Midwifery FAQ

Yes, we offer free consultations to help you determine if our services are the right fit for you. These consultations typically last 30min- 1 hour and are a great opportunity for you to ask questions, learn more about our approach to midwifery care, and discuss your birth preferences and expectations. During this meeting, we will get to know one another, we’ll review your health history, address any concerns, and explain the details of the care we provide throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

We believe that choosing the right care provider is an important decision, and we are here to ensure that you feel fully informed and confident moving forward. To schedule a consultation, please contact us here.

We look forward to meeting you and supporting you through your journey!

Yes, if that is your desire, we fully support it! Water birth is a wonderful option for many people, and we will discuss it in detail during your consultation and again throughout your care. Many clients choose to labor in the water for pain relief and relaxation, while others prefer to remain on land during the entire process. Regardless of your choice, our priority is your comfort and safety, and we are committed to supporting you during your birth in the setting that feels best for you.

If you decide on a water birth, we’ll ensure you have all the necessary information and resources to make it a safe and positive experience.

Birth can certainly be messy! However, rest assured that we are professionals and well-prepared for the realities of childbirth. Our team is experienced in managing the practical aspects of birth, including any mess that may occur. We’ll ensure that you are prepared, everything is properly set up, and that you have the necessary supplies on hand to make your birth experience as comfortable as possible. Afterward, our team will take care of the cleanup, throw in a load of laundry, and likely take out the trash, so you can focus on what matters most—your new baby, bonding as a new family, and your recovery.

In Minnesota, there are several types of midwives, each with different training and credentials:

• Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM): CNMs are registered nurses who have completed advanced education in midwifery. They typically provide care in hospitals but some may also attend homebirths. Their training is primarily hospital-based, with a focus on both low-risk and higher-risk pregnancies.
• Direct-Entry Midwives: Direct-entry midwives may or may not have formal education. They often gain their midwifery education through apprenticeships, clinical experiences, self-study, or other non-traditional methods. They typically provide care in homebirth or birth center settings.
  • Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs): CPMs are midwives who have completed an approved formal education program in midwifery and passed a national certification exam (NARM). This certification ensures that they have met specific education and clinical experience requirements.
  • Licensed Midwives (LMs) and Licensed Traditional Midwives (LTMs): These midwives are licensed by the state of Minnesota to practice midwifery. Some may or may not have additional certifications, but their training meets state-specific standards.
  • Some direct-entry midwives may choose not to seek formal education, certification, or licensure, which is legal in Minnesota.

Stephanie is both a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and a Licensed Midwife (LM) in the state of Minnesota. She obtained her Associate of Science in Midwifery from the National College of Midwifery, which prepared her to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care for low-risk families planning a homebirth.

The question should really be: Who are you most comfortable with being present at your birth?

Birth is an incredibly intimate experience, and we believe you should have the people around you who make you feel supported, empowered, and at ease. Whether that includes your husband, family members, friends, or other support people, the choice is entirely yours.

We do ask that anyone present be supportive of your birth plan and your choices, helping to create a positive and encouraging atmosphere for you during labor and birth.

It’s a beautiful and empowering moment for your partner to be the first to touch and welcome your baby into the world. Whether your husband wants to catch your baby, you’d prefer to receive your baby into your arms, or you’d like another special person in your life to have that honor, the choice is yours.
We are here to support you and your loved ones through every part of the process, and we’ll be ready to step in if needed for the safety and comfort of both you and your baby. It’s not uncommon to see Midwife Stephanie quietly observing with clasped hands in silent prayer, marveling at the wonder of birth.

Doulas and midwives both play important roles in supporting you throughout your pregnancy and birth, but they serve different functions.

Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and in the postpartum period. They are not medically trained to perform clinical tasks but offer continuous support for you and your family. Their goal is to help you feel confident, informed, and supported throughout your birth experience. Doulas are excellent at helping with pain management techniques, relaxation, and creating a calm, reassuring presence in the birthing room.

Midwives, on the other hand, are healthcare providers with specialized medical training in normal physiological birth. Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) have completed comprehensive education, and clinical training, and passed state board exams. Their primary responsibility is to provide medical care during pregnancy, labor, and birth, ensuring the safety and well-being of both you and your baby. Midwives offer prenatal care, assist during delivery, and provide postpartum care, addressing any medical needs or concerns that arise. They are highly trained to manage both normal and unexpected complications.

Think of your doula as your personal support coach—there to cheer you on, provide guidance, and help you stay empowered. Your midwife, meanwhile, is like a skilled lifeguard, ensuring you and your baby stay safe and healthy during the birthing process.

Both professionals can complement each other beautifully, working together to ensure you have the best possible birth experience.

We absolutely love doulas!  In fact, Steph’s journey to midwifery started with doula care.  We highly encourage our families to consider having a doula present during their birth, especially if it’s your first baby. Research supports the positive impact a doula can have on the birth experience, providing continuous emotional, physical, and informational support.

Doulas and midwives make an excellent team, and together, we ensure that you have the support you need for a safe and empowering homebirth. If you’re looking for recommendations, we’re happy to provide a list of trusted doulas with whom we work regularly.

At this time, we do not accept traditional insurance. However, we are committed to making our care as accessible as possible and offer a variety of payment plan options to suit your needs. We accept credit cards, checks, and payments through HSA or FSA accounts. Additionally, many health share programs, including Christian Health and Samaritan Ministries, have worked well with us.

Review midwifery investment details.

Yes! We are pleased to offer gender testing through our partnership with SneakPeek. SneakPeek is a non-diagnostic, elective blood test that can determine your baby’s sex as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy, with an accuracy rate of 99.9%. Depending on the option you choose, you could receive your results within 1-2 days, directly via email.

While emergencies during homebirth are rare, we are fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise. Our midwifery bags are stocked with all the necessary supplies to monitor both mom and baby throughout labor. We use a waterproof Doppler to regularly check the baby’s heart rate and ensure everything is progressing safely.

In the event of an emergency, we have the skills and experience to manage the situation. Our entire team is certified in CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), and we carry medications for hemorrhage control, as well as herbs, homeopathy, IV supplies, suture materials, and other tools to support you and your baby.

If a hospital transfer becomes necessary, it typically happens via private car, with your midwife following behind. We do not believe in homebirth at all costs; our priority is always the safety and well-being of you and your baby. If needed, we will not hesitate to call 911 and arrange for an emergency transport.

Please feel free to ask us any further questions about emergency protocols when you schedule your consultation. We want you to feel confident and informed about your birth experience.

Stephanie is based in Tenstrike, MN, just north of Bemidji. We typically serve families within a 1-2 hour radius of our location, ensuring that we can provide care within a reasonable distance during your birthing window.

Because we live in a rural area, our service area may vary depending on the families we are currently caring for. In some cases, we may serve areas that don’t have nearby hospitals that support homebirths, and some clients choose to travel to the Bemidji area to have their homebirth in someone else’s home.

If you’re unsure whether your location falls within our service area, please feel free to reach out—we’d be happy to discuss your specific situation and see how we can best support you.

Throughout your prenatal care, we will discuss your birth preferences and help you prepare for the experience. We offer waterbirth as an option, allowing for immersion in warm water, which can promote relaxation and freedom of movement in the comfort of your own home. Many mothers find that upright positions, walking, and staying close to their support team are incredibly helpful during labor, and we encourage these natural methods.

Birthing in your own environment can feel more intimate and relaxing, allowing you to tap into your body’s natural birthing hormones and cope with the different stages of labor more efficiently. Stephanie is also a Spinning Babies Parent Educator, which means she has a variety of techniques to help encourage optimal positioning and comfort during your labor.

As midwives, we believe in the power of a normal, physiological birth. We do not use pharmaceutical interventions to induce labor, as medications can cause stronger, longer contractions than your body might naturally produce. Because of this, and with the support of your home environment, the need for pharmaceutical pain relief is rarely necessary.

We also encourage all our families to take an out-of-hospital natural childbirth education class and will gladly give our recommendations. These classes provide valuable insight into the stages of labor and offer techniques to help you prepare, understand the process, and cope with each phase of your birth journey.

Rest assured, we take care of this for you! If you choose to dispose of your placenta, we will carefully evaluate it, then bag it up and place it in your freezer, clearly labeled for disposal on garbage day.

Some clients prefer to bury the placenta and plant a tree or flowers above it as a meaningful symbol and remembrance. Others choose to encapsulate the placenta or make a placenta smoothie, both of which are believed to support postpartum recovery.

We are experienced in assisting with all of these options and will work with you to ensure your wishes are honored. Just let us know what you’d like to do with your placenta, and we’ll help make it happen.  You can learn more about encapsulation here.

Absolutely! We love seeing families grow and supporting the beautiful experience of birth as a family. Having your children present can be a wonderful way to witness the wonder of birth together.

It’s important to have a designated care provider for your children who can step in if they need attention or if they need some space during labor. Every woman’s labor journey is unique; sometimes, the experience unfolds differently than expected.

Stephanie will work with you to prepare your children for the big day and even include them in your prenatal care. We believe normalizing birth for future generations is a true blessing, and it’s a special moment when children can be involved in such an intimate experience. The choice is yours. You know your children best.