Frequently asked questions
Q: Do you accept insurance reimbursement?
A: Yes, we bill all private insurance plans that cover home birth, cover licensed midwives, and have some out-of-network coverage. If you are not sure about these things we are happy to do a verification of benefits for you! To find out if we bill your particular insurance plan just give us a call at (971) 279-6808 or contact us on our web form here.
Q: Do you accept OHP/Medicaid?
A: Yes! We are one of just a few midwives in Portland who currently accept OHP. For your out-of-hospital birth to be covered by OHP we have to establish care with you and then send in your chart and an application for prior authorization for home birth coverage. This is something that your midwives do for you. We have great success getting people covered for their home births. We can work with any OHP CCO, although Care Oregon is the easiest one for us to work with. If you have questions about the OHP coverage process just give us a call at (971) 279-6808 or contact us on our web form here.
Q: What is the difference between a midwife and a doula?
A: A midwife is a trained healthcare provider who provides primary care for pregnant people - prenatal care, labor and birth support, and postpartum care for client and baby. You would see a midwife instead of an OB; you don't need to see both. A birth doula is someone who provides emotional and physical support and education for clients prenatally and during the birth experience. Some clients who are planning a home birth with a midwife hire a doula as well and some do not.
Q: Can I have a water birth in my home?
A: Yes! We offer water birth. We rent inflatable tubs to our clients for $100. We bring them to your house at your 36-week home visit and show you how to blow them up and talk about how to fill them up. After the birth, we drain the tub, clean it up, and take it home with us to get it out of your way.
Q: Can my other kids be there for the birth?
A: Yes! Siblings are welcome at home births. We can talk prenatally about ways to prepare older children for birth. Your older children are welcome at all of your appointments as well.
Q: What areas do you serve?
A: We serve a wide variety of areas in Portland, Oregon and the surrounding areas. We attend births in NE Portland, SE Portland, NW Portland, SW Portland, N Portland, St. John's, East Portland, Gresham, Corbett, Troutdale, Tigard, Tualatin, West Linn, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Wilsonville, and the surrounding areas. If you are wondering if we serve your area just give us a call at (971) 279-6808 to find out.
Q: What type of midwives are you?
A: Catherine and Sarah are both Certified Professional Midwives and Licensed Direct-Entry Midwives in the state of Oregon. We are NOT nurse-midwives, nurses, naturopaths, or physicians. We are specialists in home birth, natural birth, normal birth, and birth for low-risk clients. For more information about Catherine and Sarah's training and experience check out our About page.
Q: Why would I choose a homebirth midwife?
A:
A: Yes, we bill all private insurance plans that cover home birth, cover licensed midwives, and have some out-of-network coverage. If you are not sure about these things we are happy to do a verification of benefits for you! To find out if we bill your particular insurance plan just give us a call at (971) 279-6808 or contact us on our web form here.
Q: Do you accept OHP/Medicaid?
A: Yes! We are one of just a few midwives in Portland who currently accept OHP. For your out-of-hospital birth to be covered by OHP we have to establish care with you and then send in your chart and an application for prior authorization for home birth coverage. This is something that your midwives do for you. We have great success getting people covered for their home births. We can work with any OHP CCO, although Care Oregon is the easiest one for us to work with. If you have questions about the OHP coverage process just give us a call at (971) 279-6808 or contact us on our web form here.
Q: What is the difference between a midwife and a doula?
A: A midwife is a trained healthcare provider who provides primary care for pregnant people - prenatal care, labor and birth support, and postpartum care for client and baby. You would see a midwife instead of an OB; you don't need to see both. A birth doula is someone who provides emotional and physical support and education for clients prenatally and during the birth experience. Some clients who are planning a home birth with a midwife hire a doula as well and some do not.
Q: Can I have a water birth in my home?
A: Yes! We offer water birth. We rent inflatable tubs to our clients for $100. We bring them to your house at your 36-week home visit and show you how to blow them up and talk about how to fill them up. After the birth, we drain the tub, clean it up, and take it home with us to get it out of your way.
Q: Can my other kids be there for the birth?
A: Yes! Siblings are welcome at home births. We can talk prenatally about ways to prepare older children for birth. Your older children are welcome at all of your appointments as well.
Q: What areas do you serve?
A: We serve a wide variety of areas in Portland, Oregon and the surrounding areas. We attend births in NE Portland, SE Portland, NW Portland, SW Portland, N Portland, St. John's, East Portland, Gresham, Corbett, Troutdale, Tigard, Tualatin, West Linn, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Wilsonville, and the surrounding areas. If you are wondering if we serve your area just give us a call at (971) 279-6808 to find out.
Q: What type of midwives are you?
A: Catherine and Sarah are both Certified Professional Midwives and Licensed Direct-Entry Midwives in the state of Oregon. We are NOT nurse-midwives, nurses, naturopaths, or physicians. We are specialists in home birth, natural birth, normal birth, and birth for low-risk clients. For more information about Catherine and Sarah's training and experience check out our About page.
Q: Why would I choose a homebirth midwife?
A:
- Midwives are experienced with home birth, water birth, VBACs, and with handling complications at home
- Midwives are experts at normal, natural birth for low-risk clients.
- If you have a home birth midwife you are much less likely to need anesthesia or a cesarean section.
- Midwives offer personal, compassionate, individualized care that is unique to each client.
- Home birth offers freedom of movement, which makes labor more efficient and less painful.
- Feeling safe and loved helps labor and birth go better, and often, people have an easier time feeling this way in the comfort of their own home with a care provider who knows them well and cares about them.
- Postpartum visits take place in your home for the first two weeks after the birth so you don't have to leave the house with a brand new baby.
- Midwives offer personalized breast/chestfeeding assistance.