Can I afford to give birth outside of a hospital?
WHMS was formed because our leadership recognized the limitations in access to community birth for low-income families.
As a team, our providers have committed to making our care accessible to more families.
Sliding scale fees are available, as is billing for many major insurers including Medi-Cal. ​
Is it safe to give birth outside of a hospital?
The largest study of planned, midwife-attended home birth suggests that birth in a community setting (home or birth center) is safe for low-risk birthing parents who are attended by a skilled provider. This means that parents giving birth to a term, head-down, singleton baby with a trained midwife are at a low risk of complications.

Outcomes of the study included...
  • Most families who plan a community birth do indeed have a community birth (89.1%)
  • Most families who plan a community birth have a vaginal birth (93.6%)
  • Most families planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in a community setting have a successful vaginal birth (87.0%)
  • Most families planning a community birth are exclusively breastfeeding at 6 weeks (97.7%)
  • The primary reason for transfer of care in labor is an arrest of labor progress, and urgent transports for fetal distress are rare.
  • About 5.2% of parents planning a community birth ultimately give birth by cesarean in a hospital.
What happens if something goes wrong?
As a complication is developing, often there are changes in pregnancy that indicate a parent or baby may need more advanced care at the birth.  If your health changes during your pregnancy or birth and it is no longer advisable to birth your baby outside of the hospital, your midwife will facilitate a transition to a hospital-based provider.  A member of your midwife's team will provide report to the hospital, and our postpartum care is resumed on our usual schedule once you are back home.

Complications during labor, birth and the immediate postpartum (in any setting) can occur suddenly. Your midwife has many of the skills and supplies necessary for the stabilization of a parent or baby in a sudden emergency. These supplies include oxygen, sterile instruments, supplies for IV hydration and antibiotic therapy, resuscitation equipment, and several medications for bleeding.

In the event that a birth deviates from normal and is unsafe to carry out at home or the birth center, or if the midwife expects that a parent or baby will not safely be stabilized out-of-hospital, a transfer to hospital-based care will be initiated.
What happens if the baby doesn't breathe when it is born?
Watch the below video to hear from our midwife what we do if a baby isn't breathing.
What pain relief options are available outside of the hospital?
Pain is a normal and healthy part of giving birth, and something many families also worry about. We do not promise you a pain-free experience, however we may make suggestions to help your labor be more comfortable and efficient. These suggestions might include:
  • Changes in position
  • The use of water (such as a shower or tub)
  • The use of heat (such as a heating pad or hot water bottle)
  • Touch
  • Changes in activity
  • Breathing techniques
  • Music
  • Techniques to reposition your baby and make labor more efficient

If you are concerned about labor pain, we strongly recommend that you hire a doula alongside your midwife team. Research suggests that doulas can decrease labor pain, and in addition they can lower the rate of cesarean birth, shorten the length of labor, and help babies breastfeed more easily. 
​
Doula support from a volunteer doula is automatically included in our fee for services.
Let your midwife know at your first appointment that you'd like a doula.
How do I obtain a birth certificate and social security number for my newborn?
Watch the video below to learn our process for registering the birth. 
You can also download a pdf of the slides from this presentation here:
whcbc_birth_cert_and_social_security_video.pdf
File Size: 158 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Do you offer water birth services, and is it safe to give birth in the water?
Absolutely. Most of our clients choose to use a tub in labor, and for most families this is an appropriate and safe option for pain relief and relaxation. Warm water eases pain, helps many people relax, and adds freedom of movement and buoyancy.
​
Babies born in the water are not at an increased risk of infection, nor are the people giving birth.
​Water birth does not cause babies to drown either; when the baby is born and brought to the surface of the water immediately, it waits to take its first breath and gets oxygen from the umbilical cord in the meantime, similarly to how a baby lives on the inside of the uterus. 

When clients labor or birth in the water, WHMS staff use waterproof equipment to monitor the baby and birthing client.
Will you attend my vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)?
We believe that VBAC is a choice that should be offered for all healthy families.
​This is a service we routinely offer, including to many individuals planning vaginal birth after multiple cesareans (VBAMC).
Who regulates midwives in California?
There are two main credentials for midwives in the state of California.

Licensed Midwives (LM) are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California. Licensed Midwives provide primary care services to birthing parents and babies during the childbearing year. Most Licensed Midwives provide care in homes, however some provide care in birth centers, clinics, and hospitals.

Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM) are certified and regulated by the California Board of Registered Nurses. Certified Nurse-Midwives are primary care providers for women throughout the lifespan. Certified Nurse-Midwives mostly provide care in hospitals, however sometimes provide care in homes, birth centers, and clinics. 

Welcome Home Midwifery Services, Inc. employs Licensed Midwives. For more information about our clinical team, click here.