Frequently Asked Questions

What insurances and forms of payments do you accept?
  • For private/commercial insurance plans, clients make payments to High Desert Midwifery throughout your pregnancy, once the baby is born/after the 6 week postpartum visit, I will provide you with a superbill for both you and your baby to self-submit to your insurance.
  • Reimbursement is dependent on your specific policy, out of network benefits and deductibles. Click here for more detailed information on this process and what it means for Homebirth.
  • We recommend that you call your insurance company to check your specific policy for benefits, including out-of-network benefits, and deductibles. (specify home birth with a LM/CPM)
  • BCBS PPO (HMO does not pay for out of network or home birth)
  • Presbyterian PPO (HMO does not pay for out of network or home birth)
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Christian Health Insurance/co-ops
  • NM Health Exchange does not cover Home Births
  • I no longer accept Medicaid as primary payment, due to no or VERY little reimbursement. Licensed Midwives were informed in May 2025 that LM's can no longer bill and receive reimbursement for all the newborn care past the delivery, thus drastically reducing the overall allowable reimbursement amount from Medicaid/MCO's. It is however in our scope of practice as Licensed Midwives to provide newborn care up to 6 weeks of age.
  • Health savings accounts (4% credit card processing fee added)
  • Credit Card (4% credit card processing fee added)
  • Cash or Check
  • Apple Pay
  • Venmo

Do you carry malpractice insurance?
  • No. Licensed Midwives in the sate of NM are not required to carry malpractice insurance to practice. It is also very expensive-specifically for LM's/CPM's. (As of July 2026 malpractice quotes for LM'S who run a birth center was $200,000/yr! Nurse Midwives attending homebirths were quoted between $35,000-$85,000/yr!) I do not carry any other type of coverage in lieu of malpractice. If this is important to you, hospital birth is currently your only option.

What hospitals do you use in case I have to transfer into hospital to have my baby?
  • My number one choice without question, and the only facility I transfer to is University of New Mexico Hospital- Homebirth midwives have a great working relationship with them and is my preferred hospital. Women receive excellent care there. UNMH staff and providers are known to be kind and supportive to families who chose to birth at home
  • Lovelace Women's Hospital (only by client preference. I do not transfer to LLWH)
  • Presbyterian-I DO NOT transfer, nor would I ever recommended transferring to Presbyterian.  Please note, if you have a Presbyterian health plan that you would want or need to utilize Presbyterian as the hospital of choice, I will not be able to take you as a client, as I cannot accompany you in.

I want to birth at home, but can you bring a "real" midwife?
  • I am a real midwife! This is highly unusual question and request, and a hospital birth would be the best choice for you. This has become a common question towards homebirth midwives (LM'S)  from women who have received care, or birthed at a birth center.
  • My training and experience is specific to the out of hospital setting. For more in-depth information on licensing pathways check out:  Types of Midwives for more info.  

I've invited my friend who is a nurse/NICU nurse to be at my homebirth as my "Doula". My partner would feel the most comfortable
  • Again, this is highly unusual, and a homebirth is not right for you. A hospital birth would be the best choice for you to feel comfortable. This has become a common statement from women who have received care, or birthed at a birth center. Licensed Midwives, Apprentice Midwives or birth assistants are all trained in, and require ongoing recertification in neonatal resuscitation, CPR, IV therapy, including training in common obstetric emergencies.

I'd like to continue to co-manage my care with another provider, and transfer care for a homebirth at 36 weeks
  • Sorry, but it is too late! I'd love to get to know you much sooner! Licensed Midwives are independent providers here in NM and we have a large scope of practice.  There is no requirement to co-manage a low-risk, healthy pregnancy with another provider, i.e., MD, OB or CNM.  Due to limited availability, and capping my client load at 9 a month, it is not very often I have space to take a late transfer. I highly recommend scheduling a consult as soon as you know you are pregnant, or if you are early on in your pregnancy and simply looking into all your options and would like to learn more about homebirth. Consultations are free!

Do you stay with us if we transfer into hospital?                                                                                          
  • Yes, we stay with you and work with hospital staff, supporting you in advocating for your care. Typically in a transfer I will call ahead and coordinate with a provider at UNMH. Arrange for transfer into OB triage where you will be assessed and admitted accordingly.  I will help you get settled in and a plan of action will be set in motion. Transfers into hospital can look differently for each woman and need. At times I will go home and rest until you need me for support. I am always available by phone. Once discharged, we can resume your postpartum care at home.

Do you do water births?
  • Yes! Approx. 85% of births occur in water, second on the list is birthing on the toilet!

How long are appointment times?
  • Approx. 60 minutes per visit

What if two births occur at the same time?
  • In the rare instance we have two mothers in labour at the same time, I will send another Licensed and qualified Home Birth Midwife to attend the other birth. My apprentice(s) and I will split up, if at all possible, to maintain continuity of care.

What if I birth quickly and my baby arrives before the Midwife?
  • Babies are sometimes in a rush to be born! Throughout your pregnancy we talk about the normalcy of labour and birth, empowering women to trust your body along with educating families for such an occurrence. I am always in-route to your home, sometimes on the phone with you or your partner for guidance. I do not make you go into hospital for a precipitous birth, and we never miss the delivery of the placenta!

Can children come to my appointments?
  • Yes! Children are always welcome. They love to help out when it comes time to listen to baby, and there are lots of toys to keep them entertained. 

I'd like to have all of my appointments in my home as I do not want to come into the office
  • I am unable to accommodate this request, due to the fact I have an office space and I have very full clinic days throughout the week. Exception being the postpartum home visits.

How many births do you take in a month?
  •  7-9 clients a month.

I don't want to have an ultrasound, do you require one?
  • No, I do not require clients to have ultrasounds to birth at home. Occasionally, I'll recommend one if you live an hour or more from UNMH. Other reasons an ultrasound would be indicated: vaginal bleeding, baby not growing well, noticeable from one prenatal appointment to the next, decreased fetal movement. For women planning an out-of-hospital TOLAC/VBAC, an ultrasound is required per NM regulations to verify location of placenta.

I don't want any medications or Pitocin given in my birth.
  • I completely understand this desire and request to avoid any medications during your birth-we are fully expecting a normal, physiological birth to occur with no, or very little interventions of any kind. Hundreds and hundreds of beautiful, straight forward homesbirths have occurred!  But, with that being said, there are times the use of anti-hemorrhagic medications are truly needed after the baby is born. These commonly used medications are: Pitocin, Misoprostol, Methergine, and TXA. A few scenarios that would indicate safe use of these medications include: continued trickle bleeding or gushes of blood/clots as we wait for the placenta to deliver. A placenta that doesn't deliver within 60min for a physiological birth, and we have exhausted all possible natural remedies to aide in delivery, or 30min for a birth where 3rd stage management is implemented (3rd stage management means Pitocin was given immediately after the baby was born to help reduce risk of bleeding/hemorrhage and to aide in delivery of placenta in a timely manner). Medication is also indicated if the uterus fails to stay firm/hard after the placenta is delivered, and there is continued trickle bleeding, gushes or clots. Blood loss can happen quickly and adds up faster than people may realize. Mothers can become dizzy, light-headed/pass out or go into shock. I only use these life-saving anti-hemorrhagic medications if I'm seeing a concern for the use of them, and at times I make the clinical decision to administer medication(s) before things have a chance to worsen, or if I'm seeing a mothers vital signs are beginning to deteriorate. Travel times and distance from the mothers house to a hospital are also included in appropriate care of a mother (and baby) immediately after birth.

We live in an RV, can we still have have a home birth?
  • Yes! In fact, I have attended quite a few RV births. Home sometimes is where you park it!
    • Go to High Desert Midwifery and Women's Health on facebook for our latest RV-home birth story aired by KOB-TV highlighting the RV home birth that occurred AT the 2017 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta!