Most of your prenatal visits will happen in our cozy, welcoming office space within Motherhood Matters. We’ll also plan one home visit around 36–37 weeks so we can get to know your space, meet your support team, and help you feel comfortable having your midwife and assistants in your home when it’s time to welcome your baby. This will also be helpful for any pets or older kiddos who might be present during the birth. 

We typically meet: 

• Every 4–5 weeks until 32 weeks 

• Every 2 weeks from 32 to 36 weeks 

• Every week from 36 weeks until your baby arrives 

Each visit is about an hour long. We’ll check your vitals, track your baby’s growth, listen to heart tones, and feel baby’s position with gentle belly palpation. We’ll also spend time talking through how you’re feeling, discuss nutrition, exercise, and emotional well-being, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. We’ll cover everything from birth planning to postpartum prep. 

We offer in-office lab draws for your convenience, usually during your scheduled visit. If you need any ultrasounds, we’ll refer you to one of our trusted providers and help guide you through that process and review results with you. 

I am extremely passionate about postpartum care and want you to feel very supported. You’ll receive in-home postpartum visits at: 

• 24 hours (newborn testing will take place at this appointment) 

• 1 week 

• 2 weeks 

I am available 24/7 via text or phone call in the first 4 weeks postpartum. 

These visits include checking in on your vitals, bleeding, lactation support, emotional well-being, and overall recovery. We’ll talk about nutrition, hydration, and any supplements or resources you may need. We also check in with baby—tracking weight, offering newborn screenings, and answering all your new-parent questions. 

As a part of your care package, you will have one paid visit with Kenzie Cornilsen, CLC of Gingerly Mama, for all your breast/chestfeeding needs. 

At one of these visits, we’ll also bring the paperwork needed for your baby’s birth certificate and Social Security number. 

Our final 6 week visit will take place at the office. We will check in with both you and baby. At that time, you can request further labs or schedule a well-person visit for an additional fee. Remember, midwifery care is from womb to tomb – this is not goodbye! 

To offer deeply personalized care, I only attend 2-3 births per month. This helps me be fully present for you. If two people are in labor at once (rare!), I have a trusted backup network of skilled midwives who can step in if needed. 

We arrive prepared with both clinical and comfort tools, including: 

• Oxygen and resuscitation supplies 

• Anti-bleeding medications 

• Herbal and homeopathic remedies 

• IV and suturing supplies 

• Doppler and fetoscope 

• Instruments for newborn care 

• Birth stool, peanut ball, rebozo, essential oils 

• Infant scale and postpartum recovery items 

We bring a lot—so you can stay focused on your birth, not the gear. 

Yes, absolutely! I’m trained and experienced in supporting water births. Hydrotherapy can be an amazing tool in labor and birth. We provide the pool, pump it up, guide your setup, and bring a sump pump to handle cleanup. You’ll receive a list of supplies needed, and we walk you through every step. 

Throughout your pregnancy, we’re continually assessing to make sure home birth remains a safe option. While rare, complications can arise. We’re trained to handle many of them right at home. If a transfer to the hospital becomes necessary, we’ll go with you or send a trusted member of your team, and we’ll continue to provide care in the postpartum period. 

This is a super common worry—and one I’m happy to ease. Yes, birth can be messy, but we bring all the supplies to protect your space (like underpads and chux), and we clean up before we leave, including starting laundry and taking out the trash. While the occasional stain can happen, most families are surprised by how tidy everything is when it’s all said and done. 

We stay for 2-3 hours after baby arrives to monitor you and baby, help with breastfeeding/chestfeeding, assess any perineal tears, complete the newborn exam right by your side, and make sure you’re fed, tucked in, and comfortable before we go. We also make sure your space is cleaned up before we leave. 

Absolutely—this is your birth and your space. Anyone attending your birth should come to the 36-week home visit so we can all get familiar. We encourage inviting only those who will actively support and uplift you. If siblings will be present, they must have a dedicated adult 

who’s not your partner. This helps ensure your support team can stay focused on you. We also recommend preparing your kids with books or gentle birth videos. 

Our fee is $5,000 and includes: 

• Comprehensive prenatal and postpartum visits 

• 24/7 on-call support 

• Care during your home birth 

A free consultation is available to help you learn more. Ultrasounds, supplies (like your birth kit), and any outside consults are not included. 

We don’t bill insurance directly, but some families are able to get partial reimbursement—we’re happy to connect you with a third-party biller for guidance. We do accept HSA/FSA payments and can work with health share plans. Payment is due by 36 weeks. Please note, we do not offer refunds if care is transferred. For more details, check out our Financial Agreement form. 

In Illinois, we’ll give you the birth certificate packet during your postpartum care. You’ll likely need to schedule a visit with your county’s recorder’s office. The fee is $15 and some counties require a separate visit for the Social Security number. 

In Iowa, we’ll request the birth certificate paperwork for you. Everything is completed by mail and the fee is $35 (waived for Title IX recipients—we’ll include your info). Social Security request is included in the form. 

If you’re unmarried and want to include a second parent, both Illinois and Iowa require a Voluntary Affidavit of Paternity (VAP)—we’ll walk you through it. All paperwork will be in your hands within your first two weeks postpartum.