What is included in Mountain Lake Midwifery’s services?

  • Free consultation
  • Homebirth
  • Waterbirth
  • VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)
  • 24/7 on call service
  • Prenatals occur once a month up to 28 weeks, every two weeks from 28 – 36 weeks, and then every week from 36 weeks until birth
  • Six weeks of postpartum care (in home visits generally occur 24-36 hrs after birth, on day 3, day 7, and 2 week, 4 week, and 6 weeks after the birth or as needed)
  • Newborn screening exam
  • Document preparation for birth certificate
  • Lab work as needed
  • Breastfeeding support
  • Childbirth preparation classes
  • Lending library
  • Monitrice / doula services in hospital setting
  • Placenta encapsulation
  • and much more…

What do you bring to a birth?

My heart, my hands, and my experience!  Also…

  • Homeopathic remedies, herbal tinctures and supplements – to deal with emotional and physical situations such as false labor, stalled labor, maternal exhaustion, anxiety, pain, high blood pressure, excessive bleeding, uterine atony, retained placenta, trauma, premature rupture of membranes
  • Water Therapy – birthing tub for comfort and pain relief
  • Ultrasound doppler – hand held and waterproof – used for immediate assessment of fetal heart tones before, during and after contractions as needed
  • Oxygen – for either mother or baby used in situations such as non-reassuring fetal heart tones, maternal shock, maternor or newborn resuscitation
  • Bag-Valve-Mask (Ambu Bag) – for neonatal resuscitation
  • Anti hemorrhagic medications for use after the birth
  • Sterilized instruments – hemostats, scissors, cord clamps, and suturing equipment
  • Anesthesia and suturing materials to repair lacerations
  • Ophthalmic antibiotic ointment for newborn if requested

What about emergencies?

One of the wonderful things about homebirth is that there are few if any interventions done which may alter and disturb the natural course of labor – something all to common in a medicalized setting. You can eat and drink as you wish, have those you want present, relax in your own familiar environment, allow your body to take its own true natural and unique course of labor. Many interventions cause the complications you may often hear about – and many assume that because it happened in the hospital setting – that it would have happened at home as well – but that is not true. Setting has a great deal to do with outcome. A woman labors best in the place she feels the safest as well as comfortable – for many that is at home. When afraid or under stress the natural flow of helpful labor hormones are blocked by opposing stress hormones. Maternal distress can lead to fetal distress… and so this is how many of the problems you hear about begin. Another thing to remember is that most potential complications can be avoided in advance through proper prenatal care and proper nutrition. Complications that may develop in labor generally show signs of a possible problem prior to it becoming an emergency – hence proper and regular monitoring of fetal and maternal vital signs throughout labor are a must. When the necessary measures taken to prevent the development of a potential problem are unsuccessful – we transport to the nearest hospital prior to it becoming an emergency. Some complications occur suddenly in any setting and such situations require emergency measures, such as quick action for shoulder dystocia, treating for hemorrhage, resuscitation, and/or shock. These situations can be dealt with at home, and if necessary – we transport as needed.

How much will it cost and what about payment options?

I do not post actual fees on the website so as not to confuse, mislead or discourage families from seeking out midwifery care. Because some of you may be paying out of pocket, some may have private insurance with co-pays, and then others on State or Private Health Care plans – discussion of fees is dealt with privately and on a person to person basis. Circumstances are considered in the equation, whether or not you have insurance coverage and what type that may be.

I am not required to carry liability or malpractice insurance although that is what I would need to bill your insurance directly. Since the request for home birth in the Northeast Kingdom at this time does not support my carrying such an expense – I made the decision to no longer carry it. If I continued to do so I would have to transfer the cost of it to my client fees and that could make out of hospital midwifery care unaffordable for many families. In the meantime – I must stress that the best insurance we have is the relationship we build during the time we work together. This can only be accomplished with open communication, honesty, and respect for each other. I always will consider trade, payment plans, and/or adjust fees according to income when appropriate. There is always room for negotiation if you really want to have a homebirth! If paying out of pocket for services or for services not covered by insurance –  there are convenient payment options, a flexible fee structure, and sliding scale for those in need. Credit cards are also accepted.

Please to not be discouraged… Many insurance companies do reimburse expenses after the fact once provided with a statement with appropriate codes. This is all done by making your insurance carrier aware of your intentions in pregnancy, getting their OK, and then billing them after the six week postpartum period. You need for them to approve that your care giver is “out of network” so if all is clearly up front – the expense could possibly go towards your deductible and perhaps provide some reimbursements. Below is a link for the billing service which can submit the necessary paperwork to your insurance carrier. There is a small fee for this service but well worth it. Here is the link:

www.birthbilllingspecialist.com