Commonly Asked Questions

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Our Midwives...

~Are licensed professionals through the State of Michigan

~Offer both freestanding birthing center and home birth options 

~Provide continuous, personalized care from early pregnancy through postpartum recovery

~Build lasting relationships through compassionate, family-centered care

~Create a calm, supportive space that promotes confidence and connection

~Care deeply about you and your baby

~Are experts in normal, physiological birth

~Communicate directly with clients and offer up to one-hour appointments

~Provide all available options and true informed consent 

~Educate on a variety of topics that help keep you and your baby healthy 

~Believe in your ability to birth your baby

~Work in a team of 2 to 3 at the birth

~Carry essential equipment and supplies for safe out-of-hospital birth

~Offer intermittent monitoring from active labor through delivery

~Carry medications, IV fluids, and IV antibiotics when indicated or requested (for example, GBS+)

~Suture up to 2nd degree tears when needed

~Maintain current certification in neonatal resuscitation (NRP) and CPR every two years

~Provide six weeks of postpartum care

~Support you throughout your breastfeeding journey

~Provide all three parts of the Michigan newborn screening (Blood spots, Pulse ox, Hearing screen)

~Offer a private newborn screening lab option through Revvity for families who desire this service

~Provide a full head to toe newborn exam

~Offer Vitamin K (IM or oral) and erythromycin eye ointment

~Order all standard prenatal labs through Quest Diagnostics

~Offer optional vitamin D and thyroid testing as part of your prenatal care

~Offer discounted lab pricing for uninsured, high-deductible, or Christian health share clients

~Order ultrasounds through Henry Ford Hospital or Regional Medical Imaging (RMI)

~Participate in ongoing continuing-education opportunities 

~Offer a variety of flexible payment-plan options

A doula is a trained support person who provides emotional, physical, and educational support during pregnancy, labor, and the early postpartum period. Doulas offer comfort measures, reassurance, and guidance, but they are not clinical care providers and do not perform medical tasks.

A midwife is a licensed healthcare provider with training in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. Midwives offer clinical assessments, monitoring, education, counseling, and hands-on care throughout the childbearing journey.

Your midwife is your primary clinical provider during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the six-week postpartum period for healthy, low-risk families. Midwives work closely with each family to understand their physical and emotional needs. If a situation arises that is outside a midwife’s scope of practice, your midwife will help you arrange appropriate consultation or initiate a transfer of care if needed.

You may be a good candidate for out-of-hospital birth if you can answer “yes” to the following:

1. Are you in good physical health?
2. Do you avoid smoking, alcohol, and recreational drugs?
3. Do you maintain healthy nutritional habits?
4. Are you responsible and engaged in your prenatal care?
5. Are you in a home environment that supports an out-of-hospital birth?
6. Are you willing to learn about pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum?
7. Are you comfortable transferring to a physician or hospital if recommended by your midwife?
8. Are you considered low risk?
9. Do you understand the potential risks and benefits of giving birth at home or in a freestanding birth center?

Both home birth and the birthing center offer the same midwifery model of care, centered on safety, personalized support, and a calm environment for your birth. The main differences come from the setting itself.

A planned home birth allows you to welcome your baby in familiar surroundings, using the comfort of your own space throughout labor. Some families appreciate the continuity of staying home before, during, and after the birth.

Our freestanding birthing center provides a home-like environment with added convenience. The space is fully prepared when you arrive, with plumbed water birth tubs, continuous hot water, and everything set up and ready for your labor. Many families appreciate not needing to gather or prepare as many supplies, since much of what is needed is already stocked at the center. The birthing center is also located close to EMS and hospital services, which offers additional peace of mind for some families.

The quality of care is the same in both settings. Choosing between them simply depends on where you feel most comfortable and supported for your birth experience.

For home birth, your midwife provides a detailed list of supplies to have on hand, along with a birth kit that is ordered by 35 weeks. If you are planning a water birth at home, tub purchase or rental is required with additional items needed for tub setup and preparation. During your 36-week home visit, your midwife will view your space and supplies to ensure everything is in place.

At our birthing center, the preparation is much simpler. Families only bring their birth kit and a pack of chux pads, which are stored at the center once purchased. The rooms are already set up, the water-birth tubs are ready to go with continuous hot water and the center is stocked with what is needed for labor, birth, and immediate postpartum care. Many families appreciate having far fewer items to gather and much less setup involved.

Both settings offer the same midwifery model of care. The difference comes down to how much preparation is required and where you feel most comfortable and supported.

Yes,  the midwives at It’s Your Birth are licensed through the State of Michigan as Licensed Midwives (LM) with the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential.

Michigan passed a midwifery licensing bill in 2017  and as of August 1, 2019, all out-of-hospital midwives must hold a state midwifery license. Families are welcome to verify our licenses through the State of Michigan’s online database.

 Verify a Michigan Midwifery License 

If you are healthy and low risk, you do not need to see a physician alongside your midwife during pregnancy. Your midwife will monitor your health and your baby’s well-being throughout your care. If something arises that requires additional evaluation, your midwife will recommend a consultation with the medical model. 

 Types of Midwives in the U.S.

There are two primary types of midwives in the United States and both provide excellent care within their specific training and practice settings.

Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)
CPMs are licensed midwives who specialize in out-of-hospital birth, including home birth and freestanding birth centers.

• They are not required to be nurses.
• Education may include accredited midwifery programs or apprenticeship-based pathways.
• Training includes hands-on experience in out-of-hospital birth.
• Candidates must meet national requirements and pass both a written exam and a skills evaluation.
• The credential is administered by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).
• Legal recognition varies by state; in Michigan, CPMs who hold a state license are recognized as Licensed Midwives (LM).

Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs)
CNMs are advanced practice nurses trained in both nursing and midwifery.

• They complete a university-based nurse-midwifery program and national board exam.
• Most CNMs train and practice in hospitals or medical settings.
• They are licensed in all 50 states.
• Out-of-hospital experience is not required for CNM training.
• Many CNMs practice with physician collaboration depending on state regulations.

In Michigan:
Only CNMs or Licensed Midwives with the CPM credential may legally practice midwifery or call themselves midwives.

Prenatal and postpartum appointments are typically 30 minutes to 1 hour, and all visits are held in our office (except the 36-week home visit for planned home births).

Prenatal Schedule:
• Once a month until 32 weeks
• Every 2 weeks from 32–36 weeks
• 36-week home visit (home birth clients only)
• Weekly visits from 37 weeks until delivery

Postpartum Schedule:
• Day 1 visit
• Your baby should be seen by their pediatrician around day 3
• Week 1, 2, 4, and 6 visits

Each postpartum visit includes both mother and baby. We focus on recovery, newborn wellness, parent questions and breastfeeding support.

Yes. We support true delayed cord clamping at every birth. In most cases, we wait until after the placenta has delivered before cutting the cord so your baby receives their full volume of cord blood. If resuscitation is needed, it is performed with the cord and placenta still attached whenever possible.

Yes. All midwives at It’s Your Birth recertify every two years in both CPR and neonatal resuscitation (NRP).

Birth is a normal physiological process, and complications are uncommon in healthy, low-risk pregnancies. Your midwife monitors you and your baby closely from active labor through the early postpartum period so that any concerns are identified early.

Our midwives are trained to manage the complications that can occur during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period. We use recognized standards of midwifery practice when addressing complications and carry emergency medications and supplies within the midwifery scope of practice.

If a complication does not resolve as expected, your midwife will initiate EMS or hospital transport while continuing supportive measures to stabilize the situation.

If a hospital transfer is needed, we do not accompany clients into the hospital.. Licensed CPMs do not have hospital privileges. If a transfer becomes necessary, your midwife will notify the hospital, send your records, and give a detailed report to the receiving provider. Once you arrive, the hospital team becomes your primary care provider. Routine postpartum care with our midwives resumes once you are discharged.

We do not bill or participate with insurance. After your baby is born, we can provide an invoice for you to submit to your insurance if you wish to seek reimbursement. Many Christian health share plans cover out-of-hospital birth.

Our fees are often comparable to, or lower than, most insurance deductibles and copays, making out-of-pocket midwifery care a cost-effective option for many families. We accept HSA and FSA cards, and we offer flexible payment-plan options.

Choosing care outside of insurance allows us to avoid the restrictions and limitations placed on providers, creating a direct, uninterrupted relationship between you and your midwife. This means more time together, more individualized care, and the ability to make decisions based on what is best for you-not what is covered by a policy.

Clients may still use their private insurance for labs and ultrasounds, which are billed separately through outside facilities.

We do not provide superbills, ICD-10 coding, or our EIN. Jenny’s NPI is publicly available and can be provided upon request.

Yes. We offer several flexible payment-plan options to help make care accessible for families. Payments can be made by cash, check, credit card, HSA or FSA cards, or through Square invoices. For more information about pricing and payment options, please visit our pricing page.

Pricing and Payment Plans 

Yes. We order all standard prenatal labs through Quest Diagnostics. Quest bills insurance directly, and clients may use their private insurance for these services. For families without insurance or those with high deductibles, we also offer discounted, negotiated self-pay lab rates. Certain labs are required as part of routine prenatal care.

Yes. We can order ultrasounds through Henry Ford Hospital or Regional Medical Imaging (RMI). Henry Ford is often preferred because scans are interpreted by maternal–fetal medicine physicians. Ultrasounds completed at RMI are read by general radiologists.

Clients may use their private insurance for ultrasounds, as these services are billed directly through the imaging facility.

Standard ultrasound timing includes a dating scan before 12 weeks, an anatomy scan between 18 and 20 weeks, and a growth scan around 32 weeks. The anatomy scan is a required part of prenatal care, as it provides key information about your baby’s anatomy and overall development.

If a follow-up ultrasound is medically needed, we will explain the reason for the recommendation and help you arrange the appointment.

At this time, we are unable to accept VBAC clients. 

Yes. Water birth is available for both home and birthing center clients. While many families are able to birth in the water, it cannot be guaranteed, as labor may unfold in ways that require another setting.

Our birthing center features spacious, plumbed water-birth tubs with continuous hot water, providing a comfortable and convenient option for hydrotherapy  and  water  birth.    

An inflatable tub can be used at home, although it does require extra preparation,  set  up  and  supplies.  In a planned home water birth, the  inflatable tub is reserved for delivery, while  hydrotherapy is experienced in your shower or home bathtub.  

Your midwife will file the birth certificate electronically with the Michigan Vital Records office. You will complete and sign the parent information worksheet, which needs to be submitted by day 3 postpartum.

Yes. We welcome doulas and encourage families to have continuous support during labor. First time natural birthing parents are required to hire a doula. Doulas provide early labor support through phone and text  and offer in-person support as labor moves from early into active stages. Their presence complements the midwifery model of care and helps create a calmer, more supported birth experience.

We recommend choosing a doula who has experience supporting natural birth, provides in-home labor support, and is able to accompany you if a hospital transport becomes necessary.

You may hire any doula you prefer, or choose one of our in-house doulas for a coordinated, team-based experience. Meet our doulas here.

Yes. We offer six weeks of postpartum midwifery care for families planning a hospital birth. These visits focus on your recovery, newborn wellness, breastfeeding support  and helping you transition smoothly into life with your new baby. If you’d like to learn more about postpartum care in the U.S., you can read our blog on the topic.   Postpartum care in the U.S.

Yes. We offer breastfeeding support as part of your postpartum care, and most families who plan to breastfeed are successfully breastfeeding at their six-week visit. We are able to assist with common breastfeeding questions and challenges, and if additional support is needed, we can refer you to a trusted local IBCLC lactation consultant.