frequently asked questions

​What is a CPM & LM?

Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and Licensed Midwife (LM) is a professional, expertly trained to provide care during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Midwives provide compassionate, comprehensive care that is focused on your specific needs.
Prenatal and postpartum appointments generally take about 45 minutes to an hour. Our time is spent getting to know one another, assuring that you have your nutritional needs met, checking vitals for you and baby, and assuring that you have all the information and resources that you need to prepare you for birth and the postpartum period.
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​How & where were you trained?

Erin received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Hamline University in May 1996 and a Master of Science in Midwifery from Midwives College of Utah in March 2009. The clinical portion of her training occurred in Minnesota with experienced CPMs and in Bali at Bumi Sehat Foundation. She completed her clinical training in 2006 and opened the practice thereafter. Please see the ABOUT ME page for more information about her life, interests, and training.
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​​HOW much will my care cost?

The global fee for prenatal, labor, delivery, postpartum and newborn care ranges between $3,500.00 and $5,500.00. If out of pocket, see insurance information below.
Some items that may have an additional fee include: waterbirth tub, towel service, well person care, pelvic exams, lab work, insemination services, newborn screenings, newborn eye prophylaxis and vitamin k, Rhogam, and childbirth education classes.
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​​Do you accept insurance?

Most insurances, including Medicaid, will cover midwifery care. Earth Mother Midwife, LLC uses a billing system. They are able to run a verification of benefits to determine the coverage available for your birth. They have billing codes that answer the question more clearly then just looking at your handbook or calling your insurance company.

IS homebirth safe?

A study examining nearly 17,000 courses of midwife-led care demonstrates the safety and positive health benefits for low-risk individuals who choose to birth at home with a midwife, and their babies born at home. The study reports a very low cesarean rate of 5.2%. The national average for cesareans in hospital settings is 31% for full-term pregnancies. The rate of interventions was substantially lower for individuals who birthed with a midwife in the home setting. Additional benefits were demonstrated in the rate of full-term pregnancies (97%), the rate of breastfeeding at six weeks (98%) and the clear findings that babies born to pregnant persons at home who are low-risk had no higher risk of maternal and infant mortality when compared to low-risk pregnancies in hospital (Cheyney M, Bovbjerg M, Everson C, Gordon W, Hannibal D, & Vedam S., 2014).
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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.12172/full
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what iS your BIRTH philosophy?

At Earth Mother Midwife, LLC, we fundamentally believe that birth works. We trust the person giving birth to know what is best for them, their baby, and their family. We believe that the midwife holds the space for the family to bring their baby into the world. Our role is that of information, support, and to step in and use our skills only when they are required for safety. We enjoy socializing in the prenatal setting. In the birth setting it is our goal to be unobtrusive and never hover during labor and birth. Birth is a deeply personal and intimate experience. When we check fetal heart tones during labor, we do so quietly and without interrupting. We avoid talking during labor and birth, unless we are asked a direct question or need to provide information urgently. You are the most important person in your birth. You are the priority.
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​How does homeBIRTH differ from hospital birth?

Determining which setting will provide you with the greatest comfort is the most important factor in your decision. 

​Hospitals have pain medications during labor, surgical units, surgeons, and anesthesiologists available in the event of a need for a surgical birth. Hospitals do report higher cesarean rates for healthy low-risk individuals. Privacy can be challenging in the hospital setting. It is not uncommon to have never met your nurses and sometimes even your care provider in the hospital setting. Common interventions in the hospital setting can lead to a cascade of further interventions. Access to food and drinks, family, friends, comfort measures may be limited in the hospital setting.
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The homebirth setting is an environment that is familiar. There is no need to get into a car and travel during labor. The midwife provides your care and cares for your newborn. Your midwife's philosophy is familiar to you. You will birth in the location of your home that is most comfortable to you, in the position that is most comfortable to you, surrounded by the people you have elected to support you. You can move freely about your home and property based upon what is best for you in labor. If you are hungry, you will be able to eat. If you are tired, you will be able to sleep. Your experience is based upon your needs. Your midwife will provide ample information about every aspect of your care to give you the opportunity to make fully informed decisions about what is best for you, your family and your baby. Informed choice is a vital part of your care. You will be at the helm of what is best for you.
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How many appointments will I receive during
​my pregnancy & the postpartum period?

Many pregnant people begin care between 10-12 weeks pregnant. You will have monthly appointments through 30-32 weeks, biweekly appointments through 36 weeks and weekly appointments until your baby is born. Following your birth you will have a 24-48 hour and a 3-5 day visit in your home, a two week visit and a six week visit in the office and additional visits as needed for your care. Your newborn will also be under care until 6-8 weeks under our license.
What area do you cover for homebirth?
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​What area do you cover for HOMEBIRTH?

​We generally provide services within a 1.5 hour radius from Menomonie, Wisconsin.
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Do you have a rotation of midwives on call?

No. However there is a rotation of medical assistants, creating Earth Mother Midwife, LLC. Erin is generally the primary midwife providing care to clients in the practice. While we work with a network of colleagues to provide quality care to families in this region, it is a rare occurrence to have another primary midwife involved in your care. However, very occasionally, Erin will pre-plan a family trip out of the region or a period of time off-call to engage in self-care, demonstrating to families that family and balance need to be a priority. Usually those trips and time off are planned 9 months in advance, so you are aware upon hiring Earth Mother Midwife, LLC. On those rare occasions, we always assure that you are aware of dates and the Licensed Midwife that will provide your primary care in my absence. Occasionally I will call in another Licensed Midwife to attend appointments while Erin is at a birth, allowing you to not reschedule when this is possible. You would be informed as soon as we become aware of the situation, when there is a scheduled care change, again, usually at the start of care. The Licensed Midwives in the region with whom we work are trusted allies that share my birth philosophy.
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DO YOU come to my birth alone?

No. We always bring one or two qualified assistant(s) to your birth. If there is a newly incoming student in the practice, they will also be in attendance unless you strongly need something different. You will meet the assistant(s) that we anticipate will be involved in your birth. All primary assistants are trained in neonatal resuscitation and qualified to assist in your care if a problem presents during labor, birth, or the postpartum period. Students often advance to the role of assistant after several births wherein they have learned about the style of practice and once we develop confidence in their ability to fully assist.
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what pain relief measures will be available
​to me in the home setting?

In the homebirth setting we encourage the use of warm water; massage; re-positioning; movement such as dancing, walking, or swaying; vocalization (moaning, singing, panting); distraction- especially in early labor (shopping, cooking, spending time with family, listening to music); and relaxation techniques (Hypnobirthing, Bradley, meditation, prayer).
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​what equipment do you carry?

We carry a doppler and fetoscope for checking fetal hear tones, a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope, thermometer, urine strips, newborn exam equipment, phlebotomy equipment, suturing equipment, gloves, oxygen, 02 Sensor for CCHD Screening, hemoglobinometer, resuscitation equipment, herbs and medications to manage postpartum hemorrhage, homeopathic treatments, newborn screening blood cards, hearing screening machine, RhoGam for individuals who are RH negative, and various comfort measure items.  
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​WHAT happens if I need to transfer
​care due to complications?

Our transport rate is very low. However, we are committed to providing a transfer experience that is as smooth and compassionate as possible. To that end, we have several natural birth friendly Obstetricians and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) in the region with whom we consult and refer clients as needed. We will provide the appropriate referral forms, details of our concerns, and copies of your chart with your consent. If we transfer care for complications in labor or immediate postpartum, Erin will generally accompany you to the hospital and advocate for high quality care in that hospital setting. If we transfer care during pregnancy, we provide communication and referral for the consultation, and together we will make a plan for your care.

​I am concerned about my apartment being too small. Do you attend births in small apartments?

We have done many births in small apartments, trailers, tiny houses, and in a variety of settings that are smaller than the average home. Your birth, your plan, your experience. We work within your stated needs. If you are comfortable birthing in your home space, you and your baby are low-risk and healthy, we will absolutely be able to work together in your home setting even if it is small. And if you prefer to birth in a family-member or friend’s home, that is your right as well.
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DO YOU attend vaginal homebirth after cesarean (HBAC)?

Studies have demonstrated that VBAC in the homebirth setting is substantially more likely to be successful than an attempted VBAC in the hospital setting. Success rates were found to be between 90.2% (no prior VBAC) and 95.6% (prior VBAC) (Cox, et al., 2015). We will carefully explore your prior surgical records to determine if you are a good candidate for HBAC.
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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/birt.12188/full
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​WHAT criteria risks someone out of homebirth?

There are a wide variety of conditions that cause an otherwise low-risk person to be risked out of a homebirth. Midwives utilize lab work, ultrasound, non-stress tests, and standard prenatal care procedures to assure that you and your baby remain in the low-risk category. If ever we have a concern, you will be fully informed about what we are concerned about, how it might impact you or baby, what options you have for the management of the symptoms presenting and recommendations for care providers who might be a good fit for further assessment or a transfer of care. The hallmark of midwifery care is being fully informed and making fully informed decisions.
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​Would you support me and/or my partner in
​catching our own baby when it is born?

Absolutely! This is your birth. You decide how you want your baby received. We are happy to hold the space for your birth while you and/or your partner catch your baby, or we can assist in a “four-handed catch” if you would like assistance.
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DO YOU HAVE waterbirth options?

Yes, for an additional fee we rent birth tubs that include a standard adapter, air pump, and liner. If you rent your tub from Earth Mother Midwife, LLC, we will drain, clean, deflate, and remove the tub from your home following the birth. You also may arrange your own tub and setup/clean up as well. This is your birth!

In 2016 the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health published a study demonstrating that water-born babies experienced fewer negative outcomes than non-water-born babies and for birthing individuals there were fewer postpartum transfers and hospitalizations in the first six weeks (Bovbjerg, et al. 2016)

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.12394/abstract
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​How do I set up an appointment to interview you?

We regularly conduct private interviews with individuals, couples, and families who are interested in determining if we are a good fit for your care. The interview usually lasts an hour and we can move right into an appointment if you are sure that you wish to hire Earth Mother Midwife, LLC by the end of the interview. Contact Erin at: erin@earthmothermidwife.com or 612-801- 9967 to set up and interview and/or appointment.