Frequently Asked Questions
Do you take insurance?
This is our most commonly addressed question. Moonstone Midwifery can not accept assignment of any insurance benefits. We do provide an invoice following the end of your care with us so you may submit to insurance for reimbursement if desired. This process must be initiated by the patient alone. Our professional fee of $6800 is split into a payment schedule throughout your pregnancy that will be discussed at your consultation. We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards for payments. You may also be able to use HSA or FSA benefits for your care- please discuss this with your account administrator.
Can I have a water birth?
Absolutely! You may choose to give birth how you feel most comfortable, and water births are a great gentle transition to life for baby. You may purchase your own birth pool, use your home tub (depending on space) or use one of our birth pools that are provided free of charge. We just ask that you purchase a pool liner for the tub to keep things sanitary for all of our patients. We will go over setup and instructions at your 36 week home visit if you wish to use a pool.
Can I see you if I have already established care with another provider for my pregnancy?
We do accept a limited number of transfers. Availability is based on how many births we currently have scheduled, how far along you are, your risk assessment, and other factors. If you’re interested in transferring care to Moonstone Midwifery, please email or call ASAP to schedule a free consultation.
Is homebirth safe?
Midwifery care and out-of-hospital delivery requires constant risk based care and assessment, and our goal is to keep women and babies at a low risk status. We do this by evaluating lab values, frequent prenatal appointments and physical examinations to evaluate wellbeing of both mother and baby, other testing like ultrasonography and non-stress tests as necessary, and a trusting and honest relationship between patients and providers.
The American College of Nurse Midwives has compiled a list of studies discussing the safety of out-of-hospital births, you can view that list and their statement here: ACNM Statement on Practice Settings – 2005 (midwife.org)
What if I become high risk?
If we recognize signs in your pregnancy that deviate from the norm of low risk care, you may be transferred to another provider (likely a hospital based midwife or physician) for the remainder of your care. If signs are recognized during labor or postpartum that may require hospital transfer, transfer can usually occur in the family vehicle. Transfer by ambulance may be necessary in some instances. Our team has a strong working relationship with many physicians and groups in the Des Moines area which allows us the ability to communicate and seamlessly transfer to providers who are supportive of home delivery and natural childbirth choices. We will help facilitate your transfer to your hospital and provider of choice.
What happens if there is an emergency?
While keeping patients at low risk status does help to prevent any need for medical intervention, emergencies happen in all birth settings. Our team is well trained and certified to deal with common obstetrical and neonatal emergencies, including medications, tools, and resuscitation equipment for both mom and baby. In the event of a true emergency, an ambulance will be called and you will be transferred to the closest hospital for treatment/care.
Who can attend my birth?
This is your birth and your space- you are welcome to invite anyone to share in your homebirth that you would like- family, friends, and other support providers. We do ask that young children have a supervising adult if they are present, and any people who attend the birth be supportive of your plan and be free of illness. We highly recommend the services of a birth doula if you do not have a support person who is familiar with home birth, or if this is your first delivery. Doulas are a fantastic resource and have wonderful tools to help with management and progression of labor. They can also be extremely helpful postpartum if you are in need of extra support while you transition to your life with a newborn. We also recommend enlisting help from a lactation consultant if you have never breastfed or if you have struggled with breastfeeding in the past. We have compiled a list of local support providers who are supportive of homebirth and able to assist with a variety of needs. You can view our list under the documents page on our website.