Frequently Asked Questions

We’re honored to walk alongside you during this time.

Pregnancy is not just a clinical event—it is a profound physical, emotional, and relational experience. The way care is provided matters. It shapes how you feel in your body, how you make decisions, and how you carry this experience with you long after your baby is born.

At Lux Midwifery, care is designed to be thorough, unhurried, and relationship-based.

You will not be rushed through appointments. You will not be treated like a number or a checklist. Instead, care is built around time, attention, and trust—so that we can understand your health in context, not just in snapshots.

This model allows space for real conversation, thoughtful clinical care, and individualized support. It creates the conditions for early recognition of changes, deeper understanding of your needs, and more informed, confident decision-making throughout your pregnancy.

You are not expected to navigate this alone.
You are supported, informed, and known here.

Care at Lux Midwifery is collaborative.

I seek to empower you to take an active role in your health and wellness throughout pregnancy and beyond. You will be given information, context, and support so that you can make informed decisions with clarity and confidence.

My role is to guide, assess, and support—not to override your instincts or make decisions for you. We work together, combining clinical knowledge with your lived experience of your own body.

This approach builds trust, awareness, and confidence as you prepare for your birth and transition into parenthood.

Your care at Lux Midwifery is grounded in trust, respect, and confidentiality.

Everything you share with me is kept confidential. This includes conversations that occur in the presence of partners, family members, or other support people. If there is anything you would prefer to discuss privately, you are always welcome to do so.

As part of your intake and ongoing care, I may ask about your personal history, including any experiences of trauma or abuse. These experiences can shape how you feel in your body, how you process medical care, and how you move through pregnancy and birth.

You are never required to share more than you are comfortable with. At the same time, having a fuller understanding of your experiences allows me to provide trauma-informed care—care that is attentive to your emotional safety, respects your boundaries, and avoids unnecessary triggers whenever possible.

I encourage you to be open and honest with me about your health, your experiences, and your use of any medical or recreational substances. My role is not to judge—it is to understand the full picture so that I can provide safe, informed, and supportive care. 

In return, I will always be honest with you. If I have any concerns about your health or your pregnancy, I will communicate them clearly and early so that we can address them together. 

I also have access to a broad network of community resources and referrals. If needs arise—medical, emotional, or practical—please reach out. Support is available, and you do not have to navigate those things alone.

Care at Lux Midwifery is designed for low-risk, healthy pregnancies and supports physiological pregnancy and birth.

Throughout your care, we continuously assess your health and your baby’s well-being. Pregnancy is a dynamic process, and sometimes conditions arise that require additional evaluation or a different level of care.

If something develops that is outside the scope of midwifery care, we may recommend:

• Additional monitoring or testing
  
• Consultation with a specialist
  
• Co-management with a hospital-based provider
  
• Transfer of care to a hospital-based setting
  

These decisions are made with you, not for you. You will be informed, involved, and supported in understanding what is happening and why recommendations are being made.

The goal is always to ensure the safest possible outcome for you and your baby.

If transfer to hospital-based care becomes necessary during pregnancy or labor, I will support coordination of that transition. A partial refund of your global fee is available in the event of a transfer during pregnancy, based on the portion of care already completed.

Following discharge, postpartum care with Lux Midwifery will resume as appropriate.

A Note on Safety

Midwifery care is not about avoiding medical care—it is about using the right level of care at the right time.

Most pregnancies progress normally and remain within the scope of midwifery care. When additional support is needed, we adjust the plan accordingly.

Examples of Situations That May Require Transfer of Care Prenatally

While most pregnancies remain within the scope of midwifery care, certain conditions may require consultation, co-management, or transfer to hospital-based care during pregnancy.

Examples include:

• High blood pressure disorders, including gestational hypertension or preeclampsia
  
• Gestational diabetes that requires medication or is difficult to manage
  
• Significant changes in your baby’s growth or well-being
  
• Persistent concerns with fetal movement or heart rate patterns
  
• Preterm labor or risk of preterm birth
  
• Placental concerns, such as placenta previa or placenta accreta
  
• Breech or other non-head-down positioning at term (depending on circumstances)
  
• Multiple gestation (twins or more)
  
• Infection or illness that requires hospital-based treatment
  
• Need for induction or augmentation of labor
• Any situation where additional monitoring, medication, or intervention is recommended for safety
  

These examples are not exhaustive. Each situation is assessed individually, with your health and your baby’s well-being guiding decision-making. I reserve the right to transfer care to a hospital or physician if your clinical profile no longer meets the guidelines for the midwifery scope of practice. 

If a transfer to hospital-based care becomes necessary during your labor and birth, or shortly after giving birth, care will be coordinated in a way that prioritizes safety, continuity, and clear communication.

Midwifery care includes ongoing assessment of risk throughout pregnancy and labor. We are trained to recognize early changes in physiology and to act on those findings promptly.

Transfer is not reserved for emergencies. In many cases, we transfer early, when concerns first arise, so that care can be escalated in a timely and controlled way. This approach supports better outcomes and avoids preventable complications.

Common Indications for Transfer in Labor, Birth, or Postpartum 

Situations that may lead to transfer during labor include:

• Changes in maternal vital signs, including blood pressure abnormalities
  
• Concerns with fetal heart rate patterns
  
• Prolonged or stalled labor that is not progressing as expected
  
• Need for pain management or interventions not available in the home setting
  
• Signs of infection, fever, or other illness
  
• Excessive bleeding or concern for hemorrhage
• Fetal malpositioning that is obstructing labor 
• Development of conditions that move outside the scope of low-risk care
  

These examples are not exhaustive. Each situation is assessed in real time, with decisions guided by clinical findings and overall safety.

Transfer Locations & Planning

In the Wichita area, transfers are typically made to:

• Wesley Medical Center, or
  
• St. Joseph Medical Center
  

The specific location may depend on your preference, insurance coverage, and clinical circumstances.

If you have insurance that covers maternity care, it is recommended that you establish backup care with a hospital-based provider who:

• Accepts your insurance
  
• Has privileges at the hospital you would prefer to use
  

This allows for a smoother transition of care in the event that transfer becomes necessary.

How Transfer Happens

In most situations:

• You will travel to the hospital by private vehicle (generally your own private vehicle. For liability reasons, I am unable to transport clients in active labor to the hospital.) I recommend you have at least one support person present during labor who can drive you to the hospital should a non-emergent transfer be needed. I do not recommend you drive yourself to the hospital.
• I will follow you to the hospital in my vehicle to provide continuity of support and a handoff to the hospital care team.
• If urgent medical needs arise, emergency medical services (EMS) will be activated

I will communicate with the receiving hospital team to provide relevant information about your care and clinical status. 

Depending on the situation:

• I may accompany you to the hospital,
  
• Meet you there, or
  
• Remain available for coordination and communication as needed

Once care is transferred, the hospital-based provider will assume primary clinical responsibility.

Continuity of Support

Transfer does not mean loss of support.

• I remain available for communication and coordination, as appropriate
• Once you are discharged home, I will resume your postpartum care

A Note on Transfer

Home birth is appropriate for pregnancies that remain within low-risk clinical parameters.

We do not guarantee that every client will ultimately give birth at home. The goal is not to ensure a specific location of birth, but to ensure that you and your baby are cared for in the setting most appropriate for your clinical needs.

This model of care is designed to:

• Identify changes early
  
• Respond appropriately
  
• Support you through transitions in care

At every stage, the priority is safety, informed decision-making, and continuity of support.

Care at Lux Midwifery is based on informed, shared decision-making.

Throughout your care, you will receive clear information about your health, your baby’s well-being, and any recommendations that arise. This includes discussion of the reason for recommendations, potential risks and benefits, and available alternatives, when appropriate.

You retain full autonomy in making decisions about your care.

My role is to provide clinical assessment, guidance, and recommendations based on training and experience. Your role is to consider that information in the context of your values, preferences, and lived experience.

Decisions are made together, with the shared goal of maintaining safety while supporting a birth experience that is aligned with your needs.

Care at Lux Midwifery is based on clinical assessment, informed decision-making, and shared responsibility.

Midwifery is a distinct traditional model of care with a long-standing history, focused on supporting low-risk pregnancy and physiological birth. It is practiced alongside, and in collaboration with, the broader medical system. This model of care is evidence-based and works best when you have access to the appropriate level of care for your needs, including referrals to non-midwife specialists if complications arise.

Throughout your care, every effort is made to screen for conditions that fall outside of low-risk parameters, and to identify changes early. When concerns arise, care is triaged to the appropriate level, including consultation, co-management, or transfer to hospital-based providers.

The goal of care is not a specific birth setting at all costs.
The goal is safe birth, and dignified birth.

Recommendations are made based on current clinical findings, training, and professional judgment. While every effort is made to support safe outcomes, outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Pregnancy, labor, and birth are dynamic processes. Changes can occur that are not predictable or preventable, even with appropriate care and monitoring.

Your participation in care—including attending visits, communicating concerns, being in tune with your body’s cues and inner knowing, and following through with recommendations—plays an important role in maintaining safety.

This model of care is built on ongoing assessment, early recognition of change, and appropriate response when clinical needs evolve.

Care at Lux Midwifery is offered as a global fee of $5,500.

This fee reflects comprehensive, relationship-based care throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period, including extended time, availability, and continuity of care.

What is Included

Your global fee includes:

Prenatal Care

• Approximately 18–21 prenatal visits, totaling around 20 hours of face-to-face prenatal care
  
• A 2-hour initial intake visit
  
• Ongoing visits (typically 60–90 minutes each)
  
• Review and interpretation of all labs and imaging
  
• Care coordination, including referrals and communication with other providers when needed
  
• Ongoing clinical assessment, education, and support throughout pregnancy
  

Labor & Birth Care

• On-call availability 24/7 beginning at 37 weeks gestation
  
• Continuous presence during active labor and birth
  
• In-home evaluation during onset of active labor, as indicated
  
• Full clinical monitoring and support throughout labor
  
• Immediate postpartum care following birth (typically several hours in your home)
  

Postpartum Care

• Multiple postpartum visits, 60 to 90 minutes each, including at:
  
  • 24 hours (in-home)
    
  • 48 hours (in-home)
  • 1 week (in-home)
    
  • 2 weeks (in-home or office)
    
  • 1 month (office)
    
  • 6–8 weeks (office)
    
• Ongoing assessment of both maternal recovery and newborn well-being
  
• Feeding and lactation support
  
• Continued access to care and guidance during the postpartum period
  

Additional Support

• Access to wellness spaces (meditation and art therapy rooms) through one year postpartum
  
• Communication access for questions, concerns, and guidance throughout care
• I file your baby’s birth certificate information with the state of Kansas
  

What is Not Included

The following are not included in the global fee:

• Laboratory processing fees (billed separately through Path Group)
  
• Ultrasound and imaging costs (billed through Cypress Imaging)
  
• Medications and prescriptions, including items such as Rhogam, if indicated
  
• Any hospital-based care or services outside the midwifery scope
• Primary medical care for your general, non-pregnancy related health needs 
• Well newborn checks outside of general screenings offered at birth, 24 hours, and 48 hours of life.
  

New Patient Fee

A $200 non-refundable New Patient Fee is required prior to your first visit in order to reserve your place in care.

This fee is separate from the global care fee and is not applied toward your balance.

The New Patient Fee covers one-time expenses associated with initiating your care, including:

• Creation and setup of your medical chart and records
  
• Lab draw supplies used throughout your pregnancy
  
• Disposable clinical materials specific to your care
  

Because Lux Midwifery accepts a limited number of clients per month, this fee secures your place in care.

This fee is non-refundable, as these resources are allocated specifically to you once your care is initiated.

Payment Plans

Payment plans are available and may be structured in increments of your choosing, as long as the full balance is paid within the required timeframe.

If you choose to use a payment plan, you will be required to complete and sign a payment plan agreement form outlining your payment schedule.

Payment Timeline

The remaining balance must be paid in full by 36 weeks gestation.

This ensures that I am able to be on call for your birth beginning at 37 weeks (full term).

If your balance is not paid in full by this time:

• I may, at my discretion, continue to provide prenatal care through the end of your pregnancy, or I may refer you to another local prenatal care provider who is available to see you.
  
• I will assist with coordination of transfer of your records to a hospital-based clinician.
• A hospital-based clinician will assume care and attend your birth.
  

If you anticipate difficulty meeting this timeline, please reach out early so we can discuss options.

Late Entry to Care

Lux Midwifery is designed for clients who begin care early in pregnancy, allowing time to build a relationship, review your health history, and provide comprehensive prenatal support.

I do not often accept clients late in pregnancy. However, when space allows and I am able to take a late transfer:

• The full global fee still applies
  
• You will be required to attend multiple prenatal visits prior to your birth
  
• All prenatal records from previous providers must be transferred and reviewed prior to acceptance into care

Late entry into care requires additional time to:

• Review your medical and prenatal history
  
• Assess current health status and risk factors
  
• Establish a safe and appropriate plan for your care
  

Because of this, acceptance into care later in pregnancy is limited and not guaranteed.

Transfer of Care & Refunds

If your care moves outside the scope of midwifery and transfer to hospital-based care is required during pregnancy, a partial refund, determined at the discretion of your midwife, will be issued based on the portion of care already completed.

If transfer occurs during labor or birth, postpartum care with Lux Midwifery will resume once you are discharged home.

A Note on Value

This model of care is built on time, availability, and continuity.

You are not paying for isolated visits—you are investing in a model of care that supports you across the full course of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

This includes:

• Consistent, extended time at each visit to ensure your concerns are addressed and your questions are answered
  
• Individualized guidance on nutrition and lifestyle, supporting you in taking an active role in your health and reducing the risk of complications
  
• Direct access to your midwife, with ongoing communication and support throughout your care
  
• Continuous clinical monitoring at every visit, allowing for early identification of changes in your health or your baby’s well-being
  

These ongoing assessments act as clinical guardrails, helping to identify early physiological changes that may indicate developing complications.

If additional care is needed, this model allows for timely referral and coordination with specialists, including obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine providers, or other appropriate clinicians.

The goal is to support a pregnancy that remains within safe parameters for home birth, while ensuring that any changes are recognized early and addressed appropriately.

Care at Lux Midwifery includes standard prenatal laboratory testing and imaging in alignment with current obstetric guidelines. These evaluations support ongoing assessment of maternal health and fetal well-being throughout pregnancy.

Laboratory Testing

Laboratory specimens are collected in-office at appropriate intervals during pregnancy. Standard testing may include:

• ABO blood type and Rh factor
  
• Complete blood count (CBC) to assess for anemia and other hematologic conditions
  
• Infectious disease screening, including HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis
  
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening in early pregnancy and again in the third trimester, with additional testing as indicated or requested
  
• Rubella immunity status
  
• Vitamin D level
  
• Urinalysis and urine culture, as indicated
  
• Glucose screening for gestational diabetes
  
• Additional laboratory testing based on individual risk factors, history, or clinical findings
  

STI testing is performed in a confidential manner, and additional testing of you or your partner(s)  is available upon request at any time in your pregnancy. 

All laboratory specimens are processed through Path Group. Path Group will bill your insurance when applicable. Please provide your insurance card at every lab draw for us to forward for billing. If services are not covered, Path Group will bill you directly at their established self-pay rates.

Imaging

Patients are referred for standard obstetric ultrasound imaging, which typically includes:

• A first-trimester ultrasound to confirm intrauterine pregnancy, gestational age, and viability
  
• A second-trimester fetal anatomy ultrasound (typically performed around 18–22 weeks gestation)

Additional imaging may be recommended based on clinical indications.

Ultrasound services are provided through Cypress Imaging, which will bill your insurance when applicable.

Appointments are scheduled frequently to allow for close, consistent support:

Most clients will have approximately 18–21 visits, totaling around 20 hours of prenatal care.

If you begin care later in pregnancy, your visit schedule will be adjusted to allow for more frequent visits. This ensures we still spend adequate time together to build our relationship, monitor your health, and prepare for your birth.

Location of Visits

Appointments are typically held in my office at 220 W. Douglas, Suite 15, Wichita KS 67202. Please park in the visitor parking garage and bring your parking ticket in for me to validate. Parking in the visitor garage is free with validation. Pay per hour curbside parking is available directly in front of the office on Douglas. 

Beginning at 37 weeks, you may choose to have your visits in your home if you wish rather than coming into the office. This allows us to assess your space, support your preparation, and meet you where you are as you approach birth.

If you have mobility needs or other access considerations, please let me know. Your care can be adapted with a combination of office and home visits to best support you.