Yay! You're pregnant.   You want to have a home birth. You called the home birth midwife for more information but you are clueless on what to ask.  Most home birth midwives are open to a consultation appointment with you instead of a cold. call. Choosing a home birth midwife is an important decision. These questions can help families learn about a midwife's education, experience, philosophy, clinical practices, emergency planning, and approach to informed decision-making.

Education, Training & Experience

1. What type of midwife are you, and what credentials or certifications do you hold?
2. Where and how did you receive your midwifery education and clinical training?
3. How long have you been practicing as a midwife?
4. Approximately how many births have you attended?
5. How many births have you attended as the primary midwife?
6. What continuing education or certifications do you maintain?
7. Are you currently certified in CPR and neonatal resuscitation?
8. Are you licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise regulated in this state? What does that mean for my care?
9. Do you carry professional liability or malpractice insurance?
10. Do you work independently, with another midwife, or as part of a birth team?

Philosophy & Approach to Care

1. How would you describe your philosophy of pregnancy and birth?
2. What does informed consent and informed refusal look like in your practice?
3. How do you involve clients and families in decisions about their care?
4. How do you support cultural, spiritual, or family traditions surrounding pregnancy and birth?
5. How do you approach clients whose preferences differ from your recommendations?
6. What are your thoughts about eating, drinking, and movement during labor?
7. What birth positions do you commonly support?
8. How do you support clients who want a low-intervention birth?
9. How do you support clients who become anxious or fearful during pregnancy or labor?
10. How do you protect privacy, dignity, and confidentiality during care?

Prenatal Care

1. How often will I have prenatal visits?
2. How long is a typical prenatal appointment?
3. What happens during a typical prenatal visit?
4. What laboratory tests and screenings do you routinely recommend?
5. Which tests or procedures are optional, and how will you explain their benefits, risks, and alternatives?
6. How do you monitor my health and my baby's growth and well-being?
7. What pregnancy conditions might make someone ineligible for home birth in your practice?
8. How do you approach nutrition, supplements, herbs, and complementary therapies during pregnancy?
9. What childbirth education or preparation do you recommend?
10. How can I contact you when I have an urgent concern between appointments?

Labor & Home Birth

1. When should I call you when I think labor has started?
2. When do you typically come to the home during labor?
3. Who will attend my birth with you?
4. Will I meet your assistants or backup midwives before labor?
5. What equipment, medications, and emergency supplies do you bring to a home birth?
6. How do you monitor the baby's heart rate during labor?
7. How do you monitor the birthing parent's vital signs and overall condition?
8. What comfort measures do you offer or recommend for labor?
9. Do you attend water births, and if so, what guidelines do you use?
10. How long do you typically remain in the home after the baby is born?

Complications, Emergencies & Hospital Transfer

1. What complications are you trained and equipped to manage at home?
2. What emergency medications do you carry, and what situations might require them?
3. How are you prepared to manage postpartum hemorrhage?
4. How are you prepared to provide newborn resuscitation if a baby needs help breathing?
5. What situations would cause you to recommend transferring to a hospital during labor?
6. What is your plan for a non-emergency versus an emergency hospital transfer?
7. Which hospital would we usually transfer to, and how is that decision made?
8. If I transfer to the hospital, will you come with me or continue supporting me?

Postpartum, Newborn Care & Follow-Up

1. What postpartum and newborn care do you provide during the first hours, days, and weeks after birth?
2. What is included in your fee, what services cost extra, and what happens financially if I transfer to the hospital or do not ultimately give birth at home?
3. Do you provide lactation services or have a contact of others that might do that type of care?

I have a dream. 

Did you know?

The state of Mississippi consistently leads the country in adverse birth outcomes and C-section rates. Mississippi also boasts the lowest breastfeeding rates. 

Did you know?

Midwifery care can change all of that. In fact, studies have shown that midwifery care can improve outcomes even if someone doesn't birth with a midwife. I think people deserve to be born in a beautiful space with people who are welcoming them in the best way possible. Midwifery care is an age-old nuance that has been around forever. It works!

I have a dream that right here in the dirt of Mississippi we can create an oasis of sorts. I dream of a space where individuals can come and learn to be midwives in their own communities without the financial burden for training. I dream of a space where, if needed, people can come and birth safely without paying anything. I dream of a space where people can come for quality prenatal care at no cost to them. I dream of a location where birth workers can come for a complimentary reprieve to prevent burnout.

My dream is for approximately 10 acres of land with a couple of small houses where people can give birth. They would also serve as a space for individuals to come learn the art and wisdom of practicing traditional midwifery. This would be a place where herbs can grow freely and you can learn southern herbalism. It would be a space for teaching homeopathy and have an apothecary. It would be a homestead of sorts with an herbal garden and even bees for local honey. 

I have a dream. 

Will you help this dream come true?

Donations can be made via Venmo to @Toni-Hill-11.

Greetings!

We hope you and your families are well. There are hundreds of expectant families wondering if this global pandemic will affect them, their pregnancy, their family, and their unborn baby. We assure you we have the same concerns for ourselves, our own families, our clients, and community as well. Midwives have been rooted in every community since communities began. Our care for women and their families has been a pillar in every community on the planet. The idea that women can physiologically have their babies without intervention is not new. Physiological birth, also known as low intervention, or “natural” birth has been shown to be very beneficial for mothers and babies worldwide.

For good reason, there are lots of families who have some anxiety surrounding their impending birth. Some are finding out daily that things are changing at their chosen birth location and are unsure what birth will look like when their time comes to welcome their new baby. We assure you that your concerns are not unheard. The midwives of Mississippi Midwives’ Alliance hear your concerns and hold those and other concerns close to our hearts.

Midwives are frontline workers when it comes to the care of low risk mothers and babies in out of hospital environments. Some families choose midwifery care as soon as they have the earliest inkling that they may have a baby on the way the same way others choose the medical model of care. Mississippi has too few midwives who specialize in out of hospital birth. Mississippi does not currently provide licensure for midwives. Most insurance companies do cover out of hospital birth. Many practices are full many months in advance.

The midwives of MMA understand that parents are facing many new restrictions at their medical facility of choice. This is a scary and uncertain time, with hospital policies changing almost hourly. There may be some midwives who are taking new clients, but many don't have the capacity to take clients late to care. Keep in mind, even though clients are coming into care late, fees can’t be discounted and the strict criteria we maintain for low risk mothers remains the same.

Midwives, like many OB/GYN practices, have gone to some telemedicine visits with their clients. Families may find that some midwives can begin telemed prenatals, even though the midwife may not be able to provide care during the birth of the baby. Some midwives also can be very helpful in the time postpartum by doing postpartum telemed, lactation counseling, or general health assessments for new parents and their newborns. Each midwife will be different in what she decides to do for her community so utilize our directory and contact each midwife directly with any individual questions. Expectant families will find that midwives will be happy to hear from them and answer any question they have during a consultation.

Cordially,
​
The midwives’ of the MMA

I absolutely love meeting new people! That's part of the joy with a consultation. 

What is a consultation?

Consultations are a way for you and your partner to meet a provider who will listen and find out everything that’s important to you and your upcoming pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. These provide an opportunity for you to find out whether or not we are a good fit to move forward with your pregnancy. Likewise, consultations are a way for me to determine if I’m able to serve you best or if I need to make suggestions of other midwives in the area.

What to ask?

Consultations are great way for you to get all of your basic questions answered about your upcoming plans for an out-of-hospital birth.  Not sure what to ask?  Get more information here: 51 Questions to Ask Your Home Birth Midwife.

Is home birth right for me?

It’s awesome that we live in an environment where out-of-home birth and in-home birth is an option for all moms. Consultations may help you find out whether not you are a good candidate for home birth. Some moms will discover something that makes them more high-risk and see that hospital birth is a better option for them and their babies. Home birth is for low-risk, healthy moms and babies.

How do I find a midwife in Mississippi?

Consultations are a way for you to meet with the midwives in your area to find one that is right for you. You can find information about local providers through the Association of Mississippi Midwives. To learn more about midwifery in MS visit Better Birth Mississippi.

How to schedule a consultation?

Contact me to schedule your consultation or view my calendar. 

Congratulations!  You are headed on the journey of a lifetime.  Nothing is more magical than accepting a new soul into your life.  Babies, whether they are planned or unplanned, are a joy once they enter your life.  

I’m excited that you have found our little space on the internet and have become interested in midwifery care being apart of your journey as well.  You may have a million questions rolling around in your head right now. I know that feeling for sure because I was there six times myself. I look forward to answering those questions for sure but, of course, one at a time please.  This post is to answer one of the most commonly asked questions I get when folks first find out about their impending baby.

I’m pregnant. What do I do now to get started with midwifery care?

1. Call/message/email any midwife you are interested in and set up a consultation.  My consultations are free, which is the case with most home birth midwives. It’s important to do this as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test because home birth midwives often limit their clientele to 2-6 clients due per month.  If you wait a few months, you may pick the midwife you want but experience the misfortune of hearing she is booked for that month.
2. Ensure you pick a time and day that your partner can come along too.  You’re in this together so you definitely want to have equal presentation when it comes to all of the information you will get in an hour long consultation .
3. Be prepared for your appointment so you can get the most out of it.  Here are some places to start:

 

• http://www.msfriendsofmidwives.org/midwifery-in-ms.html
• http://msmidwivesalliance.com
• https://growingslower.com/47-questions-i-should-have-asked-my/
• https://www.mamanatural.com/midwife-interview-questions/

4.  Come to your appointment with any questions or concerns about entering into midwifery care.  The midwife you are interviewing will be able to straightforwardly answer the questions that you have.  Take notes so, when you and your partner are deciding which midwife is right for you, the answers won't get mixed up.  

5.  Within a week or so of your appointment place a call to your chosen midwife and, if you see fit, the other midwives you interviewed as well.  

Happy Birthing!   

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