Services and Prices
At Nova Vida Midwives, LLC, you can expect complete and comprehensive care for your childbearing experience. You will be able to customize your care by completing a testing and procedure permission form when we initiate care with you. We will honor your preferences for your prenatal, birth, newborn and postpartum care. We respect and value the informed choice process and will participate with you in making important decisions regarding all the aspects of your care. Below, find the typical schedule of care that we offer.
Pre-pregnancy counseling. We are excited to visit with you prior to you becoming pregnant. We will make sure that you have all of your questions answered. We are happy to consult with you about our care and what you can expect from us. This visit is separate from our complete maternity package and there is no charge for booking it.
Prenatal Care: We believe in preventive health care and feel that good prenatal care is the best way to avoid complications. Regular visits are made once every three weeks up to the seventh month, then twice during the eighth month and then weekly until the birth. Additional visits may be scheduled. We emphasize excellent nutrition and see that as the cornerstone to a trouble free, healthy and vibrant pregnancy and birth. This is also key to growing a healthy and vigorous baby. We only provide prenatal care for the clients who are booked to deliver with us. This care is included in the total package fee.
Labor and Birth: We feel it is important that parents have the kind of birth experience they want. The midwives attending your birth are present to help you meet those needs. We will help with labor support by whatever your wishes are at the time. We will always try to honor your requests concerning the birth itself. We will stay after the birth until everyone is stable.
Newborn Care: Immediate newborn care consists of a basic exam while the baby is in your arms. If we detect anything outside of normal at this point, we will examine the baby further. We leave the baby in your arms, cord intact, for at least 2 hours post birth. We wrap the placenta up and place it next to you during this time. Your baby needs you and you need your baby immediately after the birth. We strongly believe in physiologic birth and promote this for all of our clients. Research has proven that complications of the mother and newborn are reduced, if not completely avoided, by stepping back and observing and guarding the mama/baby unit at this very special time.
Postpartum Care: Regular postpartum visits are usually made every day for the first five days. Then week one, 10 days, two weeks, three weeks, and six weeks. If you are seeing another care provider or your situation is unique, these may vary. We strongly recommend each couple to have a friend or relative come and stay with them after the birth to aide with chores, so that the mother and child have ample time to rest and recover. We strongly encourage parents to have their baby seen by a physician, MD or ND, or family nurse practitioner for a well baby check up within the first two months of life or sooner if there is a cause.
Fees
Our retainer fee for a home birth is $6,000.00. This covers all of the prenatal care, labor attendance, birth management and the entire postpartum supervision. This is a discounted bundled package fee for cash payment. Insurance, if applicable, will be billed for the full actual cost of care. Labor tub rental is not included in the retainer fee. Home birth supply kit IS included in the retainer fee. To make this possible a payment plan must be agreed upon between the client and midwife. The entire fee is due 4 weeks before the due date unless clear financial arrangements have been agreed on. Laboratory and Ultrasound costs are separate and will be billed by the clinic providing the services. We are contracted with Birth Professionals Billing Service and they will process all insurance claims for you. Claims submission does not guarantee payment by insurance, as plan detail, benefits and requirements vary widely.
If you have OHP, you will not be billed for your care from us. As OHP providers, we accept the OHP reimbursement as payment in full.
When midwife care is itemized and billed to insurance, claims for the average course of care total between $8,000.00-$12,000.00. This is what is billed to insurance, if applicable. Clients benefit from a discounted cash midwife retainer package fee, which is set and capped at 6,000.00 for home birth. If insurance does pay, the client will receive that as reimbursement. If insurance pays above what the client has paid, this surplus will be paid to the midwives. Thank you so much for honoring your midwives and paying us up front for the services that we are providing you.
We are sometimes able to offer reduced fees and /or payment plans for families experiencing financial hardship who would not otherwise be able to access private midwifery care. Please keep in mind that when folks qualify for reduced fees, extended payment plans or pro-bono care, the individual midwives are donating our time and expertise and paying for expenses related to care out of our own pocket. We do this as a way to foster community and increase access to truly comprenhensive, high quality care for all. However, before asking this of the midwives, consider asking your own family and community to contribute to your care. This shows respect for your midwives, acknowledges the value of the care you will receive, and helps keep midwifery care a sustainable practice available to you and others.