Frequently Asked Questions

About community birth, midwives, and more…

What is a community birth?

A “community birth” refers to a birth planned to take place outside of a hospital setting, integrated into the community. This includes home births and births in freestanding birth centers. In these settings, births are usually attended by midwives. 

Community birth emphasizes the physiological and natural process of childbirth, usually favoring fewer medical interventions. The idea is that for many healthy pregnant individuals, birth can be safely carried out in a more relaxed, personal environment rather than a clinical hospital setting.

Furthermore, the term “community” also emphasizes the holistic and supportive approach taken, where the well-being of the mother, baby, and family are seen in the context of their community and its network of relationships and resources.

What is a midwife?

A midwife is a person who is specially trained to take care of women and families during their pregnancies. Midwives replace doctors in pregnancies that don’t need significant medical intervention, providing all of your prenatal, birth, well baby, and postpartum care. 

Whenever appropriate, midwives use natural methods to care for you, though all of our midwives train to the national standard of midwifery practice and are trained to recognize when medical intervention is needed. In Oklahoma, Licensed Midwives are regulated by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and Certified Nurse Midwives are regulated by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.

How does a birth center birth work?

Birth at the birth center is usually a very simple affair.  When you go into labor you call your midwife and, together, you decide when you should come to the birth center. The center is equipped with all the necessary supplies and equipment needed for your comfort and safety during your birth, and also with lifesaving equipment in case of emergency. Once you have arrived, you labor in your suite; soaking in the tub, eating, moving around, using the birth ball or birth stool, etc… and when the time comes, you give birth in the position of your choosing. Delayed cord clamping and immediate skin-to-skin are the norm, and we don’t do anything to your baby without asking! Any required newborn care or examination is done within arms reach whenever possible.  Afterward, we monitor you and your baby for several hours to make sure you are healthy. Finally, once everyone is ready, your new family goes home. During the postpartum period, the midwife will check in by phone and also come to visit you and your new baby in the first few days, and you will have appointments at 1, 3, and 6 weeks, as well as any time in between that you wish to schedule one.

What if I want to have a home birth?

Awesome! We love home births! If you want to have a home birth, everything above is about the same except the action happens at your place instead of ours. As with everything in life, there are benefits and drawbacks to either location, but often the most important consideration is where you will feel the most comfortable. The midwives of Tulsa Birth Center have attended hundreds of births in people’s homes and are completely comfortable in both locations! Hydrotherapy (birth tub) and water birth is available, and encouraged, no matter where you choose to labor.

What about labs and ultrasounds? Are they mandatory?

The lab work and ultrasound schedule is the same as it would be in most doctors offices. The laws of the State of Oklahoma require that we run most routine labs and at least one ultrasound by 34 weeks to determine placental location. Most insurance plans cover at least some of the costs, but often our very low “cash discount” prices are even lower than your copay with insurance.  

Do you need to see a doctor if you have a midwife?

No, if you have a midwife she will provide all of your care unless you develop complications of pregnancy.

Does insurance cover your services?

Yes, usually. The answer to this questions varies not only from company to company but also from policy to policy, so no one can say for sure except your insurance provider. The most common companies cover  50-80% after your deductible.

We have found that it is least expensive when, overall, when clients submit a claim directly to their insurance company for their out-of-pocket expenses. We will help you locate the instructions on how to do this from your insurance provider,  but you can usually just call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and ask:

Do you cover out-of-hospital birth with a licensed midwife?

and

What are the rates of coverage for out-of-network providers?

and, finally

Can I file an in-network exception? Please send me the forms.

Most of the families who have chosen to do this have received some reimbursement from their insurance companies. We are happy to provide any documentation requested by your insurance company.

Do you take Medicaid?

Sadly, Sooner Care and other forms of Medicaid do not cover out-of-hospital births in Oklahoma. There are significant discounts available if you are paying out-of-pocket, though, so if your dream is an OOH birth, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

How do you get a birth certificate?

Tulsa Birth Center midwives are all registered with the Oklahoma Department of Vital Statistics and file for your baby’s birth certificate through the same system that hospital-born infants are registered through. Just like at the hospital, you then must order your birth certificate from the Oklahoma Department of Vital Records.

What about the SSN?

When we file your birth certificate we are able to give permission for the Oklahoma Department of Vital Records to share information with the Social Security Administration and request that a SSN be issued to your baby. This is done automatically when the birth certificate information is filed unless you request otherwise.

What happens if there is an emergency?

Licensed Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives are trained to identify and manage all manner of obstetric emergencies, including the home management of postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal resuscitation. Depending on the situation, a minor concern or emergency may be completely managed in the birth location (birth center or home) or may require that we travel to the hospital in a car. In the very rare case of a major emergency, the midwife will take lifesaving action and EMS system will be activated so that the midwife may continue to provide care during transport to the hospital. Upon arrival the midwife will transfer your care to an appropriate medical provider but will continue to provide support and guidance, throughout. She will  usually resume care during the postpartum period.

Is out-of-hospital birth safe?

Yes. The available evidence shows that out-of-hospital birth has a very low risk of adverse outcomes. Like any choice it has a unique set of risks and benefits that are hard to judge for anyone except yourself. For more information about the statistics of homebirth please visit: http://mana.org/pdfs/DOR-Outcomes-Paper-Fact-Sheet-on-Risk.pdf  or https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Planned-Home-Birth?IsMobileSet=false.

What kind of training do you have?

All of our midwives have graduated from a rigorous academic midwifery training program and have completed a lengthy hands-on clinical training with experienced midwives. They are all certified by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) as Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) then fulfil additional education requirements to be licensed by the State of Oklahoma.

In addition, all midwives, students, and assistants must maintain certification in Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP), American Heart Association Basic Lifesaving (CPR/AED) for Healthcare Providers, and the midwives are required to participate in a minimum of 25 NARM approved continuing education opportunities each recertification period.

I have another question.

Please feel free to call or email us and ask any question that you have. We are always happy to answer.

918.932.8164
Contact@TulsaBirthCenter.com

I would like to meet you to discuss my care.

Consultations are always free. You can book yours at http://birthcenter.youcanbook.me or call 918.932.8164 to set up an appointment with any of our midwives.