Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is one of the oldest professions in the world and we offer maternity care to those who want to birth outside of the hospital system. These people are low-risk and believe the physiological process of childbearing. Midwives offer a comprehensive approach that includes the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person in order to help a person stay low risk. Midwives offer thorough education, counseling on options available, and recognize the autonomy a person has over their body and baby. Care is individualized in order to meet the needs of clients and their families to help ensure healthy pregnancies.
What does Midwifery care look like?
Midwives are healthcare professionals specializing in pregnancy and childbirth. They offer comprehensive and collaborative approaches to prenatal care and education, support labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. The Midwives Model of Care™ is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives Model of Care includes:
monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the woman/pregnant person throughout the childbearing cycle
providing the woman/pregnant person with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
minimizing technological interventions and
identifying and referring when those require obstetrical attention.
Is an at home birth safe?
In California, licensed midwives offering midwifery care/ home birth is regulated and legal. Parameters around this is that the pregnancy must be “low risk.” Most pregnancies are low risk with the most common higher risk conditions being but not limited to: insulin dependent diabetes, hypertension, placenta previa, multiples (twins, triplets, etc.), preterm birth (before 37 weeks gestation) and post term births (beyond 42+ weeks gestation), etc.
Check out the following study regarding home birth: New home birth study from the MANA Statistics Dataset shows that Planned Home Birth with Skilled Midwives is Safe for Low-Risk Pregnancies.
Do you accept insurance?
No, at this time we are not in network with any insurance companies. You may request a super bill at the end of care and work with a midwifery biller to try to get a reimbursement from your insurance company. Cost for this ranges from ($100-200). Some HSA/FSA healthcare plans do cover midwifery care. It is always best to get a verification of benefits from your carrier.
What are my options for payment?
Teméeku Midwifery offers sliding scale options. Additionally payment plans can be made in order to meet the needs of all parties involved. A $1000 non-refundable retainer fee is required at the time of contract signing. From there you may choose how much you would like to pay at each visit. The full fee must be paid by 36 weeks. Failure to pay the full fee results in the midwife not attending the birth.
Do you accept late transfers to care and does does your fee change?
If you desire to transfer into our care during your pregnancy, you must do so by 30 weeks gestation. My fee does not change with late to care transfers. There is a lot of “catch up” work that needs to be done including obtaining/reviewing previous medical records and establishing you as a client.
Are refunds available for any reason?
Refunds are not available once established with Teméeku Midwifery. If you transfer out of care prenatally, the fee will be prorated. If you transfer in labor, birth, immediate postpartum, or anytime during the postpartum time, you will not receive a refund.