Home Birth Services

Prenatal Care, Birth, and Postpartum Services

Journey Midwifery is here to bring compassionate individualized midwifery care to you. Our goal is to equip you with knowledge so that you can confidently take charge of your journey; and to support you in your decisions. You will always be heard, and never coerced in your decisions.

Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is a time to get to know one another. At our initial visit, we will do a thorough history to determine your risk factors, make a plan for your care, and discuss how best to meet your needs. You can still access all of the standard options for pregnancy screening (such as labs and ultrasound) when planning an out of hospital birth. In fact, this is part of our ongoing risk assessment during your pregnancy. Our goal is to help you have a healthy pregnancy and birth.

Prenatal care is provided at our office.

Labor and Birth
Journey Midwifery currently provides home-birth services in San Antonio & the surrounding areas. When you labor and birth in your own environment we will bring our supplies (there are supplies and a birth kit the client needs to buy as well). Afterwards we will clean up, tuck you in to spend time with your newborn.

Postpartum & Newborn Care
Postpartum and newborn care is provided in your home (immediate postpartum and a 24-48 hour check up) and at our office (2 weeks and 6 weeks after birth, more often if needed). Your midwives will file your newborn’s birth certificate and you can obtain a copy from the Texas Bureau of Vital Records in person, online, or by mail. We provide all of the state mandated newborn services, as well as newborn screening, and CCHD (Critical Congenital Heart Disease) screening at your follow up visit. Your newborn will be referred for a hearing screen. Postpartum is the “4th trimester” and it is a time of growing and learning for you and your newly expanded family. We are here to support you and connect you with the resources you need to successfully navigate this time.

Our prenatal and birth services includes:

· Regular prenatal visits that last approximately 30-60 minutes

· Professional birth tub use is included (birth tub liner bought by client)

· We are on-call for you from 37-42 weeks

· A trained birth assistant in labor

· Cost of the birth for you and the baby

· 3-4 postpartum visits for follow up after the birth

· Newborn CCHD (Critical Congenital Heart Screen), newborn medications

· The following items are not included in our fees, as they vary, due to individual needs and preferences:

· The cost of any labs and ultrasounds (if you have insurance, it should cover a portion of these), or other health care provider appts (if necessary)

· Non-stress tests, Biophysical Profiles (if needed)

· The cost of RhoGam if needed (Rh Negative blood types)

· The cost of newborn screening and hearing screening

· The cost of a childbirth class

· Birth kit and various other supplies for the birth (such as birth tub liner. Birth kit and tub liner approx $100-125)

Let's work together! Click below to email us your questions. You can also add in details about your past pregnancy and birth experiences, and when you think you may be due.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at info@JourneyMidwiferySA.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Is homebirth safe?

Yes! Homebirth is safe for healthy low risk women without certain pre-existing conditions. Most women-including women over 35 and those with one previous cesarean birth- are considered low risk for home birth.

Women seeking homebirth are intuitively choosing to take control of their pregnancy and birth experience; and are committing to a lifestyle of healthy nutrition and positive physical activity to stay low risk.

What does the midwife bring to the birth?

The midwife brings an assistant to the birth. Supplies brought to the birth are emergency medications such as Pitocin and cytotec (for post-partum bleeding), handheld Doppler to monitor baby, sterile instruments for cutting the cord, Vitamin K and eye ointment for the infant, suction device to remove mucus from the infant’s nose or mouth, oxygen tank, IV supplies, and adult and infant resuscitation equipment.

What interventions can a midwife do at a homebirth?

Midwives do have a host of other clinical skills that they can use; this depends on their scope of practice, training and licensure but can include:

Monitor baby's heart rate intermittently with a handheld doppler.
Monitor labor progress, vital signs, maternal well being
Provide physical and emotional support during labor
Recognize complications and transfer to a hospital before (most of the time complications are recognized and transfer happens before there is an emergency).
Can suture tears
Can administer emergency medications and oxygen
Start IV's & administer fluids
Perform resuscitation (adult and neonatal)

What about the....... mess?

We do a pretty good job of keeping mess to a minimum. At your home visit we go over ways to prepare your house for labor. When the birth is over, we put away the birth supplies, start the wash from the laundry we used during the birth, take out any trash that accumulated during the birth and postpartum period. The house typically does not look like there has just been a birth there when the birth team leaves your house!

Who can attend the prenatal appointments and the birth?

Spouses, children, family, friends, and doulas are always welcome to attend your prenatal visits and your homebirth.

How do I get my baby's birth certificate?

After the baby is born, I file the birth certificate with the state of Texas. Once I submit the birth certificate information; it kicks off your baby's social security number. Within weeks, your baby's SS card will be mailed to your house. Between 3-4 weeks after your baby's birth you can get a copy of the birth certificate two ways: Visiting your local birth registrar in person OR ordering one online from the Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics

When do I have my first prenatal, and how often do you see me?

The first prenatal appointment is typically between 10-12 weeks of pregnancy, but you are welcome to come in earlier if you'd like, or if you are having complications/discomforts.

After the first prenatal visit we typically see you:

Every 4-5 weeks until 28 weeks
Every 2-4 weeks until 36 weeks
Week 38, then weekly appointments until birth.

Isn't it expensive? Do you take insurance?

The cost of care with Journey Midwifery is $5500.00 (self pay clients are eligible for a $500 discount if balance is paid by 32 weeks). Your fee will be divided into equal monthly payments to be paid in full by 37 weeks of pregnancy.

While this fee may seem expensive, homebirth is significantly less than hospital based care (between OB fees and hospital fees). Many people will pay this fee as they're out of pocket cost after insurance when having a hospital based birth. We also offer super personalized care based on the individual client's needs and desires.

At this time, we are not in network with any insurance companies. We may be able to bill BCBS, United Health Care, and Cigna at out of network rates but it depends on your particular health care plan's coverage. Your insurance may still be used in network for labs and ultrasounds, or any prescriptions that you may need. If desired, you will be given a super