FAQ

What is a Birth Center?

A Birth Center is a homelike facility, existing within a health care system with a program of care designed in the wellness model of pregnancy and birth. Birth centers are guided by principles of prevention, sensitivity, safety, appropriate medical intervention, and cost effectiveness. Birth centers provide family-centered personalized care for healthy women before, during and after normal pregnancy, labor and birth.

Who can deliver at the Birth Center?

Any healthy woman experiencing a healthy pregnancy and expecting a normal delivery would be a good candidate for a Birth Center birth. We continually screen our clients throughout their prenatal care for any signs that would mean it would be safer to deliver in a hospital.  Amy and the Health Foundations team prides themselves on the close relationships they have with their clients.  We strive to have each of our clients reach term in the best possible health and feel ready for a beautiful birth experience. We have seen powerful pregnancies and amazing births - our families are confident, prepared and supported. Our number one priority is YOUR health and safety.

How many families do you accept per month into your care?
We do not exceed 12 women with due dates in each month. Because some go early, some go late, and some right on time, we help approximately 9-13 women with their babies per month. Months can easily fill up, so we encourage you to call today for your complimentary consultation or plan to attend an upcoming informational session/birth center tour!

What services are included in the fees?

§  Routine prenatal visits (once a month until 28 weeks, every other week until 36 weeks, weekly until delivery).

§  Availability of on call Midwife 24 hours a day

§  Comprehensive health physical and pap smear

§  Early Home Care Class

§  One-hour comprehensive breastfeeding visit at 28 weeks

§  Complications Class

§  Labor support

§  Birth services

§  Water birth (Birth tub rental for home birth is an additional fee.)

§  Postpartum care (Immediate,  home visits on day 1 & between day 3-5,  office visits at 2 weeks & 6 weeks)

§  Immediate newborn physical

§  Newborn assessment at the 1 & 3-5 day home visit.

§  Filing of your baby’s birth certificate & social security card

§  Facility fees if delivering at the Birth Center

§  Parent Pregnancy Manual

§  Lending book and video library

§  Breastfeeding support and counseling

§  Nutritional counseling

§  Emergency equipment and medications as needed

When will we meet during labor?
This is based on each woman individually.  The family will be instructed on how and when to call the midwife during her prenatal visits. Instructions for first time mothers are different from those who have had previous births. Adjustments will be made according to previous labors and distance from midwife or birth center. Occasionally a woman may need to be evaluated in early labor (about 1-4 centimeters dilated) and offered recommendations of homeopathy, herbs, rest, etc. Once a mother is in established active labor, the midwife and team will join the family.

What happens if two people are in labor at once?
It has happened before!  Just not very often.  We have two midwives on call to ensure that any woman in labor will receive the attention she requires.

What emergency equipment and medicine do you have or bring?
Basically, we carry more emergency equipment for a mother and newborn than what is found on an ambulance (paramedics provide the safe ride). Our birthing suites have supplies and medications equivalent to a Level I labor and delivery room in a hospital.  We carry the same equipment to our home births. We have all of the equipment necessary for resuscitation (includes oxygen and suction) and postpartum hemorrhage (includes IV fluids and medication), among many other things. Because our supply list is so extensive, we answer any specific questions you have at your consultation upon request.

Birth centers are not mini-hospitals — your labor will never be induced or stimulated with oxytocin (Pitocin), and c-sections, instrumental deliveries and monitoring with electronic fetal monitors are not done at birth centers. But birth centers are equipped with IVs, oxygen, medication, and infant resuscitation equipment, so if need be, emergency care can be started while you and your baby await transport to the hospital.

Who may I have with me at the birth?
You may have anyone you like at your birth and who is supportive and inspiring to your choices. We strongly urge our clients to surround themselves with positive, helpful people. We will help maintain your vision of birth. Please remember that this time is all about you and your family. When choosing who to have present, please consider “How will this person aid in this process?”, “Do they provide loving energy?”, “Can they help with my children or prepare food?”. Remember, you need to be able to let go during birth, with absolutely no inhibitions.  We will also serve as your guardian and see to it that unwanted guests do not find their way in uninvited. During your prenatal visits we discuss what to expect at the birth and what should be expected of everyone: A prepared birth team and family with love and support make for a wonderful birth!

Do you have birthing tubs?  Do you do deliveries in water?
We have beautiful over-sized Jacuzzi tubs at the birth center in each of the birth suites, as well as birthing pools available for rent for families choosing a home birth.  We love water labor and births! The pain relief and relaxation offered by a simple pool of warm water is amazing!

Can I have pain medications or an epidural at the Birth Center?

No. Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center strongly believes in natural birth. Although many women feel they may not be able to finish the job without help, they do not realize the power of the female body to achieve the awesome job of delivering a baby.  A healthy body, good support and natural coping techniques are all discussed and encouraged through your prenatal care. When you reach term it is interesting to see the level of confidence such work has accomplished and how prepared our families really are. Once labor begins, we work as a team to encourage, nurture and support you, providing one on one care until you have your baby.  Having someone there who has gotten to know you over the course of your pregnancy is the key to being able to cope. No matter how often we hear 'I can't do it' we know you can. We are there with you every step of the way. Your reward is in holding a beautifully alert, drug free baby in your arms and enjoying the triumph that is all yours, knowing that you have given your baby the very best start.

At what point after the birth will you or I leave?
Certain safety criteria must be met before the client is discharged or the midwife leaves the home. The newborn must be stable (we will assign Apgar scores) and physical exam within normal limits, with no signs of respiratory distress. Mother must also be stable, including her vital signs, postpartum bleeding to a normal amount, and breastfeeding established.

After your baby is born, we will ensure everyone is happy and healthy, then leave the new family alone for a chance to get to know each other and nurse. After a time we will return and offer to help mom up to the bathroom, assist her with a shower or bath to refresh herself (if sutures are needed, we will do this before the shower), then back to bed (or wherever mom is most comfortable). We provide a complete newborn physical to the baby (A head to toe assessment including: assessing heart, lungs, weight, and measurements.), dress him or her, and once again leave the family alone, while we do clean up and charting. Then we will say good bye after approximately 4 hours. The midwife or nurse will then be in touch with the family in the day following birth.  We then see her with the baby for home visits at day 1 and between days 3-5 and at the birth center at 2 and 6 weeks.  This is subject to change of course, if there are any complications following the delivery that must be attended or if additional breastfeeding help is needed.

Do you accept women for care who have had a previous c-section? (VBAC’s)
Yes!  If you have had a vaginal birth since your cesarean, call today for your complimentary consultation!  If you have not had a vaginal birth since your cesarean, please call for a consultation, prepared with your medical records.  Inquire within for this pricing.  Health Foundations has specific criteria for woman wishing to have a VBAC and deliver with us, please call and ask for details.

Payment FAQ

Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center costs substantially less than a normal, vaginal hospital birth, and provides reasonable payment terms for costs not covered by insurance. We believe every woman should be free to choose where she has her baby, regardless of insurance limitations.

We feel that the quality of personal attention and care provided at Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center is worth investing in. Birth centers enjoy better health outcomes for mothers and babies than hospital care for comparable childbearing populations.

Are Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center services covered by insurance?
Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center is covered as an out-of-network provider by insurance plans. The birth center's global fee for all prenatal care, birth, and postpartum services is significantly less than area hospital delivery charges, which makes your out of pocket costs comparable, if not less than a normal vaginal delivery at the hospital.

My insurance plan will not cover childbirth unless it is attended by a physician. What should I do?
For insurance companies it comes down to cost.  Since a birth center birth costs 30-50% less than a normal hospital birth, we believe that it is good health care policy to provide maternity coverage for healthy women experiencing normal pregnancies who desire the birth center experience. Midwives are experts in labor and delivery and are licensed by the State of Minnesota to attend births in a variety of settings without the supervision of a physician. We encourage consumers to inform their insurance providers directly about their support for midwifery care and the birth center option. Click Here to view a sample letter that you can modify for your own use to send to your insurance company.

Also talk with your employer about changing the benefits summary for the plans that are offered.

Why should I be willing to pay for birth center care when my insurance would fully cover a hospital birth?
The prenatal care offered by Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center midwives is exceptional. Office visits last one hour, allowing you to develop an authentic relationship with your midwife and allowing her to fully explore your state of health and educate you on how to best prepare for a healthy childbirth.

Birth centers have much better health outcomes than hospitals for healthy women experiencing normal pregnancies. Hospital cesarean section rates in our community and throughout the nation have been rising steadily over the past several years. The national c-section rate has been over 27%! In contrast, the average rate among birth center clients was only 4% (Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center rate for 2010 was 2%!). Cesarean section is major abdominal surgery, with significant long-term health consequences. It also provides a significant barrier to breastfeeding success, which also has a major impact on the long-term health of mother and baby.

I do not have insurance that covers maternity care at Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center. Do you offer financing terms?

Families choose to pay out-of-pocket for birth center care because they believe in the model of care we provide. Midwifery fees are paid monthly and are due in full by 36 weeks in pregnancy.  Payments are agreed upon at your first prenatal appointment. 

Financial Policy 

We accept cash (exact change), checks and all major credit cards.  If you have a previous outstanding balance on your account, we will collect it at your visit.   Midwifery fees are paid monthly and are due in full by 36 weeks in pregnancy.  Payment plans are agreed upon at your first prenatal appointment. Please see our insurance page (located under Midwifery Care) for information on insurance billing.