frequently asked questions

I’m not pregnant. Can I still come to you for care?

Yes! our midwives are board-certified and trained to care for people from adolescence to post-menopause. They can act as your primary care provider if you are a generally healthy person. They have a license to prescribe medications, order and interpret diagnostic labs and ultrasounds.

I had no idea new york city had a birth center!? Where is it? and how does that work ?

It’s brand new and located about 12 minutes from our Nettle Wellness office! Because we already have malpractice insurance and hospital privileges, adding on birth center privileges was pretty easy! We felt like there were enough people who would want this option, so we went for it!

So, Nettle Wellness now has privileges with Holistic Birth Center to offer births at their facility! They have three lovely birthing rooms with tubs and showers, a little kitchen, and even a parking lot! The rooms look like lovely hotel rooms, with a big king-size bed, tub, and shower.

The way it works is shockingly simple! Our midwives provide your prenatal care at our Nettle office. When you go into labor, instead of us going to your home, we meet you at the birth center and you birth your baby there! We will be with you the whole time you are in labor. Then, we follow up with postpartum care at your home and at our office, just as we would for a home birth.

The care you receive throughout pregnancy and postpartum remains the same—the difference is simply where you give birth.

Do you have privileges at a hospital?

Yes, we have privileges at Mount Sinai West hospital in Manhattan. Since homebirth isn’t the right fit for every client (medical and personal reasons), we occasionally offer spots for people opting for a planned hospital birth. This decision is typically made during pregnancy if a medical issue develops or during your initial consult. In the case that hospital is the best choice, Jo or Jenna would be the main provider for you in the hospital setting and manage your labor and birth there.

If you planned for a homebirth or birth center birth and we need to transfer in labor for an urgent medical concern, we will go to the nearest hospital available.

Can I get a doula?

Yes! Doulas can provide invaluable support. In fact we highly recommend that all first time pregnant people having a baby get a doula! If you don’t know of a doula but want one, once we get to know you a little better, we are happy to help you find one that fits your budget and desires.

What is the difference between a home birth and a birth center birth?

Honestly, for us midwives, not much is different except for the location! We know that for some people, home birth just isn’t the right fit for them or their family. Where you birth is such a personal choice, and we are happy to offer both options!

The midwifery care is the same. With both options, you receive personalized prenatal care with your Nettle midwives and continued postpartum care after your baby is born.

With a birth center birth, labor and birth take place at a dedicated birth center rather than in your home. It’s really just a different setting for the same personalized midwifery care.

There is a small facility fee to use the birth center, which will either be charged directly to you or billed through your insurance.

I want a home birth! is my apartment big enough to have a home birth?

yup! You don’t need much space at all to have give birth to a baby. Most labor rooms in NYC hospitals are tiny! It’s once the baby becomes a big kid that you might need/or want more space!

What about the mess? what about the noise?

Before you have your baby, we will ask you to buy a birth kit that has a bunch of clean disposable items like, chucks, pads, and a mattress cover so that we can clean up after your baby is born. The midwife attending your birth and her assistant will clean everything up before leaving your house. All that will be left is a bag of garbage and a load of laundry.

We suggest letting your neighbors know that you will be having a baby at home. Most people are SUPER excited and supportive about this news. Leave them a box a goodies at their door before or after you have the baby as a thank you!

i’m curious to learn more about homebirth, what do you suggest i read?

The New York City Homebirth Collective has lots of resources. We suggest you start there! But also, do your own research. Where you birth is such a personal decision. For a healthy pregnant person there isn’t one “right” place to birth a baby.

Do take insurance and do you take medicaid?

Nettle Wellness is an out-of-network practice, and we ask each family to pay their patient responsibility fee, with payment made partially by 36 weeks and in full by six weeks postpartum.

We work closely with an experienced medical biller who advocates for you with your insurance company and works to maximize your reimbursement. Depending on your individual plan, insurance and Medicaid may cover most, and sometimes all, of your care with Nettle Wellness.

if you choose to get reimbursed, you will work directly with our medical billing team to understand their benefits, submit claims, and pursue the highest possible reimbursement.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out because of your insurance—or lack of insurance. We believe midwifery care should be accessible, and we’re happy to talk through your options with you.