How much does a home birth cost? And do you take insurance?

I do not take private insurance. Most insurance companies do not cover home birth and my services are considered out of network. I am now (2024) able to accept Medicaid: Absolute Total Care, Healthy Blue and First Choice. Medicaid does not cover all of your home birth expenses, but it does discount the cost of your homebirth. I can also direct you to a biller who will help you file your claim for reimbursement if your private insurance provides coverage for your expenses. Home birth cost varies in the Upstate from $4,500-7,000. Most providers require a deposit and provide a payment plan. Certain health care plans like Samaritan Ministries cover the full cost of home birth. I can provide you with a global bill for your insurance claim.

My global fee is $4,500. I accept cash/check/HSA payments and if paying with a card a processing fee is added to the total. A deposit of $500 is due at your initial visit and payments of $400 (or a decided upon amount) are due at each visit until 36 weeks when your current balance is paid in full.

I had two home births and midwifery care up until 37 & 30 weeks with my youngest children so I understand the expense. My goal is to make this affordable and manageable while at the same time honoring my family and providing you with amazing care. I do provide for very discounted births if you receive state insurance. These spaces are limited and may not be available if you are coming late to care.

Two financing options are: United Medical Credit and PayPal no interest financing. I am also open to periodic partial trade, if the service is something I would be paying someone for and something I need.

So what does that fee include?

The cornerstone of midwifery practice is prenatal and postpartum care. Much of what you are paying for is hours of time spent with you, educating, and supporting your vision for your birth, monitoring your pregnancy and preparing records, ordering labs, etc. A midwife is on call for you, from the moment you come into care. Your birth kit is provided by me. You will need to gather a few items together from your house that you already own. If you choose to have a water birth a small fee for your waterbirth kit is required. Tub is provided by me.

I will provide a trained birth assistant (sometimes 2) to attend your birth. She will be introduced during your care and she holds certifications in NRP (neonatal resuscitation), and CPR. She is trained in emergency protocols and will be in charge of charting during your birth and assisting. Your birth assistant will clean up any mess, break down the tub, start laundry, and help get your bed ready for postpartum rest.

What kind of testing do you do?

I provide all the standard lab tests recommended during pregnancy: blood drawn lab tests (CBC/prenatal panel) at 10-12 weeks, ultrasound ordering for your 20 week anatomy scan or as needed, gestational diabetes testing and blood draw hemoglobin/hemocrit at 27-28 weeks, and group b strep testing (with me or at your risk assessment apt.) at 35-36 weeks.

Do you deliver VBAC’s, twins or breech?

South Carolina regulations do not allow midwives to deliver planned twin or breech births. They also do not allow for the home birth of VBAC’s (vaginal birth after caesarean).

How do you handle an emergency?

The mamas under my care are cleared at 36 weeks as low risk. They have exhibited uncomplicated pregnancies. Unfortunately, a healthy pregnancy can change at any time. We will work together throughout care to keep both you and your baby healthy.

I believe birth is not an emergency, until it is. I am committed to annual training of NRP when my license only requires renewal every two years. My assistants meet to practice monthly drills to reinforce our team flow in an emergency. We also go over emergency care at your Homevisit and I am happy to answer more detailed questions about emergencies throughout your pregnancy.

I am trained and skilled at timely use of anti-hemorrhagic medications. I believe in the sacredness of the third stage and hold space for physiological birth of the placenta. I am well trained in normal birth and to monitor you and your baby for signs of deviation outside the realm of normal. I focus on preventative care with nutrition, herbs and homeopathy, but I follow the scope of my practice guidelines. I will not hesitate to transfer your care to a higher level provider if necessary for the safety of you and your baby.