FAQ’s

What is a licensed midwife (LM)?
In the state of Arizona, a licensed midwife is an independent practitioner educated in midwifery through the apprenticeship model of midwifery education. A licensed midwife is trained to provide care to healthy women and newborns throughout the childbearing cycle in a home birth setting. They provide complete prenatal, birth and postpartum care for low risk women, utilizing natural methods of healing and support.

What is a CPM?
CPM stands for Certified Professional Midwife. A CPM is an independent midwifery practitioner who has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives. The CPM is the only international credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out of hospital births.

Is home birth safe?
For low risk women, studies show that a midwife-assisted birth is as safe or safer than one attended by a physician. A number of studies have confirmed equal or better outcomes for midwife attended births. Click the links below to see more: CPM Home Birth Study

Is Midwifery Safe?
The Oldest Profession
Evidence of Safety and Efficacy
British Medical Journal
Homebirth Safety

How often will you see us during your pregnancy?
Your schedule of prenatal visits will be the same as the standard of care—every four weeks until you are 28 weeks; every two weeks between 28 and 36 weeks; and every week thereafter until you deliver. Our appointments allow plenty of time for questions and getting to know each other.

Can I bring my children to my visits?
Absolutely! We have a very child friendly office, and we encourage you to bring your children along to share in the experience of waiting for their new sibling.

Do you accept insurance?
Yes, we accept many types of insurance. Please bring your insurance information with you on your first visit so that we can discuss your benefits and our fee schedule.

Do you offer water birth?
Yes. We do many water births, and we recommend that you have a birth pool available for pain relief in labor whether you intend to deliver in the water or not. Many women find water reduces discomfort in labor by 30-40%.

What if I want an ultrasound?
We will refer you to one of our great ultrasound providers. There are several locations in the Phoenix area, and they accept most insurance.

Who can be with me during my labor and birth?
In addition to your midwifery team, which most often includes two licensed midwives and, at times, a skilled assistant, you can have anyone you want at your birth to support you. If your other children will be witnessing the birth, designate a friend or family member to be their “buddy” during this time in case they have questions or need a break.

What about the pain of labor?
In your home environment, you are naturally in a more relaxed state than a woman who has moved from her comfort zone to a foreign environment. This simple and all important difference in and of itself reduces your discomfort during labor as you move freely the way your body tells you to do. In our years of homebirth practice and over 2000 births, only a handful of people have requested to be transported for pain relief. Your birth attendants are skilled in suggesting changes to make during labor to ease discomfort, and don’t underestimate the relaxing effects of immersing yourself in the warm water of the labor pool.

Can you help me learn to breastfeed?
We help new moms get familiar with breastfeeding positions, good latching, etc. We assist with typical breastfeeding problems, and if we can’t resolve them, we call in the experts! We refer to fabulous and knowledgeable lactation consultants who serve the Phoenix area.

Do you offer well-woman care?
We offer Pap smears and breast exams, STD screen and blood work. We refer to physicians for any abnormal findings.

Can you prescribe birth control?
We can provide counseling on natural family planning (NFP) and barrier methods for birth control. We will refer you to a physician if you are interested in a type of birth control that requires a prescription.