Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife?
There are different types of midwives practicing in the U.S. and worldwide. Titles only tell you so much about the type and safety of the care you receive. Asking questions and using your intuition are essential guides to choosing the right provider and location for your birth. The history of midwifery titles and education is riddled with racism, power, and access to resources, all of which influences midwifery's face today. I am a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives and happily practice as a Nurse-Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife, I am committed to supporting the totality of midwifery.
I am a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM). A CNM is a registered nurse with graduate education (Master's degree) in nurse-midwifery. We graduate from Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) accredited programs, which include a university degree and hands-on clinical training. CNMs pass the required national certification exam and maintain current evidence-based practice standards through continuing education.
CNMs in Connecticut are independent health care providers who maintain professional relationships within the medical community and other healthcare professionals to provide integrated care. Here at Magnolia Midwifery LLC, I am continually networking to meet other health care practitioners who desire to practice collaboratively and in consultation as described in a joint statement written by CNM and OB/GYN professional organizations on collaborative practice. I promote positive relationships with Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), Traditional and Direct-entry midwives, and local homebirth-friendly OB/GYNs, MFMs, pediatricians, doulas, and hospitals to provide your family with the best care. Advocacy is ongoing.
Nurse-midwives focus on childbirth (pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, newborn up to 28 days) and provide general health care to women of all ages and life stages. This includes general check-ups and physical exams, annual gynecologic exams including cervical cancer screening (PAP), family planning needs, pregnancy prevention/contraception, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among others. We also treat male partners of clients for gonorrhea. CNMs are authorized to prescribe medications. Nurse-Midwives practice in independent practices, group practices, hospitals, birth centers, and home births.
I am a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM). A CNM is a registered nurse with graduate education (Master's degree) in nurse-midwifery. We graduate from Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) accredited programs, which include a university degree and hands-on clinical training. CNMs pass the required national certification exam and maintain current evidence-based practice standards through continuing education.
CNMs in Connecticut are independent health care providers who maintain professional relationships within the medical community and other healthcare professionals to provide integrated care. Here at Magnolia Midwifery LLC, I am continually networking to meet other health care practitioners who desire to practice collaboratively and in consultation as described in a joint statement written by CNM and OB/GYN professional organizations on collaborative practice. I promote positive relationships with Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), Traditional and Direct-entry midwives, and local homebirth-friendly OB/GYNs, MFMs, pediatricians, doulas, and hospitals to provide your family with the best care. Advocacy is ongoing.
Nurse-midwives focus on childbirth (pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, newborn up to 28 days) and provide general health care to women of all ages and life stages. This includes general check-ups and physical exams, annual gynecologic exams including cervical cancer screening (PAP), family planning needs, pregnancy prevention/contraception, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among others. We also treat male partners of clients for gonorrhea. CNMs are authorized to prescribe medications. Nurse-Midwives practice in independent practices, group practices, hospitals, birth centers, and home births.
Is Midwifery Care right for me?
As you think about your options for pregnancy and birth, take the time to learn about your choices. What do you want most out of your experience? What do you value?
When seeking a provider, it is important to understand how different types of providers have different approaches and ideas about health. Midwives also have varying styles, experience, and personal scopes of practice within the midwives model of care. Choosing a midwife offers you a chance for expert, personalized care informed by research and evidence, experience, intuition, spirituality, and shared knowledge. You are the leader of your journey. I work with you as a guide to make informed choices that match your needs, family, and lifestyle. Informed choice and leadership is your right and my obligation.
When seeking a provider, it is important to understand how different types of providers have different approaches and ideas about health. Midwives also have varying styles, experience, and personal scopes of practice within the midwives model of care. Choosing a midwife offers you a chance for expert, personalized care informed by research and evidence, experience, intuition, spirituality, and shared knowledge. You are the leader of your journey. I work with you as a guide to make informed choices that match your needs, family, and lifestyle. Informed choice and leadership is your right and my obligation.
What is the Midwives Model of Care?
"The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.
The application of this woman-centered [sic] model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section."
Copyright (c) 1996-2008, Midwifery Task Force, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
- Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
- Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
- Minimizing technological interventions
- Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
The application of this woman-centered [sic] model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section."
Copyright (c) 1996-2008, Midwifery Task Force, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
WHAT HAPPENS IF TWO PEOPLE ARE IN LABOR AT THE SAME TIME?
It rarely happens that two clients are birthing at the exact same time. This is in part why I limit the families I support to 4 a month. What is slightly more common is that two people are laboring at the same time. Because I have a solo practice I rely on support by other community midwives if two clients are actively laboring at the same time. It may be that I leave one family after birth to join another family. The birth assistant remains with them for the immediate postpartum time and a new person is called to join at the second birth. If timing makes this impossible, I reach out to other community midwives to join the second family until I arrive. This is one of those questions that has no certain predetermined plan. And I trust that things will and do work out.
Can I transfer to Magnolia Midwifery later in pregnancy?
Yes, however, the sooner you transfer, the better we get to know each other! Acceptance of transfer is evaluated on an individual basis and will depend on several factors including your health history. If you want to transfer your care to Magnolia Midwifery, schedule a First Phone Call followed by a Consultation Visit. After our conversations, if we desire to move forward, you schedule your first prenatal appointment. To offer the best care and use of our time together, I need your medical records--ultrasounds, blood work, and appointment notes--from your current health care provider before your second prenatal visit. I also require we meet in person for 10 hours of face-to-face time prior to birth. Sometimes this means adding extra appointments outside of the usual frequency of visits. Your partner and I must meet 3 times before birth.
How come you don't file with insurance?
I do not have the amount of time and effort it requires to work within the insurance system for an uncertain return. Connecticut does not have laws in place requiring private and public insurance plans to cover midwifery care with reasonable compensation for the work I do.Community-based midwifery care is a comprehensive approach. Accessibility and on-call time is not covered by insurance plans. Most health insurance benefits only cover the cost of 10-30 minute prenatal and postpartum appointments instead of time needed to build a relationship, share information, and thorough informed decision making conversations. I want you to make the most of your available insurance benefits, but most insurers do not adequately value or reliably cover the cost of such comprehensive maternity care.
Magnolia Midwifery LLC does not file insurance claims on your behalf with the exception of Tricare.
I do work with a billing company to file claims with Tricare on behalf of military families.
After the final postpartum visit you may request a medically coded "superbill" to submit to your insurance company. I do not have billing personnel or give assistance with filing a claim beyond providing an accurate superbill. The superbill will show your out of pocket expenses. When you file your own claim, insurance payment is a direct reimbursement for out of pocket expenses. I email you a list of "Questions to ask your insurance company" at our first contact.
Husky, Tricare, and private insurance plans typically cover costs of all or part of ultrasounds, labs, breastpumps, and other usual services. Labcorp, ultrasound providers, and breastpump companies bill your Husky, Tricare, and private insurance directly.
Husky
I am out-of-network with Husky for prenatal and birth coverage. Clients with Husky insurance pay the self-pay price. I am a Husky-enrolled Ordering/Prescribing/Referring provider which means that usual costs of ultrasounds, labs, durable medical equipment like blood pressure cuff and breast pumps, and medications will be covered as governed by Husky policies.
Tricare
Christy is a credentialed Tricare provider although not a part of the Humana network. For assistance understanding your benefits complete the form for your Benefits Report through STM Billing.
Magnolia Midwifery LLC does not file insurance claims on your behalf with the exception of Tricare.
I do work with a billing company to file claims with Tricare on behalf of military families.
After the final postpartum visit you may request a medically coded "superbill" to submit to your insurance company. I do not have billing personnel or give assistance with filing a claim beyond providing an accurate superbill. The superbill will show your out of pocket expenses. When you file your own claim, insurance payment is a direct reimbursement for out of pocket expenses. I email you a list of "Questions to ask your insurance company" at our first contact.
Husky, Tricare, and private insurance plans typically cover costs of all or part of ultrasounds, labs, breastpumps, and other usual services. Labcorp, ultrasound providers, and breastpump companies bill your Husky, Tricare, and private insurance directly.
Husky
I am out-of-network with Husky for prenatal and birth coverage. Clients with Husky insurance pay the self-pay price. I am a Husky-enrolled Ordering/Prescribing/Referring provider which means that usual costs of ultrasounds, labs, durable medical equipment like blood pressure cuff and breast pumps, and medications will be covered as governed by Husky policies.
Tricare
Christy is a credentialed Tricare provider although not a part of the Humana network. For assistance understanding your benefits complete the form for your Benefits Report through STM Billing.
MAGNOLIA MIDWIFERY LLC SERVICE RADIUS
The usual service area is a 70-minute drive from Simsbury, CT. I travel outside of this area depending on current monthly client numbers and location. A travel fee is added when clients live outside of the usual service area.
how do i access the client portal?
Sign into the client portal HERE. Email christy@magnoliamidwifery.com if you need a new Client Portal invitation for login information.
Lab work options
I offer to collect any desired lab work, including but not limited to prenatal labs, anemia panel, the UNITY NIPT, PAP and HPV screens, and sexually transmitted infection tests. The billing department at LapCorp bills your insurance or you directly. Blood drawn for labwork by the midwife is sent to LabCorp. Alternatively, you may visit Quest or LabCorp centers for lab work. Please use the same company for lab work for consistency in result comparison over time.
LabCorp and Quest offer discounted prices for certain labs when you have your labs drawn in one of their service centers and pay at the time of service. Locate a center near you: LabCorp or Quest. Find out more about payment options with LabCorp.
LabCorp and Quest offer discounted prices for certain labs when you have your labs drawn in one of their service centers and pay at the time of service. Locate a center near you: LabCorp or Quest. Find out more about payment options with LabCorp.
Ultrasounds
You decide if and when ultrasounds will be a part of your pregnancy. Ultrasounds are recommended in situations such as uncertain dates, in the presence of bleeding, or when questions arise during prenatal assessments. Some pregnant people desire genetic testing which may include an ultrasound. Ultrasounds are obtained with referrals to freestanding or in-hospital ultrasound providers based on the purpose of the scan and your weeks of pregnancy. Referrals are commonly made to Hammers and Riccio Healthcare in New Haven, Northeast Radiology, your local hospital outpatient radiology service, or the Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) practice nearest you.
For those without insurance or high deductible plans, self-pay reduced rates are offered by most providers. I am not involved with ultrasound billing. Contact the ultrasound service directly for billing help. Please contact the location directly to discuss your financial situation.
For those without insurance or high deductible plans, self-pay reduced rates are offered by most providers. I am not involved with ultrasound billing. Contact the ultrasound service directly for billing help. Please contact the location directly to discuss your financial situation.
WHAT ARE THE INITIAL STEPS?
Contact starts with a phone appointment to answer initial questions. Next we meet at an in-person consultation visit to talk more about your vision for your birth and my practice to see if we are a good fit. If we decide to move forward you schedule an initial prenatal visit. The initial phone call, the consultation visit, and initial prenatal visit may be scheduled ONLINE.
What is the cost?
You can expect to pay $5,800 - $6,500 by 36 weeks pregnancy. This range is an estimate so you can plan accordingly. We discuss the cost in our initial phone call and the fee given to you during that call will not change. The quoted fee varies over time due to varied costs of providing midwifery services. The fee covers the cost of adult prenatal, labor and birth at home or continued support in the case of a transport, postpartum visits, immediate newborn care, and up to three newborn postpartum visits. I do not bill insurance and am out of network with all insurance including Husky and Tricare. Most insurance plans will cover all or some part of ultrasounds, labs, breastpumps, and other usual services. Labs, ultrasound providers, and breastpump companies bill your Husky, Tricare, and private insurance directly. I do work with a billing company to file claims with Tricare on behalf of military families. The Magnolia Midwifery LLC Financial Agreement provided to new clients is the only binding agreement. It supersedes anything you read online.
