Frequently Asked Questions

Two of the most important choices a family will make is where to deliver their baby and who will be their care provider.  In our area, we are very fortunate to have a wide spectrum of options available: home with midwives, hospital with midwives, and hospital with an OB.  And now at Roots & Wings we also have the options of our Birth Cottage or Nest Birth Suite! While each of these options carry their own risks and benefits, ultimately you need to choose the place where you feel most comfortable and the provider who supports and respects your birth choices.  

As midwives we care for low-risk pregnancies. We respect birth as a normal, physiological process, and our role is to support that process while staying vigilant for situations that require additional care. Midwifery care includes regular check-ins, evidence-informed monitoring, and a collaborative care plan so that you feel supported, prepared, and safe. As part of your prenatal care, we will create a care plan with you, should referral or transfer become necessary. If you would like more statistical information about care in a home birth setting in the United States, please visit the Journal of Midwifery & Womens Health’s article: “Outcomes of Care.”

We respect birth as a normal, physiological process and prioritize care that supports that process whenever possible. At the same time, we value medical care when it’s truly needed and maintain clear pathways for collaboration or transfer. Our role is to provide thoughtful assessment, informed guidance, and calm decision-making throughout care.

At this time, we do not file claims with any insurance companies, but we do work with a biller who can take care of your insurance claim so that you can get the maximum reimbursement. There is an additional fee to use her services and coverage varies greatly. Some plans will cover most of our care and some will only cover a small portion. 

You can use your HSA or FSA account to pay for our care! And healthshare accounts typically cover our care in full, including use of the birth cottage or birth suite, if desired. 

During labor, a doula provides continuous physical and emotional support to the family, whereas the midwife is responsible for the physical well-being of mom and baby.  While both will support the family in their choices and provide guidance during the journey of labor, they are two very different roles.  Research supports the use of a doula, regardless of where the birth takes place.  As midwives, we welcome a doula’s presence in your birth space and view her as a real asset to the birth team.

This is one of the most common questions we hear about birth!  The truth is that yes, birth is messy.  BUT, that doesn’t mean your house will be a mess if you give birth at home.  What typically happens is, about an hour after you deliver your little one, we draw up a nice soothing herb bath for you and baby to soak in while we tidy up the birth space(s).  By the time we tuck you and your baby back in bed, most families tell us, “Wow!  You can’t even tell we had a baby in here!,” which always makes us chuckle because you are clearly snuggling a baby! 

Should you choose to do any of the following newborn procedures, we are able to perform them immediately postpartum or at the 24 hour postpartum visit, as determined by procedural protocol:

• Vitamin K prophylaxis
• Erythromycin eye ointment
• Newborn Metabolic Screening
• Newborn Hearing Screening

After your baby is born, we will leave a simple form for you to complete and return to us at one of your postpartum visits. We will submit this information to the state, who will issue a birth certificate and Social Security Number, if desired, for your child.