faq

Midwives are healthcare professionals who are trained and licensed to provide comprehensive clinical care to people before, during, and after pregnancy. They provide individualized care uniquely suited to the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs of each and every person they support. Midwifery is a person-centered, empowering model of maternity care that has been utilized all around the world for centuries.

Quilted Health’s midwife model of care acknowledges your life experiences, individualizes care to your needs, and uses evidence to guide decisions around interventions that may be necessary to ensure you have a safe and healthy pregnancy. Studies have shown* that midwife-led care has lower rates of labor induction, cesarean birth, preterm birth, and overall improved satisfaction with the pregnancy and birth experience.

Our team works collaboratively with many providers, including physicians and specialists, with whom we may coordinate your care from time-to-time. If medical conditions arise that our team is unable to support, we will transfer your care to our partner physicians.

*source:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31599830/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29944777/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27121907/

There are a number of professional designations under the umbrella of midwifery. Our model is led by Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs) and supported collaboratively with Licensed Midwives (LMs). All midwives share a similar view on the importance of focusing on physical, psychological, and social well-being during pregnancy, minimizing unnecessary interventions, and providing hands-on medical care during labor, birth, and the postpartum period.

Types of Professional Midwives:

Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs): Licensed through the State Board of Nursing, CNMs are healthcare professionals who specialize in women’s reproductive health and childbirth; most are registered nurses who also have a master's degree in midwifery. Nurse-midwifery training prepares a CNM to work in any number of settings, including hospitals, health clinics, birth centers, and OB/GYN practices. CNMs are also qualified to provide care beyond pregnancy, including well-woman visits, gynecologic checkups, contraceptive and family planning services, and treatment of STIs, among other services.

Certified Midwives (CMs): Licensed through the State, CMs are healthcare professionals who specialize in female reproductive health and childbirth. They have graduate degrees in midwifery and take the same certifying exam as CNMs. The only difference between these two types of midwives is their undergraduate degree. They are able to provide the same level of clinical care as CNMs; however, only a handful of states license CMs to provide care as it is a relatively new designation.

Licensed Midwives (LMs): Licensed through the State and certified through the North American Registry of Midwives, LMs are able to provide comprehensive care from prenatal through 6-8 weeks postpartum. They must graduate from a three-year midwifery education program accredited by the midwifery education accreditation council. Our LMs will support you before and after labor, through virtual, home, and clinic settings.

Yes. All midwives at Quilted Health can order the same testing that doctors can in relation to pregnancy. They can also prescribe, diagnose, and treat patients similar to a physician.

Our midwives share the on-call schedule as a group, so we can’t guarantee that you will have your midwife of choice attending your birth. Our teams are small, so it’s likely that you will meet the midwife who will be at your birth during the course of your care. We are happy to arrange extra meetings, too, if you need it.

Midwives attend births in all settings, including home, hospital, and birth centers.

If you choose to receive your pregnancy care through Quilted Health, you will have your birth in one of our preferred hospitals. If you’re considering birthing in a birth center or at home, we can help you understand the different options and considerations during your first appointment, and refer you to the best provider for your needs.

If you receive prenatal care at our clinic in Spokane, WA, your birth will be just down the street at Sacred Heart Providence.

Most pregnancies and births do not require a doctor or physician, even if you have complicating risk factors. We encourage you to start care with Quilted Health, and we can identify whether you need to see a doctor for your pregnancy. We may identify that you need a doctor very early in pregnancy (for example, if you are carrying twins), along the way (for example, if you develop gestational diabetes or high blood pressure), or during labor and delivery (for example, if your baby is breech or you have a preterm birth).

Even if you already know you have certain conditions that will require a physician or specialist, we encourage you to reach out and talk to someone on our team. In many cases, we are able to provide care in partnership with a doctor or specialist. If you need or want a doctor, our team will manage the referral and transition to another provider at the appropriate time.

Our 60-minute virtual visits are led by a Licensed Midwife who is ready to answer any questions you may have about Quilted Health, confirm your pregnancy, and help you get started with prenatal care. During your visit, they’ll start out by asking you what you’re interested in discussing and then tailor the conversation to fit your needs.

These visits are considered medical visits and will be billed to your insurance as an office visit. If you have any questions regarding cost and insurance coverage, please reach out to us at care@quiltedhealth.com.

As you work with Quilted Health, you are likely to have a few people in your care team: A Licensed Midwife will meet with you for your first virtual appointment by phone or video. A Certified Nurse Midwife will be your primary care provider throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. Our Client Care team will support you with any non-clinical needs you have. Meet our providers and Client Care team.

We’re here for you as soon as you need us. You can schedule a visit or reach out for help at any stage – as soon as you know or think you are pregnant. Regardless of whether you just got pregnant or may be further along, we can help get you the information you need and start your care.

We also know that sometimes pregnancies are unplanned. Our midwives offer comprehensive, judgement-free options counseling to help you make a plan that is right for you. We also encourage you to reach out regardless of whether or not you have insurance, as we can help you with the application, enrollment, and plan selection process.

Quilted Health currently provides judgment-free counseling about pregnancy options and, if desired, referrals to trusted abortion providers. We currently do not provide abortion services directly. Learn more about national and Washington State abortion resources here.

Quilted Health uses the best in evidence-based practice guidelines for pregnancy to determine what testing you’ll need. We will do a full prenatal lab panel, which includes:

• Blood type assessment
• Thyroid function
• Immunity to rubella
• Identifying infections that can be dangerous during pregnancy

Throughout pregnancy, we recommend standard testing for diabetes, anemia, and other infections. Our team will also recommend ultrasound and other tests to personalize your care based on your individual needs. A complete spectrum of genetic tests is available, too.

Quilted Health prioritizes the safety of our clients and staff. As a part of our COVID-19 precautions, we screen individuals for symptoms prior to clinic entry, we require that masks be worn for everyone over the age of 2, and we are limiting the total number of people in the clinic at one time. All physical exams will take place in the clinic, with the remainder of the visit taking place virtually when possible to limit exposure.

Yes, an epidural can be administered by an anesthesiologist at the hospital where you give birth. Your midwife will arrange the consultation and ordering of an epidural.

There are also other options available for pain management. Our team can help you understand your choices so you can make the best decision for you.

Yes! Our team of independent, board-certified midwives has hospital privileges (meaning they will admit and care for you in the hospital) and decades of experience with birth in various settings. They will be there to provide medical care and support you through the entire experience. In the event that your labor doesn’t progress as planned and we need additional support, our OBGYN partners are available onsite, 24/7 to step in.

Currently, all of our clients give birth at a local partner hospital. We are happy to help you decide what kind of birth is right for you. If you choose to have an out-of-hospital birth, we will refer you to our network of high-quality providers.

Our postnatal services include guidance for physical recovery, lactation support, symptom management, mental health screening and treatment (e.g. depression and anxiety), contraception services , and support navigating this major life transition, including applying for FMLA and planning for your return to work. We’ll develop a personalized postpartum care plan with you, based on your needs and preferences.

Many providers only offer to see you in their office once, 6 weeks after you give birth – but for most people, that’s not nearly enough support. Our team remains available to you 24/7, and will check in frequently to ensure you have what you need, for up to one full year after birth.

If you’re not finding the answers you need on our website, we recommend scheduling a virtual visit with one of our midwives. They will be more than happy to talk with you – no judgements, no pressure.

Yes! If you already have prenatal care established but are looking to change providers, we do accept transfers. If our care is not a good match for your pregnancy, we can also help match you with a provider who better meets your needs.

We do accept transfers and would be honored to be a part of your journey. Often, we can accept transfers at any point in pregnancy, but we cannot guarantee availability.

Please reach out to care@quiltedhealth.com or text us at 888-743-7384 to discuss your individual needs.

If you wish to transfer into Quilted Health for your pregnancy care, we recommend starting with a virtual care appointment. Our team of licensed midwives will help you figure out next steps to establish care with us in one of our clinic locations.

If possible, please have your prenatal medical records sent to us before your first appointment. In your first virtual care visit, a licensed midwife can help you determine any missing pieces of information. If you wish to use insurance, we will also need your insurance information.

For help or for more detailed information, please reach out to care@quiltedhealth.com or text us at 888-743-7384.

Our team of nurse midwives offer everything from routine Paps and wellness visits to birth control and urgent needs. In addition to routine checkups, we commonly see people for UTIs, STI testing and treatment, pelvic pain, contraception, and sexual health. If you have a specific question about our offerings, please contact us at care@quiltedhealth.com or by texting 888-743-7384.

We offer all forms of birth control and cycle control, from education about fertility awareness to both hormonal and non-hormonal methods. Our team of midwives can insert or remove IUDs and arm implants, prescribe daily medications, provide birth control (depo) shots, or help you determine a single-use contraceptive method that works for you.

If you are a new client, you will need to attend either a virtual or in-clinic appointment before we can write you a prescription. If you have already established care with us, you may be able to get a prescription without a visit on a case-by-case basis.

Though certified nurse-midwives are trained primary care providers, Quilted Health does not offer routine primary care at this time.