Technically we are professionals specializing in normal pregnancy and physiologic birth. But, midwife means "with women" and that is more representative of our role. We are with women through their journey of womanhood. This often includes tranformational times such as pregnancy and childbirth. There are several types of midwives in the United States. Ashley is a certified professional midwife. A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a knowledgeable, skilled professional who provides primary maternity care. CPMs are trained and credentialed to offer expert care, education, counseling, and support to birthing people during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. CPMs practice as autonomous health professionals working within a network of relationships with other care providers who can provide consultation and collaboration when needed. All CPMs meet the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). In the United States, Certified Professional Midwives provide unique and critical access to normal physiologic birth, profoundly benefitting birthing people and newborns. Although qualified to practice in any setting, they have particular training and expertise in providing care in homes and free-standing birth centers. Ashley is licensed to practice midwifery in Idaho and Utah.

Community birth is a term that encompasses giving birth any place outside of the hospital. It may be in a home or at a birth center, or sometimes even outside! It can be attended by a variety of care providers, although most commonly by midwives. The short answer to whether home birth is a safe option for low risk birthing people is yes! Homebirth is recognized as a safe option for low risk women in many developed countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Japan and Australia. Everything we do every day comes with benefits and risks. You get to decide what is right for your family. Here are some resources to help you decide: Outcomes of Planned Homebirths in the United States Planned Out-of-Hospital Births and Birth Outcomes The Homebirth Midwife Podcast

It is possible to have a homebirth even if you have had a c-section for a previous birth. Idaho regulations state that midwives can care for a woman who has not had more than one cesarean section and that their estimated due date is not within 18 months of their previous c-section. Vaginal births after cesarean are safe options for many women. We would love to hear your story and help you make an informed choice.

Yes! Water can be such a fantastic tool for the laboring mother. It can provide relief and encourage relaxation whether you choose to use it only during labor or to give birth in water. You can use your bathtub or shower, borrow a birth pool from us for only the cost of the liner, or purchase a pool for about the same cost.

We are based in Burley, Idaho. Normally we limit our travel to a one hour radius, so from Pocatello to Gooding and everything in between.

Care with a midwife generally follows the same prenatal schedule as a with an obstetrician but your visits will likely be a very different experience. We practice relationship based care. We want to get to know you, your baby, and your family so we can help meet your needs. Our appointments normally last about an hour and often take place at your home. We love to talk about the things you love to talk about. We aren't just there for things like taking your blood pressure and listening to the your baby's heartbeat...although we do those things too! Midwives in Idaho are can do blood tests and make referrals for ultrasounds so you can have that as part of your care if you would like. The majority of our clients never need to see another provider during their pregnancy. There are some circumstances which require us to consult with a physician.

The global fee for midwifery care at Mother Nurture Midwifery is $5,400. This includes prenatal care, labor and birth, and postpartum and newborn care up to 6 weeks. Click here for more details on services and what is included. While most insurances do not cover care with a certified professional midwife, the cost of community birth is often comparable to what your cost would be after meeting deductibles and paying your copays. This varies depending on your insurance company and plan. We have found that alternatives to insurance such as co-op type insurances (like Christian Health Ministries) pay the majority if not all midwifery fees. Again, this varies so check with your plan provider.

You likely have many of the things you will need already. A safe environment that can be kept warm, running water, and commitment are the absolute basics. Read more on our homebirth supplies list. We plan to leave your home as clean or cleaner than before birth. There is definitely some mess involved when giving birth but we have plenty of tools and experience. Our goal is to keep your environment safe and cozy so that you an focus on cuddling your newborn.

We plan on the beautiful birth experience you are hoping for and are always prepared for the unexpected. The reported transfer rate for community birth is about 10%, mostly for those who have very long labors and need rest and relief. Only about 2% of transfers are for more urgent reasons. We come with supplies and skills to manage a variety of urgent and emergent situations. In Idaho and Utah this includes oxygen and medications for controlling bleeding. During our visits together we will make a specific plan for your family for what we will do in the event that we need some extra support for mom or baby. Ashley is certified in Basic Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation, and Birth Emergency Skills Training.

Community birth focuses on supporting a mother through a physiologic birth. We use many pain relief techniques and tools but we DO NOT use epidurals or narcotic pain medicines. We can use IV's for hydration, antibiotics for GBS+, and RhoGAM for mom's who need and desire it. We do offer loving hands, encouraging words, a safe environment, truly informed choice, herbs and homeopathic remedies, water immersion, and many other tools to allow your birth to unfold. We offer options for things considered the standard of care in the medical model as well such as erythromycin ointment, vitamin K, newborn screening test, congenital heart defect screening, birth certificate and social security card filing, RhoGAM, etc.