FAQs

A Licensed Midwife is a trained professional who provides care to low-risk pregnant people seeking an out-of-hospital birth experience at their homes or within a freestanding birth center. Haven Midwifery supports families in maintaining healthy pregnancies by offering individualized care, education and counseling throughout the childbearing cycle.

Absolutely. Licensed Midwives (LMs) in Washington State have a specific scope of practice that they follow. When the care required is outside the LM’s scope of practice, the client is referred to other health care providers for additional consultation or care. A number of research studies have consistently confirmed equal or better outcomes for Midwife-attended versus Physician-attended low-risk births. These studies point out that using an LM significantly lowers rates of interventions, such as induction of labor, artificial rupture of membranes, episiotomies, and cesareans.

Birth is a natural human process and though the likelihood is small, a medical complication in pregnancy, birth or postpartum can arise unpredictably. That being said, dangerous deviations from normal usually have early warning signs which permit time to transport to the hospital. Licensed Midwives (LMs) are extensively trained to detect and manage complications and are certified in CPR and NRP. Further, LMs carry all necessary equipment for infant resuscitation, oxygen and IV therapy, as well as, medications to control excessive bleeding after delivery. LMs can also suture 1st and 2nd degree lacerations.

Haven Midwifery offers free consults. It is at these consultations that the Licensed Midwife can determine if a person is eligible for an out-of-hospital birth. Factors that would risk a client out of Haven Midwifery care are such things as heart disease, diabetes, history of seizures, kidney disease, asthma requiring steroids, HIV infection, sickle cell anemia, multiple gestation, or history of cesarean section with previous births.

In general, no. The majority of clients do not need to see a physician during their pregnancy. However, if a client develops a complication out of the midwife’s scope of practice, they will be referred to a physician. If the complication is severe and does not resolve, then the transfer of care and a hospital birth is indicated.

Licensed Midwives (LMs) can order most lab work, ultrasounds or other tests that a client may need in pregnancy or postpartum. Blood draws and pap smears can be performed by the midwife at the clinic. You can opt for as many or few screenings, tests or ultrasounds as you like as long as you understand the risks and benefits of accepting or declining each. LMs practice informed consent, meaning a discussion with the client on the risks and benefits, and alternative choices of each procedure so a client can make an informed choice that they feel most comfortable with.

Licensed Midwives are trained to help clients use many non-pharmaceutical techniques to relax and manage the intensity of childbirth, water immersion being one of them. Nitrous oxide is an option for pain relief if you are delivering at a free-standing birth center. Local anesthetic (lidocaine) is used for repairing small lacerations postpartum.

Licensed Midwives must carry all of the necessary equipment and supplies for normal childbirth, as well as the equipment and supplies necessary to manage an emergency. Your LM will bring a blood pressure cuff, thermometer and pulse oximeter to take vitals. As well as a fetal doppler to monitor fetal heart rate through labor. Intravenous fluids and antibiotics can be administered as needed. Several medications to stop excessive bleeding and other emergency medications to treat complications can be used. Lidocaine and suturing materials are always present. Vitamin K and Erythromycin for the newborn. Many other tools, including a birth stool, baby scale and set-up for waterbirth.

Most insurance companies do cover midwifery services in Washington state, however, it depends on an individual’s plan. LMs may apply to become preferred providers under insurance companies but the process can take several months and sometimes, the insurance company opts to not contract with the LM. Insurance will be discussed at the consult and Haven Midwifery’s billing service can check what an individual’s particular policy covers. If a client does not have health insurance or has insurance that the LM is not contracted with, an individualized payment plan can be set up. One thing is for sure, midwifery care and an out-of-hospital birth costs significantly less than care with a physician and a birth in the hospital.