their fee if that happens?
Do you handle tests and labs or do you refer out? It widely varies what is within a midwife’s scope of practice. Some are able to do general testing and refer out for more specialized testing while others refer out for all tests. Understanding this will give you a better idea of what your pregnancy with them will look like.
When do you come to my house when I’m in labor? Setting up this expectation early is imperative. I have so many clients that are surprised that their midwife only showed up a few hours before they started pushing. Pro tip: hire a doula! They will most likely be there with you far longer than your midwife.
What equipment will you bring to my birth? This question helps open the door to the next question which is…
What would warrant a hospital transfer once I’m in labor? The big scary question. Most people who choose a homebirth really do not want to give birth in a hospital so knowing your midwife’s boundaries and what they are equipped to handle is really important.
Are you trained in infant resuscitation? Understanding this answer helps to make you and your birth team feel more confident in having a homebirth.
How many postpartum visits are included? This question is great because I find that most homebirth clients need additional postpartum visits when compared to someone who gave birth in the hospital. The difference is that there is just a much higher level of constant care in a hospital in that day right after the birth. With a homebirth, you’re on your own very quickly after birth and may need the extra check ins.
Use this list as a jumping off point to open a bigger conversation when interviewing midwives. It’s imperative that you understand your midwife’s training, how they work, and what to expect. Trust your gut. If you feel comfortable and safe with someone, that is a huge green flag.
Have more questions? Reach out to me.
