Home Birth Questions for Orange County Families
Whether you're wondering if home birth is right for you, what it's like to work with a licensed midwife, or how prenatal and postpartum care works, you'll find answers below.
Home Birth General Questions
-
For healthy, low-risk pregnancies, planned home birth with a Licensed Midwife is absolutely a safe option. Every family I care for is carefully screened to ensure home remains an appropriate place to give birth.
Safety isn't just about where you give birth—it's about choosing the right setting for the right pregnancy. During labor, I monitor both mom and baby, carry medications and emergency equipment, and have clear protocols for situations that may arise and require hospital care. If a transfer is ever the safest choice, we make that decision together with the goal of keeping both mom and baby healthy.
My priority is never simply having a home birth. My priority is helping you have the safest, healthiest birth possible.
-
Absolutely, and many choose to homebirth in California so they have the option of a water birth.
Usually, moms find that warm water helps them relax, cope with contractions, and move more comfortably during labor.
Of course, you are not required to. During your prenatal visits, we'll talk about whether a water birth is a good fit for your pregnancy and make a plan together.
-
Many women with a previous Cesarean are great candidates for a home birth VBAC (often called an HBAC).
Whether home is an appropriate place for your VBAC depends on several factors, including the reason for your previous Cesarean, your overall health, and the course of your current pregnancy. During a consultation, we'll review your history together and discuss whether you're a good candidate.
If home birth isn't the safest option for you, I'll always tell you honestly. For those clients, I do offer Monitirice Care.
My goal is to help you make an informed decision that's best for you and your baby.
-
Yes! Many families transfer to midwifery care after beginning pregnancy with an OB.
Whether you're 12 weeks or 28 weeks along, I'd be happy to discuss your options. If you decide to transfer care, I'll help you obtain your medical records and make the process as smooth as possible.
The earlier you transfer, the more prenatal visits we'll have together, but many women make the switch later in pregnancy and still receive comprehensive prenatal, birth, postpartum, and newborn care.
-
Only a small percentage of babies are actually born on their due date. Throughout the final weeks of pregnancy, I'll continue assessing both you and your baby to make sure everything is progressing normally.
Every pregnancy is unique, and decisions are based on your overall health, your baby's well-being, and how your pregnancy is progressing—not simply the date on the calendar. In California, Licensed Midwives may attend planned home births through 42 weeks of pregnancy. If your pregnancy approaches or reaches that point, we'll discuss your options ahead of time and make a plan together so you feel informed and supported every step of the way.
Midwifery Care
-
A Licensed Midwife (LM) is a healthcare provider who specializes in caring for healthy, low-risk pregnancies, birth, postpartum, and newborns. In California, Licensed Midwives are licensed by the Medical Board of California and are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care, attend births, order laboratory testing, prescribe certain medications, carry emergency equipment, and care for both mom and baby after birth.
As your midwife, my role is to provide evidence-based medical care while honoring pregnancy and birth as normal, physiologic events. My goal is to help you feel informed, supported, and confident throughout your entire journey.
-
Midwives and obstetricians are both highly trained professionals, but they care for different types of pregnancies.
Licensed Midwives specialize in healthy, low-risk pregnancies and focus on supporting the natural physiology of pregnancy and birth while carefully monitoring for anything that falls outside of normal. Obstetricians are physicians who specialize in caring for higher-risk pregnancies and performing surgery, including Cesarean births.
As a home birth midwife, I spend time getting to know you, providing personalized prenatal care, and supporting you through pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. If complications arise that require specialized medical or surgical care, I work closely with physicians and hospitals to ensure you receive the care you need.
-
Midwives and doulas both play valuable roles during pregnancy and birth, but their responsibilities are different.
A doula provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy and labor but does not provide medical care.
A Licensed Midwife provides that same compassionate support while also serving as your healthcare provider. I monitor you and your baby throughout pregnancy and labor, order lab work and ultrasounds, perform newborn exams, carry medications and emergency equipment, and provide comprehensive prenatal, birth, postpartum, and newborn care.
For many families—especially first-time parents—I highly recommend having a doula in addition to your midwife. A doula's sole focus is supporting you continuously through labor with comfort measures, encouragement, and reassurance, while I balance that same support with the medical responsibilities of caring for both you and your baby. Together, we make an incredible team.
Many families choose to have both a midwife and a doula, and they complement each other beautifully.
-
One of the biggest differences families notice about midwifery care is the time we spend together.
Prenatal appointments are typically 45–60 minutes, giving us plenty of time to answer your questions, discuss your baby's growth, review testing, talk through your birth preferences, and address anything that's on your mind. You'll never feel rushed, and these are done in your home.
These visits are about much more than checking your blood pressure and measuring your belly. They're an opportunity to build a relationship, so that by the time labor begins, you know and trust the person walking alongside you.
-
Yes! My care doesn't end once your baby is born.
Immediately after birth, I'll perform a complete newborn assessment, monitor your baby's transition to life outside the womb, support breastfeeding, and ensure both you and your baby are recovering well. I'll also return for postpartum visits over the following weeks to continue caring for both of you.
I also offer newborn metabolic screening (heel stick), pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD), weight checks, and ongoing newborn assessments—all from the comfort of your home.
Pregnancy and Testing
-
Preparing your home for birth is much simpler than most families expect! As your due date approaches, I'll provide you with a simple supply list of common household items and help you prepare everything you'll need.
Around 36 weeks, we'll have a special Birth Team Meeting, where we'll gather with everyone planning to be present at your birth. We'll review your birth preferences, talk through what to expect during labor, discuss everyone's role, and answer any last-minute questions so your entire birth team feels prepared and confident.
At that visit, I'll also deliver your birth pool (if you're planning a water birth) and look over your birth supplies together to make sure everything is ready before labor begins.
On the day of your birth, I bring all of the medical equipment, medications, and clinical supplies needed to safely care for both you and your baby—so all you have to focus on is welcoming your little one into the world.
-
I proudly serve families throughout Orange County and surrounding communities.
If you're unsure whether you're within my service area, I'd be happy to chat. Feel free to reach out, and we can discuss your location and whether home birth care with The Homebirth Co. is a good fit.
Costa Mesa • Newport Beach • Irvine • Tustin • Orange • Santa Ana • Huntington Beach • Fountain Valley • Mission Viejo • Lake Forest • Laguna Niguel • Laguna Hills • Yorba Linda • Anaheim • Fullerton • Brea • Placentia • Villa Park • San Clemente • Dana Point • San Juan Capistrano • and surrounding areas.
-
I am an out-of-network provider, which allows me to offer personalized, relationship-based care without the limitations often associated with insurance-based practices.
Payment for care is made directly to my practice. If you have a PPO insurance plan, many of your prenatal labs are often covered, and some families are able to receive partial reimbursement for their midwifery care through their insurance benefits. Because every insurance plan is different, I encourage you to contact your insurance provider to learn more about your out-of-network maternity coverage.
While I don't prepare superbills myself, I'm happy to connect you with professionals who specialize in home birth insurance reimbursement and can assist you with the superbill and claims process.
If you have questions about cost or payment options, I'm always happy to discuss them during your consultation.
-
During your prenatal care, we'll discuss your options for routine newborn medications well before your baby's birth, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and make informed decisions.
If you choose Vitamin K or erythromycin eye ointment, they can be ordered as part of your birth kit. Families have the option of ordering either preservative-free injectable Vitamin K or an oral Vitamin K regimen, depending on their preferences.
My role is to provide evidence-based information, answer your questions, and support you in making the decisions that are right for your family.
-
Prenatal care is designed to support you throughout your entire pregnancy. We typically meet once a month until 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks, and weekly until your baby arrives. Each appointment lasts about an hour, giving us plenty of time to answer questions, monitor your and your baby's health, prepare for birth, and build a relationship along the way.
Your care doesn't end after birth. I'll remain with you for several hours after your baby is born to ensure you're both doing well, then continue caring for both of you with home visits at approximately 24–48 hours, 3–5 days, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks postpartum. During these visits, I'll assess both you and your baby, support breastfeeding, perform newborn screenings and weight checks, and make sure your family is adjusting well.
Logistics
-
Yes! I provide comprehensive prenatal testing throughout your pregnancy, including routine blood work, urine testing, gestational diabetes screening, Group B Strep screening, and any additional testing that may be recommended based on your health or how your pregnancy is progressing.
One of the benefits of home birth midwifery care is that I come to you. I collect your blood samples during your prenatal visits and personally deliver them to the laboratory, so there's no need to schedule a separate lab appointment for routine testing.
Throughout your pregnancy, I'll continually assess both you and your baby. If additional lab work or testing is appropriate, we'll discuss it together so you understand the reason behind every recommendation and can make informed decisions about your care.
-
Yes. I refer my clients to trusted local ultrasound providers who are highly skilled and familiar with caring for home birth families. They also offer affordable cash-pay rates.
The only ultrasound I routinely recommend is the 20-week anatomy scan, which provides a detailed look at your baby's development and anatomy. Some families also choose to have an early dating ultrasound, especially if they're unsure of their dates or have irregular cycles.
Beyond that, additional ultrasounds are not routinely necessary for healthy, low-risk pregnancies. However, if there's a medical indication or something we'd like to evaluate more closely, I'll discuss it with you and provide a referral. Every recommendation is based on your individual pregnancy—not a routine schedule.
-
I offer gestational diabetes screening between 24 and 28 weeks, just as is recommended during pregnancy.
Many of my clients choose the Fresh Test, a dye-free, more natural alternative to the traditional glucose drink that provides the same amount of glucose needed for accurate screening. Depending on your individual circumstances, we may also discuss other evidence-based screening options when appropriate.
We'll review your results together and, if additional testing or follow-up is needed, I'll guide you through the next steps.
-
No. Routine cervical exams are never required during your prenatal care or labor.
While there are times when a cervical exam can provide helpful information, they don't always tell us how labor is progressing and often don't change the plan of care. I believe cervical exams should only be performed when they're medically indicated or when the information would be helpful to you in making decisions.
We'll always discuss the reasons for an exam first, and you always have the choice to decline.
-
Yes. If you're interested in prenatal genetic screening, I offer non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) through Natera, a trusted private laboratory. NIPT is a simple blood test that screens for certain chromosomal conditions early in pregnancy. I can also order additional genetic screening when appropriate, such as carrier screening.
Some families choose to pursue genetic testing, while others decline it, and both are valid choices. During your prenatal visits, we'll discuss what each test looks for, what information it can (and can't) provide, and whether it's something you'd like to include in your care.
My role is to provide evidence-based information and guidance so you can make informed decisions that align with your values and goals for your pregnancy.
Still Have Questions?
Every pregnancy is unique, and no FAQ can answer every question. If you're wondering whether home birth is right for you, I'd love to get to know you, hear your story, and answer your questions.