But, how much will this cost?
Self-pay Fees are reduced to make traditional midwifery care accessible.
Cash prices are reduced for all families.
What you’ll get
Regular 1-on-1 prenatal care visits
Personalized nutrition and holistic guidance with the goal for you to maintain a low risk pregnancy
Support between visits via EHR texting within the free mobile app
Access to a lending library of books
In and out of office lab work available
In-office Glucose Tolerance Testing using The Fresh Test® available
In-office GBS Testing
Office NST’s (as needed, when appropriate)
Water birth support (You will need to add the appropriate supplies to your birth kit if you would like to plan for a water birth)
Skilled birth team attendance at home*
Newborn Screening that includes the PKU, CCHD, and Hearing Screen
Regular 1-on-1 postpartum and newborn care through 6 weeks
Birth Certificate and Social Security Card filing support
We will even take plenty of simple photos/videos for you during the birth**
If you would like professional photos, please check this out.
Complete Health Records for both you and baby
FAQ’s
What is the reduced price?
All self-pay families will have a generously discounted fee of $5,600 (before all applicable discounts which can bring the price down by several hundred dollars). If you are expecting twins (or a planned vaginal breech birth), we will have more visits and will hire at least one additional attendant to the birth. Therefore, the cost will go up by (at least) $1,000 to cover the additional support. Some births could require more attendants, which would increase the cost This would be discussed ahead of time.
This inclusive global fee includes all of the midwifery care before, during, and after the birth, etc.*
This fee will go up by $100 every year on the 1st of October. This currently allows Emily a 1.79% annual raise to account for inflation.
Do you offer any discounts?
Yes. There is a discount if your balance is paid in full at the onset of care, using cash, check, or card. There is another discount offered to those who pay their balance entirely with cash.
There is also a discount if you hire a doula or photographer off of my preferred list and are willing to allow Emily to share some of the images.
Does my balance have to be paid in full before the birth?
Yes. To hold your spot for care, a $500 payment is required. This payment goes towards your balance.
Once care has begun, if you have a balance, a minimum payment of $400 is required per visit unless otherwise discussed, or until the complete balance has been paid in full. Most people plan to have at least half of their balance paid by 20 weeks. This practice helps ensure that the balance isn’t too hard to pay off by 36 weeks.
Emily will happily work out a different payment plan with you that suits your family’s needs if desired.
The remaining balance is due by 36+0 weeks gestation.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Most clients will pay with cash during visits for a discount. Ohio Midwife can also accept checks, all major credit cards, and FSA/ HSA’s. All electronic payments will come with a (3.5%) bank processing fee.
Will i get a disCount for switChing To ohio midwife later in my pregnancy?
No. Midwifery care is billed as a global fee. This means that it is a fee that encompasses all of your midwifery care regardless of when you begin care. There are also no added fees for extra visits that are occasionally needed. It is beneficial for you and the midwife to begin care earlier in your pregnancy. It is wise to book care with Emily as soon as you know that you are pregnant.
To clarify, if somehow Emily decided to accept you into care while you are in labor, the fee would still not be discounted.
Do you bill health insurance?
Yes! We always bill for your (and your baby’s) care after the birth. If you have health insurance, make sure to have your benefits verified here right away.
You will still have to pay in full before the birth and the price is not discounted for those with health insurance.
Even though you will not be reimbursed, meeting your annual deductible can be very helpful for families. Billing almost always achieves this goal. You won’t ever be charged more, regardless of what/if insurance decides to do.
If you have a shared health plan like Samaritan or Christian Health Ministries, your home birth costs should be covered. You will not need to have your benefits verified. Emily will help you with the correct paperwork for reimbursement.
Will i get my money back if i need to transfer to the hospital?
No. You are paying for midwifery care with homebirth carried as the mutual goal. It is also almost always the outcome, which is beautiful! No one can promise anyone a homebirth though.
If your midwife were only paid if you stayed home, that could cause her to make poor choices that could lead to poor outcomes.
This policy ensures ethical guidance on her part. Part of the expertise that you are hiring her for is to know when outside medical care is needed. In the event of an intrapartum transfer, in-office postpartum care will resume once you have been discharged.
Insurance will still be billed for the care that was rendered, which can be very helpful to reduce or dissolve your deductible entirely.
Will I have to pay extra for labs & Ultrasounds?
LABS: Emily can collect your routine or specialty labs in-office for your convenience. Insurance will be billed. The lab offers a reduced price for self-pay clients. The lab will bill you directly. Emily can also send you to a local LabCorp for testing in between visits (as necessary).
Some examples of special testing are: UNITY Genetic Screening and Sneak Peek Gender Testing. Emily also offers allergy and gut health/microbiome testing in office as well.
ULTRASOUNDS: Ultrasounds can be done with certified sonograhers and radiologists for an affordable fee that is paid directly to them. Simple ultrasounds with a point of care ultrasound unit can be done in Emily’s office with no added charge. These however, are not diagnostic and do not replace any official scans.
What about the cost of home birth supplies?
Emily will provide you with a link to order your birth kit The cost is currently about $100. If you are having twins, decide to plan for a water birth, or customize your kit in other special ways, the cost will go up for those optional items.
*Midwives cannot guarantee a home birth. A big part of a midwife’s job is assessing you and baby, ensuring it is still considered safe to be home. Midwives want you to stay home just as bad as you do, but like you, we also want a healthy outcome for all. If staying home is no longer a wise plan, it is an important part of the midwife’s job to make that call. In the event of a transfer, postpartum care will resume once you have been discharged.
**We are not professional photographers, but will happily take as many iPhone photos as we can get (as we have free hands to), with your consent only, of course. The digital photos will be given to you after. If you would like to hire a professional photographer, look here. These are the few that I recommend!
***This fee does not include optional labs, diagnostic ultrasounds with a sonographer, your birth kit, or any other costs that may come up in the pregnancy.