Home Birth FAQs

Full maternity care includes prenatal visits, routine monitoring of you and your baby throughout pregnancy, lab work drawn right in my office, and referrals for ultrasounds when needed. I work with Little Beginnings in Naples for ultrasound services.

As your birth approaches, I am on call for your home birth. Care includes labor and birth attendance, immediate postpartum and newborn care, a birth assistant when appropriate, birth certificate completion, and postpartum care through approximately 6–8 weeks after birth.

The fee for full maternity care is $8,000. A $500 non-refundable deposit reserves your place in care and is applied toward the total fee.

A minimum of $1,500, including the deposit, is due by your first prenatal visit. A total of $4,000 is due by 20 weeks, with the remaining balance due by 34 weeks. Alternative payment arrangements may be available on an individual basis.

I attend home births throughout Lee and Collier Counties, generally within about 30 minutes of HealthPark Medical Center, Cape Coral Hospital, or NCH on Immokalee Road. This includes many families in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Naples.

If you’re unsure whether your home is within my service area, please reach out and I’m happy to check.

Home birth is generally an option for healthy individuals experiencing a low-risk pregnancy. Throughout your pregnancy, I continually assess the health and well-being of both you and your baby to make sure home birth remains an appropriate option.

Certain medical or pregnancy complications may require consultation with another provider or a change in the planned place of birth. If you’re unsure whether you’re a candidate for home birth, I’m happy to talk with you about your individual circumstances.

Safety is always a priority. Throughout labor, I closely monitor both you and your baby for signs that additional evaluation or a higher level of care may be needed. We also discuss a hospital transfer plan during pregnancy so that you know what to expect ahead of time.

If a transfer becomes necessary, transportation may be by private vehicle or EMS depending on the urgency of the situation. I provide your records and communicate with the receiving hospital team to help make the transition of care as smooth as possible.

Absolutely. Many families enjoy using water during labor, and about half of my clients ultimately give birth in the water. Most use water for comfort at some point during labor, even if they don’t plan a water birth.

I have birth pools available to rent, including an air pump, sump pump, and shower/faucet attachment. You’ll just need to purchase a new pool liner and a new hose for your birth. You’re also welcome to use your own birth pool or bathtub if you prefer.

It’s best to reach out as early in pregnancy as possible to reserve your spot, as I limit the number of births I accept each month.

However, I do accept transfers later in pregnancy when my calendar allows, so don’t hesitate to reach out even if you’re already well into your pregnancy.

Every pregnancy and birth is unique, so these situations are considered individually. My practice is focused on low-risk home birth, and certain circumstances may require consultation with another provider or a different planned place of birth.

If you have had a previous cesarean, are expecting twins, or your baby is breech, please reach out so we can talk about your individual circumstances and whether home birth may be an appropriate option.

Prenatal visits are relaxed, unhurried, and focused on getting to know you and your baby. We’ll check your blood pressure, measure your growing belly, listen to your baby’s heartbeat, and discuss how you’re feeling physically and emotionally.

There is plenty of time for questions, education, and shared decision-making throughout your pregnancy. Routine lab work can be drawn right in my office, and I’ll refer you for ultrasounds or additional testing when needed.

Postpartum care begins immediately after your baby is born. I stay with you for the first few hours after birth, monitoring both you and your baby and making sure you are both stable and settling in well.

Your first postpartum visit is typically in your home, with additional follow-up care continuing through approximately 6–8 weeks after birth. During these visits, I check on your physical recovery, emotional well-being, feeding, and your baby’s growth and overall health.

Peaceful Beginnings North is an out-of-network provider and does not bill insurance directly. Payment for care is made directly to the practice according to your payment schedule.

I can provide the documentation needed for you to submit a claim to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement vary by insurance plan and are not guaranteed. Lab work may be billed through your insurance when coverage is available.

Most prenatal appointments take place in my Fort Myers office. This allows us plenty of time for routine prenatal care, lab work, questions, and getting to know one another throughout your pregnancy.

Later in pregnancy, I also schedule a home visit so I can see your birth space, talk through plans for labor and birth, and make sure we’re prepared for your home birth.

I typically have a trained birth assistant with me for the birth. Having another experienced set of hands allows us to work together as a team while caring for both you and your baby.

You are also welcome to have the support people you choose at your birth. Many families include their partner, doula, family members, or other people who help them feel comfortable and supported.

A doula is not required, but I highly recommend having one. My role as your midwife is to monitor the health and safety of you and your baby while providing midwifery care throughout labor and birth.

A doula’s primary focus is continuous emotional and physical support, especially during early labor before I arrive or before active labor is established. Midwives and doulas have different roles, and they can work beautifully together to support you and your family.

As your birth approaches, I’ll provide you with a complete list of supplies to have ready at home. You’ll purchase my custom birth kit from InHisHands.com, which contains many of the disposable supplies we’ll use during and after your birth.

There are also a few basic items you may already have at home or can purchase locally, such as towels, a heating pad, paper towels, garbage bags, snacks, and straws. I bring the professional equipment and medical supplies I need as your midwife, so you won’t have to figure out what you need on your own.

You are welcome to have the people who make you feel most comfortable and supported at your birth, including children, family, friends, a doula, or a birth photographer. I don’t place a limit on the number of people you can have in your birth space.

I do encourage you to choose people who are comfortable and supportive of your decision to have a home birth. Labor often progresses best when you feel safe, relaxed, and able to focus inward, so a calm and reassuring birth environment is important.

If your children will be present, I recommend having a dedicated adult there just for them. Birth can sometimes feel intense or overwhelming to a child, and having someone they trust available to step away with them if needed allows your partner and other support people to stay focused on you.

I typically stay for several hours after your baby is born. During that time, I closely monitor you and your baby, help you get settled and comfortable, support feeding, and complete newborn and postpartum assessments.

Before I leave, I make sure you are both stable, have eaten and hydrated, and are comfortable settling in together as a family. One of my favorite parts of home birth is leaving you tucked into your own bed with your new baby.

I bring professional equipment, medications, and supplies to monitor and care for both you and your baby during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period. This includes oxygen, medications to manage postpartum hemorrhage, and equipment for monitoring you and your baby.

Home birth is intended for healthy, low-risk pregnancies, but being prepared for unexpected situations is an important part of providing safe home birth care. If a situation develops that requires resources beyond what can safely be provided at home, we have a plan in place for hospital transfer.

After birth, your baby stays right with you whenever possible. I complete a thorough newborn assessment, including checking your baby’s heart and lungs, reflexes, measurements, weight, and overall transition to life outside the womb.

I also continue monitoring your baby during the first few hours after birth, support feeding and bonding, and provide education about what to watch for once I leave. We’ll discuss newborn care and your options in more detail during pregnancy so you can make informed decisions that are right for your family.

During your third trimester, I’ll have you complete a birth certificate worksheet so that most of the information is ready before your baby arrives. After the birth, I complete the remaining birth information and submit everything to Vital Statistics.

Once the birth has been processed, usually within about 10–14 days, you can order a certified copy of your baby’s birth certificate online through Vital Statistics or pick one up at the Health Department with either parent’s ID. Your baby’s Social Security card is processed as part of the birth registration and will be mailed directly to the address you provide.

If desired, I complete the newborn metabolic screening (sometimes called the PKU or heel-stick test) at your baby’s first home visit. We’ll discuss the screening during pregnancy and again after birth so you can make an informed decision for your baby.

I do not perform newborn hearing screenings, but I can provide a referral if you would like to have one completed.

Yes. Choosing home birth doesn’t mean giving up routine prenatal testing. I draw lab work right in my office and offer genetic screening, with or without fetal sex included, for families who choose it. I can also order or refer for additional testing when needed.

For ultrasounds, I work with Little Beginnings in Naples. Throughout your pregnancy, we’ll discuss the testing and screening options available to you so you can make informed decisions about what feels right for you and your baby.

Going past your estimated due date doesn’t automatically mean you can’t have your planned home birth. In Florida, planned home birth can occur between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy for those who remain appropriate candidates for home birth.

If you reach 41 weeks, additional monitoring is required, including a biophysical profile (BPP) and non-stress test (NST) to check on your baby’s well-being. We’ll continue to evaluate you and your baby as you approach 42 weeks and discuss your options together based on your individual pregnancy.

Yes. While it’s best to establish care early, I do accept transfers later in pregnancy when I have availability and home birth remains an appropriate option for you.

I’ll review your prenatal records, lab work, ultrasounds, and pregnancy history so we can make sure you’ve received the care and testing needed up to that point. If anything is missing, we can discuss what may need to be completed after you transfer.