Midwifery Care and More
Midwifery care is holistic in nature, grounded in an understanding of the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological, and physical experiences of all humans. Ethical and competent midwifery care is informed and guided by formal and continuous education, scientific research, and application of evidence. Midwifery care is provided to clients on the basis of shared decision making and informed consent to all treatments.
The above statement is from the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).
It is our privilege to serve communities in greater Boulder County through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Community Roots Midwife Collective | Services and Model of Care
Prenatal Visits
When you find out you are pregnant and ready for care, or if you are curious about what we offer and who we are, please come to one of our Meet the Midwives events. We host "Meet the Midwife" gatherings once per month in our office in Longmont. This is an informal chance to meet one another, meet other families interested in homebirth and midwifery-care, and ask questions about our model of care or your pregnancy.
If you decide you would like to work with us, we will schedule your initial visit where we do a complete health history, physical exam and make sure you are a good candidate for a homebirth. From there we have prenatal visits every month until you are 28 weeks, visits every two weeks from 28 weeks to 36 weeks, visits every week or as needed from 36 weeks to the birth of your baby. Each visit lasts about an hour (the initial visit may take a little longer). We asses the well being of you and your baby, as well as build a relationship around education and shared decision making, while getting to know your family.
Most appointments will be in our office in Longmont. We offer one prenatal home visit around 36 weeks with your birth team. We want anyone who could be at your birth to come to a prenatal visit beforehand.
Labs and tests we offer routinely during prenatal visits:
Initial prenatal package blood work (CBC, blood type, antibody screen, HIV, rubella, syphilis, Hepatitis), Pap smear, chlamydia and gonorrhea, and genetic screening
28 weeks: CBC and follow-up antibody screen for Rh-women, Gestational Diabetes Screen
36 weeks: CBC, Group-B Strep culture
We can refer you for ultrasounds and more extensive genetic screening, if desired
Nichole and rachel attending baby moments after birth.
Birth
We are on call for you from weeks 37-42 for your birth at home. We will do labor checks as labor progresses and stay with you when you are in active labor, through the birth and for 2-4 hours after you are “stable” and comfortable. There will be two licensed midwives at the birth, and you will ideally have met anyone who will be there. After the birth we do a newborn exam and help with breastfeeding. We offer Vitamin K and Erythromycin eye ointment for your baby.
In the event that you have your baby outside the window of 37-42 weeks, or if we transfer for any other reason, one of us will accompany you in the hospital and act as a support person through the birth of your baby.
Postpartum
We will do appointments in your home at 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week postpartum. After your 1 week appointment you and your baby will come to the office at 2 weeks (this can be done at home if desired), 4 weeks and 6 weeks postpartum. If additional care is needed we will address this as appropriate.
Additional Newborn Screenings offered:
Newborn Metabolic Screening
Newborn Hearing Screen
CCHD screen (Critical Congenital Heart Disease)
The Cost of a Home Birth
The baseline investment for your homebirth is $6,000, with sliding scale option from $500- $8,500. Our scale allows for those not able to pay our baseline fee to still have access to care on a first come first serve basis; we currently have two sliding scale fee spaces available per month. We have a sliding scale document that we require people to read, and for those who feel they qualify for a spot on the reduced rate, we will have them fill out an application that will be reviewed by The Friends of CRMC advisory committee. Please attend a Meet the Midwives event and we will provide you with the application.
Insurance Coverage:
Unfortunately we are unable to bill Medicaid. Please check out our Sliding Scale to access funds to help you receive our care.
We are always out of network with private insurance and can only bill if you have "out-of-network maternity coverage." In order to see what coverage you have, get a free Verification of Benefits from our insurance biller HERE. Put GABBY as our account manager and RACHEL ENGEL as your midwife. We will get back to you with what your plan looks like, but we can never guarantee any specific payment. We submit for reimbursement in the postpartum time, and payment can take 30-60 days. You will still need to pay the agreed upon Base Midwifery Fee in full by 34-weeks.
