What do you charge?

The fee charged for basic midwifery services is $4000:

This includes all prenatal appointments. After your consultation all appointments are typically one hour long and are carried out monthly through the first and second trimester, and then bi-weekly from 30 weeks through your birth. If weekly visits are deemed necessary from 36 weeks through birth there is no additional fee for this. Your midwife will be on call 24/7 from 37 weeks through birth. Your midwife is then on call for you and your baby 24/7 for the first 2 weeks following birth. This includes all your Postpartum follow up appointments after your birth; they will be done at 24-48 hours, 1-2 weeks, and 6 weeks postpartum. Additional appointments to help with lactation and/or common complaints are always available as deemed necessary at no additional charge. Your fee also includes any notary fees for birth certificate/ss card and filings, all basic/medical birth kit and emergency supplies, and your newborn screening fees.

The fee charged for water birth is $4150:

The fee for home birth midwifery services is $4000. A fee of $150 is then added for water birth service and supplies. This includes all prenatal appointments. After your consultation all appointments are typically one hour long and are carried out monthly through the first and second trimester, and then bi-weekly from 30 weeks through your birth. If weekly visits are deemed necessary from 36 weeks through birth there is no additional fee for this. Your midwife will be on call 24/7 from 37 weeks through birth. Your midwife is then on call for you and your baby 24/7 for the first 2 weeks following birth. This includes all your Postpartum follow up appointments after your birth; they will be done at 24-48 hours, 1-2 weeks, and 6 weeks postpartum. Additional appointments to help with lactation and/or common complaints are always available as deemed necessary at no additional charge. Your fee also includes any notary fees for birth certificate/ss card and filings, all basic/medical birth kit and emergency supplies, and your newborn screening fees. Any damaged water birth items will be charged an additional $250 restocking fee.

What other costs are involved in home birth?

  1. Lab tests: you will pay lab fees for any bloodwork, swab tests, or other forms of testing you receive during your care. Labs can be billed to insurance. A discounted fee can be applied for cash paying clients and will need to be paid upon testing. This is not a midwifery fee, but a fee paid to the lab for the testing. Testing done by the midwife will be due in full at the time of completion. The average cash pay cost of labs for a low risk uncomplicated pregnancy is roughly $80-$200 if you are paying cash.

  2. Supplements: pregnancy typically requires additional supplemental nutrition support. You will need to cover the cost of the supplements of your choosing (vitamins, minerals, etc). Nutrition will be discussed at each appointment and supplement recommendations may be made. They can be ordered through your midwife, or purchased on your own. (Average cost during pregnancy $100-$300)

  3. Ultrasounds: your midwife may recommend one or more ultrasounds during your pregnancy. If you choose to have those ultrasounds, the cost is not covered in your Midwifery fees. It will be billed by and payable directly to the ultrasound technician and/or medical office providing that referred service. Ultrasound fees can be billed directly to insurance if you have a policy. (Local costs vary from $100-$900 depending on the form used and technician)

  4. Hospital fees: There is always the possibility of needing hospital care during pregnancy and/or birth or postpartum. These hospital fees will vary depending on the reason for admission and length of stay. Your midwifery fees do not include these costs. (Hospitals can Bill your insurance)

  5. Doulas: Birth, Sibling, and Postpartum doulas are WONDERFUL additions to a birth team. Your midwife does not offer these services but can always recommend them locally. This would be an additional cost to you not covered in your midwifery fees and prices vary depending on the service and doula.

The average total cost of a home birth in the south central PA area is about $4500-$5000, the total can be higher or lower and will depend on each individual pregnancy and care/referrals needed.

Do you take my insurance?

Unfortunately in the state of PA, most insurance companies do not cover home birth with a CPM. In order to keeps costs from rising your midwife does not bill through insurance as this requires outside billing services and time that cuts into patient care.

YORK BIRTH SERVICES DOES NOT BILL INSURANCE OR GIVE BILLS FOR REIMBURSEMENT AS PA IS NOT A LICENSED STATE. Bills for reimbursement can be a very time consuming process and need many repeat bills drawn up often in order to appease individual insurance companies. Often the extra work results in denied claims as Susanah B Smith/York Birth Services LLC is not a licensed midwife in the state of PA. This takes away from time to care for families and York Birth does not employ a biller on staff.