FAQs

1  / Why midwifery care?

 

From my own care as the patient, to being a midwife myself, I’ve seen lots of different types of midwives. The type of midwifery care I choose to practice is personalized, evidence based, and sustainable. We of course check on your growing belly and your baby at every prenatal visit but the midwifery model of care is also about growing a relationship. I hope to learn all about your hopes and desires for your birth

 

Click to read about the midwives model of care

 

2 / Why home birth?

 

You still have to do the giving birth part regardless of where you choose to do it, but it's typically easier when you’re in your own space, surrounded by the birth team that you selected, on your own terms. You decide what positions you labor and birth in, you can eat and drink as you please, and home birth has a significantly lower rate of intervention than hospital birth. My favorite part of having a baby at home is getting tucked into your own bed afterwards, eating your own food, showering in our own bathroom, only being woken up by your baby in the night (not the hospital staff), and not having to load your baby in the car seat to go anywhere until YOU are ready.

 

3 / What makes heirloom different?

 

Small practice - Because I only accept 3-4 clients a month, I have the capacity to truly know and understand each clients preferences and desires. 

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Personalized care -  I’ve had the honor or serving families with all different backgrounds, lifestyles, and preferences. This gives me the unique ability to cater to the type of care YOU are wanting.

 

Preconception through extended postpartum -  I believe its never too early to meet with your midwife and that postpartum doesn’t end at 6 weeks. Prior to conception we can discuss diet and supplements that can effect egg and sperm quality. In very early pregnancy we can also track lab work to make sure that everything is going accordingly to keep a healthy pregnancy. In postpartum you can expect at least 4 visits from 24 hours after birth until your baby is 6 weeks old plus additional visits up to 6 months.

 

4 / What areas do you serve?

 

I serve within 20 miles of Greer, SC. Clients outside of that radius may be considered based on availability

 

5 / Is homebirth safe?

 

Birth is inherently safe for a healthy mom with a healthy baby and prenatal care is an ongoing risk-assessment to check just that. You and your baby are healthy and well unless something tells us otherwise

 

About Home Birth Safety:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15961814/o

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24479690/

 

6 / Isn’t birth messy?

 

The simple answer is no. The truth behind that answer is that its not messy because I clean it all up… me and peroxide are BFFs! While the process of birth can sometimes be a little messy, your house will be just as clean as it was before you had a baby. We tidy up, take out the trash, and start the laundry before we leave

 

7 / Who comes to the home birth?

 

Once the baby is born, there are now two whole people to care for! Because of that, I always bring with me a trained, capable, and trusted assistant. Ideally each client will get to meet the assistant that I plan to bring to her birth some time during pregnancy.

 

8 / Is waterbirth an option?

 

I happily support waterbirth and can supply you with the necessary equipment needed. About 50% of my clients have a desire for water birth.

 

9 / What does licensure mean for SC Midwives?

 

Being a licensed midwife means I have access to consult with higher level providers, run lab work, and file for birth certificates. It also means that I have to abide by the regulations set forth by the state in order to keep my license and stay out of legal trouble. I also believe that women are in charge of their own bodies. One of my top priorities is supporting families as they make the decisions that feel best for themselves and their baby. 

 

10 / What if there’s an emergency?

 

For a healthy mom with a healthy baby, the risk of complication is very low. And while birth is inherently safe, it can also sometimes be unpredictable. Midwives are experts in normal. If I observe something in pregnancy, birth, or postpartum that goes outside of what I know and trust to be normal, we will make an appropriate plan. I maintain a great working relationship with pediatricians, family doctors, and providers at the local hospital. We come to your birth equipped with oxygen and resuscitation equipment, medications, homeopathy, and herbs, and all the skills to know how to use them!

 

11 / Do you accept insurance?

 

Despite home birth costing significantly less than the hospital or a birth center, most insurance companies do not cover it. Heirloom is a cash pay practice but I am provide documentation and connect you with an insurance biller if you do have home birth coverage. Share type plans (such as Samaritan Ministries and Christian Health Ministries) typically cover home birth and will some times pay up front so you don’t have to.