Questions to Ask a Midwife Before You Hire Her
What Should You Ask a Midwife Before Hiring Her?
Ask about four things: her training and license, how she handles emergencies and hospital transfers, what her fee includes, and how she'll care for you and your baby after the birth. Those answers tell you whether she's safe. How you feel while she answers tells you whether she's yours.
A free consultation isn't a sales call. It's the first meeting of what may become one of the most intimate working relationships of your life. You'll trust this person with your body, your baby, and your home. So come with questions, and ask every one of them.
At Fruit of the Womb, that first conversation is a free 30-minute call by Zoom or phone. Here's where we'd begin.
Questions About Her Training and License
Credentials come first, because in Maryland they shape what a midwife can legally do.
What are your credentials, and are you licensed in Maryland? A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is trained specifically for out-of-hospital birth. In Maryland, CPMs practice under a state license called the Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife (LDM). Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are registered nurses with graduate midwifery training, and many practice in hospitals. Our guide to Maryland midwife licensing walks through each one.
Can I verify your license? Yes, and you should. The Maryland Board of Nursing licenses direct-entry midwives, and anyone can check a license with the state's license lookup tool. The national CPM credential is issued by the North American Registry of Midwives. A good midwife will be glad you looked.
How long have you practiced, and how many births have you attended? Listen for a plain answer. Nets puts hers simply: "Over the last 19 years, I have served as a midwife, birth assistant, or doula for nearly 200 births in the Baltimore and DC areas." She's a CPM and an LDM, and also a Registered Craniosacral Therapist and Certified Holistic Doula.
Questions About Safety, Emergencies, and Hospital Transfers
This is the part of the interview that matters most. Don't skip it because it feels uncomfortable. Trust in the birth process and a clear emergency plan belong together.
What equipment and medications do you bring? The answer should be specific. Nets carries medications for postpartum hemorrhage, including pitocin, along with IV fluids, vitamin K and erythromycin eye treatment for newborns, and herbal and homeopathic remedies. She can also do suturing with local anesthetic at home.
When would you transfer me to a hospital, and where? Maryland law lists conditions that require a licensed direct-entry midwife to transfer care to another provider, so a Maryland midwife should be able to name them without hesitating. Ask which hospital she'd go to from your address, and whether she stays with you. Our article on what happens during a hospital transfer walks through it step by step.
Who comes with you, and who covers if you're at another birth? Many home birth midwives bring a second midwife or a trained birth assistant. Nets's care includes one at every birth, plus backup midwife coverage. Ask to meet the backup before your due date.
Questions About Cost and What's Included
Two midwives can quote similar fees and include very different things, so ask for the list, not just the number.
What does your fee cover? At Fruit of the Womb, care includes prenatal, birth, postpartum, and newborn care, the second attendant, backup coverage, lab specimen collection, birth pool rental, most of your birth supplies, and routine and emergency medicines. It also includes a prenatal craniosacral therapy session, craniosacral therapy for your baby at postpartum visits, and a bundle of herbal products for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
Will I need to buy supplies? A few. Nets asks families to gather household basics, then brings a box of clinical and comfort items to the 36-week home visit. In her words: "I don't charge extra for them, and I take home whatever we don't use." Her full list is in her homebirth kit post.
Does insurance help? Coverage varies widely by plan. Our guides to home birth cost in Maryland and whether insurance covers home birth can help you shape these questions before the call.
Questions About Prenatal Visits, Postpartum, and Newborn Care
Home birth care isn't one day. It runs for most of a year, and the rhythm of it matters.
How long are visits, and where are they? Nets's prenatal visits run about an hour. They're monthly until 36 weeks, then weekly until your baby arrives.
What happens after the birth? Nets provides postpartum home visits for parent and baby across the first six weeks, including newborn exams and screenings, breastfeeding support, and craniosacral therapy. Ask any midwife how many visits she includes and how to reach her between them.
What happens to my home? It's a fair question. Nets practices what she calls "leave no trace" home birth midwifery, "so that the home is left looking as good as before labor started."
Questions to Ask Yourself After the Call
When you hang up, sit with how you feel. Did she listen more than she talked? Did she answer the hard questions without getting defensive? Could you picture her in your home, on one of the most powerful and vulnerable days of your life?
Nets describes what she's reaching for this way: "When a mother or pregnant person feels relaxed and heard, honored and supported, true possibilities emerge for sweetness and joy, deep empowerment, and profound transformation." That feeling should start in the first conversation. If it does, trust it. If something felt off, keep looking. The right midwife will want you to be sure.
When you're ready, book a free consultation or reach out to Nets. Bring your list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many midwives should I interview?
Two or three is plenty for most families. Fewer than that and you may not know what a good fit feels like. More than that and the conversations start to blur. If you're comparing, ask each midwife the same core questions in the same order, so the answers are easy to set side by side. It also shows you something useful: how each one handles a direct, specific question. A midwife who stays calm, clear, and patient in an interview will likely be the same in labor.
When in pregnancy should I hire a home birth midwife?
Earlier is better, ideally in the first trimester. Many home birth midwives take only a few clients each month, so popular due dates can fill. Starting early also means more prenatal visits together, and that's how the trust gets built. Still, it's rarely too late. Many families come to home birth care in the second or even third trimester. Reach out as soon as you're considering it, and ask whether your due month still has space.
Can I switch midwives partway through pregnancy?
Yes. You can change providers at any point, and many people do. Request copies of your prenatal records, lab results, and any ultrasound reports so your new midwife has the full picture. Be honest with her about why you're switching. It helps her understand what you need. If you're moving from hospital care to home birth care late in pregnancy, ask how she handles late transfers of care and whether any extra visits are needed to catch up.
Should my partner come to the consultation?
If your partner will be at the birth, yes. Hearing the midwife's answers firsthand helps a partner feel confident instead of nervous, especially about emergencies and transfers. Partners often think of questions you won't, like parking, logistics, or what their role will be in labor. If they can't join live, take notes right after the call and share them. Some families schedule a second conversation so the partner can meet the midwife before signing on.
What should I have ready before the consultation call?
Have your estimated due date, your address or neighborhood, and your relevant health history handy. That includes previous pregnancies and births, and any conditions you're being treated for. Your history helps a midwife tell you quickly whether home birth is a safe option for you under Maryland law. Keep your insurance card nearby if you want to ask about coverage. And keep your written questions in front of you. Thirty minutes goes faster than you think.
About the Author, Tori T.
Tori is a Reiki Master, yogi, and healer, certified in sound, color, and crystal therapies. With a passion for holistic wellness, she combines ancient wisdom with modern practices to guide individuals on their journey to balance and harmony. Through her work, Tori aims to inspire and empower others to achieve their highest potential.
