Home Birth FAQs
Your Questions About Home Birth & Midwifery Care
Considering a home birth often comes with a lot of questions.
What does a home birth midwife do? How does prenatal care work? What happens if something unexpected occurs? What does a midwife bring to your home? And what happens after your baby is born?
At Rowan Birth Services, Mia Leong, LM, CPM believes asking questions is an important part of making informed decisions about your pregnancy and birth.
Below, Mia answers some of the questions families commonly have when considering home birth and midwifery care in Northern New Jersey.
Don't see your question here? Schedule a Consultation With Mia
About Home Birth & Midwifery
What is a home birth midwife?
A home birth midwife is a trained healthcare provider who specializes in caring for people throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period, including families planning to give birth at home.
Mia Leong is a Licensed Midwife (LM) and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Her care combines clinical monitoring, education, emotional support, informed decision-making, and continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
What does a home birth midwife do?
A home birth midwife provides comprehensive care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum.
With Rowan Birth Services, care may include prenatal visits, routine assessments and lab work, individualized childbirth education, monitoring during labor and birth, immediate newborn assessment, newborn screening, breastfeeding support, postpartum visits, and collaboration or referral when a higher level of care is needed.
What is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)?
A Certified Professional Midwife, or CPM, is a midwife educated and trained in providing maternity care, with particular preparation for birth in community settings such as the home.
Mia's path to becoming a CPM included academic education as well as extensive hands-on training through apprenticeship with experienced midwives.
Mia is also a Licensed Midwife (LM).
How is home birth care different from a typical office-based pregnancy experience?
One of the defining characteristics of Rowan Birth Services is the time and continuity built into your care. Prenatal appointments are scheduled for a full hour, giving you time for routine clinical assessments as well as conversation, education, questions, and birth preparation. Rather than focusing only on measurements and paperwork, Mia's approach considers your physical, emotional, and nutritional well-being while giving you an active role in decisions about your care.
Deciding Whether Home Birth Is Right for You
Who is home birth appropriate for?
Mia provides home birth care for carefully selected low-risk pregnancies. Part of midwifery care is continually assessing the health and well-being of parent and baby and recognizing when additional evaluation, collaboration, or a different level of care may be appropriate.
Because every pregnancy and medical history is different, the best way to determine whether Rowan Birth Services may be appropriate for your pregnancy is to speak directly with Mia.
Can I talk to Mia even if I'm not sure I want a home birth?
Absolutely. You don't need to have already decided on home birth before reaching out to Rowan Birth Services. A consultation gives you an opportunity to meet Mia, ask questions, learn what home birth midwifery care involves, and determine whether this model of care feels right for you and your family.
Can I choose home birth if I've never had a baby before?
Your individual health history and pregnancy need to be considered when determining whether home birth care is appropriate for you.
If you're expecting your first baby and are interested in home birth, Mia welcomes the opportunity to discuss your questions, circumstances, and what care with Rowan Birth Services looks like. Private childbirth education is also available and may be particularly helpful for first-time parents.
Prenatal Care
What does prenatal care with Rowan Birth Services include?
Prenatal care includes standard assessments, routine lab work, monitoring of parent and baby, education, and preparation for birth and postpartum.
Visits also provide time to discuss nutrition, movement, common pregnancy discomforts, newborn care, breastfeeding, birth preferences, and questions or concerns that arise throughout your pregnancy.
How long are prenatal appointments?
Prenatal visits with Rowan Birth Services are scheduled for a full hour.
Mia intentionally allows time for conversation, education, and thoughtful decision-making in addition to routine prenatal care.
How often will I see my midwife during pregnancy?
Visits generally follow a typical obstetric schedule.
Appointments are usually monthly until the third trimester and then every other week until a 36-week home visit. After the home visit, appointments typically return to the office weekly until labor begins.
Does Mia come to my home before I go into labor?
Yes. Rowan Birth Services includes a home visit at approximately 36 weeks of pregnancy.
After that visit, prenatal appointments typically continue weekly at the office until labor begins.
Can my partner or children come to prenatal appointments?
Yes. Mia welcomes the whole family to prenatal visits if that's what you prefer.
Including your family can provide an opportunity for everyone to learn, ask questions, and prepare for the baby's arrival together.
Labor & Home Birth
When does Mia come to my house during labor?
When labor has become progressive, Mia comes to your home and remains throughout the birth and for several hours postpartum.
During that time, she monitors the well-being of you and your baby while supporting the normal physiologic process of labor.
What can I do during labor at home?
Home birth allows you to labor within the familiarity of your own environment.
Mia encourages movement and the ability to eat and drink to maintain your strength. Families can create a birth environment that feels comfortable to them and decide who they would — or would not — like present.
Can I have a doula at my home birth?
Yes. Mia encourages doula support. Your doula and other chosen support people can be part of your birth team according to your preferences.
Does Mia stay after the baby is born?
Yes. Mia remains for several hours after birth, monitoring both you and your baby and providing immediate postpartum and newborn care.
Home Birth Safety & Emergency Preparedness
What happens if something goes wrong during a home birth?
Emergency preparedness is an important part of planning a home birth.
Mia continually observes and monitors parent and baby throughout labor so that changes can be recognized and addressed appropriately. Her approach is not simply to respond once an emergency has occurred. As Mia explains, emergency response can begin long before an emergency becomes urgent.
Read About Safety & Emergency Preparedness
What emergency equipment does a home birth midwife bring?
Mia arrives at home births with medications and equipment for urgent situations that can arise in community birth. Her equipment includes oxygen, neonatal resuscitation equipment, medications used to treat postpartum hemorrhage, intravenous supplies, and newborn assessment tools.
Is Mia trained in newborn resuscitation and CPR?
Yes. Mia maintains current certification in Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) as well as adult, child, and infant CPR.
What happens if I need to go to the hospital during a home birth?
There are circumstances in which Mia may determine that a higher level of care is appropriate. If a hospital transfer becomes necessary, her goal is to recognize the need early, communicate clearly with the receiving medical team, and continue supporting the family throughout the process. Hospital transfer is something families can discuss with Mia during pregnancy so they understand the possibility and can ask questions before labor begins.
Learn More About Hospital Transfer & Emergency Preparedness
Does planning a home birth mean I can't receive hospital care if I need it?
No. Part of responsible home birth care is recognizing when additional evaluation or a higher level of medical care is appropriate. Mia collaborates and communicates with hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers when circumstances require care beyond what can appropriately be provided in the home setting.
After Your Baby Is Born
What newborn care does Mia provide after a home birth?
After your baby is born, Mia performs an initial newborn assessment and monitors your baby's transition and well-being. Her scope of care also includes newborn screening and continued newborn support during the postpartum period.
Does postpartum care happen at my home?
Yes. During the first week after birth, Mia returns to your home at least twice to assess both you and your baby. You'll also remain in contact with Mia by phone each day during the first postpartum week.
How long does postpartum midwifery care continue?
Care for you and your baby continues through six weeks postpartum.
An additional visit during the second week is available as needed, with continued support focused on healing, emotional well-being, breastfeeding, newborn adjustment, and your family's questions and concerns.
Does Mia provide breastfeeding support?
Yes. Breastfeeding and feeding support are part of Rowan Birth Services' postpartum care.
Mia can help support you as you and your baby adjust during the early postpartum period.
When does my baby start seeing a pediatrician?
When you feel ready to transition your baby's care to a pediatrician, Mia can provide the pediatrician with records of the newborn care your baby has already received.
Additional Support & Services
Does Rowan Birth Services offer childbirth education?
Yes. Mia offers private childbirth education for $250.
The comprehensive course can take place over one or two sessions and focuses specifically on preparing for the home birth experience. It may be particularly helpful for first-time parents or families planning their first home birth after previously giving birth in a hospital.
Does Rowan Birth Services offer placenta encapsulation?
Yes. Placenta encapsulation is available for $250, with options including pills, tinctures, prints, and keepsakes.
Can Mia help me find other pregnancy or postpartum providers?
Yes. Mia offers complimentary referral support and can help families connect with professionals such as pelvic floor therapists, perinatal mental health providers, nutrition professionals, chiropractors, massage therapists, and other providers when appropriate.
Home Birth in Northern New Jersey
Where is Rowan Birth Services located?
Rowan Birth Services is based in North Haledon, New Jersey.
What areas does Rowan Birth Services serve?
Mia provides home birth midwifery care throughout Northern New Jersey, including:
Bergen County
Passaic County
Morris County
Essex County
Sussex County
Surrounding communities
If you're unsure whether your home falls within Mia's service area, reach out to Rowan Birth Services to ask about your location.
Does Rowan Birth Services provide home birth care in Bergen County, NJ?
Yes. Bergen County is within Rowan Birth Services' Northern New Jersey service area.
Does Rowan Birth Services provide home birth care in Passaic County, NJ?
Yes. Rowan Birth Services is based in North Haledon and serves families throughout Passaic County as part of its Northern New Jersey service area.
Does Rowan Birth Services serve Morris, Essex, and Sussex Counties?
Yes. Rowan Birth Services serves families in Morris, Essex, and Sussex Counties, as well as Bergen and Passaic Counties and surrounding areas.
Still Have Questions About Home Birth?
That's exactly what a consultation is for. You don't need to know whether home birth is right for you before speaking with Mia. A consultation is an opportunity to learn more about home birth, understand Mia's approach to midwifery care and safety, ask questions specific to your pregnancy and family, and decide whether Rowan Birth Services feels like the right fit for you.
Meet Mia. Ask your questions. Explore your options.