Real Talk: Questions You (Or Your Partner) Might Have

Real Talk: Honest Answers

You have questions about midwifery services. We have honest answers. Whether you are curious, nervous, or just doing your research, nothing is off-limits here.

The Basics

1. What is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)? Think of us as the experts in healthy, natural birth. A CPM is trained specifically to care for low-risk pregnancies outside of the hospital (like at home).

• CPM (Me): Focuses on home birth, holistic health, and safety without unnecessary intervention.

• CNM: A nurse-midwife who usually works in a hospital.

• OB/GYN: A surgeon/doctor who specializes in high-risk pregnancies and C-sections.

• We are all important parts of the system; we just serve different needs.

2. Are you a doula? No, I am a medical provider.

A Note on Language: You won't hear us use the word "doula" often. The word historically translates to "female slave." We believe birth work is about empowerment and sovereignty, not servitude. Instead, we use the term Birth Companion.

Think of it like this: The Birth Companion is the Coach, and the Midwife is the Captain.

• The Birth Companion (Support): Their focus is your comfort. They provide hip squeezes, emotional coaching, and help you advocate for yourself. They cannot perform medical tasks.

• The Midwife (Medical Safety): My focus is your health. I am a trained professional responsible for two lives—yours and your baby’s. I run labs, monitor heart tones, carry emergency equipment, and support you as you bring your baby earthside.

The Sweet Water Advantage: Because I have a background in birth support (and as an Occupational Therapist), you get the best of both worlds: The heart of a companion with the hands and license of a medical expert.

3. Do I need a Birth Companion if I have you? We highly recommend it. While I focus on your clinical safety (monitoring heart tones, charting, and preparing equipment), a Birth Companion focuses 100% on your physical comfort and never has to leave your side.

The Perk: We believe in them so much that we offer a Success Credit off your final bill if you hire a professional Birth Companion. You get extra support, and we reward you for it.

4. Do you deliver babies in the hospital? No. Sweet Water Midwifery Services specializes in home birth only. However, if you decide a hospital birth is safer or better for you, we don't abandon you. We offer Collaborative Care where we support you alongside the hospital team. 👉🏾 Check out our Collaborative Care options here

5. Is Sweet Water Midwifery Services right for me? We might be your perfect village if:

• You choose power and protection. You want to call the shots, but you also value the full picture. You embrace necessary safety tools (like labs and ultrasounds) because you know information helps you protect your baby best.

• You honor your body. You know birth is a major athletic event. You are ready to nourish yourself, move your body, and do the work because you respect the journey.

• You want a guide, not a guard. You don't want someone to tell you what to do; you want someone to walk with you. You want a relationship built on trust, honesty, and mutual respect.

Home birth isn't for everyone, and that is okay. We believe in finding the place where you feel safest.

Safety & "What Ifs" (The Fear-Based Stuff)

6. What if something goes wrong? (The Emergency Question) It is normal to worry about this. Here is the truth: Home birth is safe, but we prepare for everything. I am trained in CPR, newborn resuscitation, and birth emergencies. We bring the same emergency gear a birth center has: oxygen, IV fluids, and medication to stop bleeding.

The Transfer Plan: If a transfer is needed, we don't wait until it’s a crisis. If we see a "yellow flag," we transfer you to the hospital calmly. We go with you, and you are never alone.

7. What does "High Risk" actually mean? Home birth is for healthy, low-risk pregnancies. Some conditions mean a hospital is the safest place for your baby, such as:

• Pre-existing diabetes or heart conditions.

• Pre-term labor (before 37 weeks).

• Placenta issues.

Not sure if you qualify? Don't guess. 👉🏾 Book a free consult to talk it through

8. Is it messy? Will my house be ruined? We get asked this all the time! The answer is no. We are experts at "birth hygiene." We use waterproof liners and chux pads to protect your bed and floors. When we leave, we start a load of laundry and take out the trash. Your house will often look cleaner than when we arrived!

9. What if I can't handle the pain? You are stronger than you think. But labor is hard work! We use water (birth tubs), massage, position changes, and verbal coaching to help you cope.

Real Talk: If you decide in labor that you truly need an epidural, that is not a failure. We will transfer to the hospital for pain relief together.

10. What if I tear? Do I have to go to the hospital? Most likely, no. For common tears (1st and 2nd degree), I am fully trained and equipped to repair them right in your own bed. I use numbing medication, and you can hold your baby the entire time; it is calm and private. In the rare case of a more complex tear (3rd or 4th degree), we would transfer together to the hospital to ensure you get the specialist care you deserve.

11. What if I transfer to the hospital? Does that mean I "failed"? Oh no, absolutely not. Let’s remove that word from your vocabulary right now. Using a safety tool isn't a failure; it is powerful parenting. If your birth needs to move to the hospital, it means you listened to your intuition and chose safety for your baby. That is heroic, not a defeat. And remember: I go with you. I will be by your side, holding your hand and reminding you of your strength, no matter which room your baby is born in. You are a warrior, period.

Logistics & Money

12. How much does it cost? Do you take insurance? We believe that every family deserves high-quality, personalized care. Here is the breakdown:

• The Investment: My fee covers your entire journey, from prenatal visits to birth, plus a full year of postpartum and developmental support. 👉🏾 See my current global fee.

• Insurance: I don't bill insurance directly, but I provide a "Superbill" for you to submit for reimbursement. I also happily accept HSA and FSA cards.

• Accessibility: I offer flexible payment plans and a limited number of sliding-scale spots for BIPOC families and those in need.

13. Can we barter or trade? Yes! I am deeply committed to community. In special cases, I am open to bartering for goods or services (like farm goods, trade skills, etc.) that support my practice. Let’s talk about it during your consult.

14. What if I live outside of Kentucky? Right now, I am licensed in Kentucky. However, we serve families in the surrounding areas! (Note: Travel fees apply if you are 50+ miles away).

15. Can I bring my kids to appointments? Yes, please! We love meeting your village. Whether it’s your toddler, your partner, or your best friend, they are welcome. We want your children to feel comfortable with us before the baby arrives.

"My sweet boy, who is 3 years old, was with me for almost every prenatal visit... She was so sweet and kind to him, always making the effort to include him where she could." — Happy Family Love Note

Still have a question we didn't cover?

Don't sit at home worrying. Let's just talk.

👉🏾 Start Your Journey.