Paying for a homebirth can feel overwhelming, but there are several things to consider when planning for your baby! Firstly, spread the word about what research says about the safety of homebirth, and convince others around you. People want to help when you are having a baby, all they need to know is how and why. 

Homebirth usually costs MUCH less than hospital birth, even with insurance deductibles. The value you get out of the prenatal care and the relationship developed during your pregnancy with your midwife is not comparable to OB care either! 

A hospital birth usually costs between 10,000-30,000 and more if there is a cesarean performed, or any complications. All of this usually does not factor in the cost of prenatal care, postpartum, and well baby care while midwifery does. It includes so many benefits, like 30-60 minute prenatal appointments, a 2 person team you know well and are comfortable with, a birth tub rental, freedom of choice in your care, 24/7 on call contact with your midwife, and extra breastfeeding and postpartum support. 
There really is no other care like the midwifery model of care!

Depending on where you are in the country, homebirth costs between 3,000-8,000, and there are many payment plans and discounts available. Living in Arkansas, you are going to pay anywhere between 3,500-5,000 for your entire birth with unmatched care. 

Midwifery is an expensive profession on the part of the midwife as well, for us, it is a labor of love, and we don't get into it for the money. However, we do need to make a living wage, and we must be able to pay our overhead costs to do your birth. I personally was a single parent for much of my education, and did most of the births for free and this was a huge burden on me. I only made it through by the grace of God and the right people being placed in my life at the right time to help out! 

I specialize in simply striving to be a Christ centered traditional midwifery practice, rather than a fear based medicalized midwifery practice, with a focus on healthy nutrition, spiritual, and lifestyle coaching for a better pregnancy, and birth. 

What sets us apart is also the fact that we are (or can be if you prefer) a family birth team! Check out more about that on other pages. 

I especially like to learn the desires and needs of your family for your pregnancy and birth, and then help to facilitate that experience for you while providing evidence based information so you feel like you are making an informed decision about your care every step of the way. I will always give my professional opinion while also encouraging further research on your part. I will not make decisions for you. 

We will discuss this during our consult, or over the phone, as everyone can be different.

Several discount options are available as well, such as:

-Repeat Clients
-Paying in full by your first or second prenatal appointment 
-Single parent family
-Teen parent(s)
-There are options to barter services, if you offer something valuable to me, my husband, my children, or the practice! What are yours, or your partners skill?! 

Check out my fave barters in the next section. 

1. Flex plan, HSA account- sometimes these are offered by your employer and almost always cover the cost of midwifery and related costs like blood work!

2. Christian Sharing Organizations like Samaritan Ministries, Christian Care Medishare, and Christian Healthcare Ministry always pay for midwives in full! 

3. Many PPOs cover a portion of your homebirth once you pay, and then send them your itemized invoice. 

4. Savings account. With inflation, many people don't have a savings set aside anymore! But if you do, or if you can begin to plan ahead for baby, this is a great idea. 

5. Tax refunds are always a great option! Often you and your midwife can come up with a plan to sign a contract stating you will pay off your services when tax time comes around. This is ok as long as there is an agreement understood! Homebirth is also tax deducible! 

6. A retirement plan or IRA is an option.

7. Ask your friend and family network to donate to the homebirth fund instead of buying baby gifts. Baby furniture is a dime a dozen on Facebook Marketplace, or any thrift store! 

8. Ask your church family to set up a fund for the birth (also ask them to set up a meal train for the postpartum). 

9. Offer a special skill to make extra cash! What are you good at? Make an Etsy account!

10. We talked about the option to barter already. Some of my favorite things to barter are:

Housework, painting, fresh fruit and veggies from your garden, Raw milk from your farm, meat raised and butchered by you or your family, massage or salon services, kids classes or sports teams you teach or coach, concrete work, skilled heavy machinery operator for projects on the homestead, well digging services, dog breeding, and gold or silver exchange.

OR just ask if there is anything my family might need that you can offer! 

Keep in mind that most midwives cannot trade your ENTIRE fee because of costs we can't help for each individual, but usually at least a quarter of your fee will work! 

I have had some trades that were less than desirable over the years too, so that makes it hard to depend on it. If you want to do this, do it in a timely fashion as if it were your job :)

11. Can you use a credit card, or get a bank loan? I can take credit cards, but there is an extra processing fee with all credit card receiving companies that will be added to your total. 

12. Payment plans are always an option with an agreed upon contract. If you start care early, you have many months to pay it off after your deposit. 

13. Start a GoFundMe and use it to also spread the word about the benefits of homebirth! 

14. Sell some things you aren't needing around your home anymore.

15. Rent a spare room in your home for a few months to offset the cost, if you are able. 

16. Consolidate expenses! Get rid of subscriptions, stop drinking coffee out, or eating out, getting your hair or nails done. What can you do just for a little while to reduce monthly costs? 

Yes. I am nationally recognized as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and licensed in the state of Arkansas as a Licensed Lay Midwife (LLM). I need to renew both of these certifications every 3 years, while also participating in continuing education every year.

Take part in the success of your OWN life, and your OWN birth! Be accountable to GOD and thus, yourself and your baby! If we can ALL do this, the world can be so much more peaceful, don't you think? 

Homebirth is only for low risk, healthy women who value their health and wellbeing, and are willing to make changes to their lifestyle habits when it means a better pregnancy outcome. It is hard to do if you are feeding yourself toxic things, and around toxic people. Seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and begin to be renewed in Him. 

Try it, He promises...It works! ;)

Love ya'll, thanks for reading!