Homebirth Midwifery

Midwifery Services

The first rush of pregnancy can bring a variety of emotions, thoughts, and sometimes, we forget to just take a breath and allow ourselves to just be. As a midwife, my job is to support you in confidently moving forward and allowing your pregnancy and birth to unfold. The name Exhale comes from this idea of feeling positive and strong and breathing through the next moment with the belief in yourself that this babe is yours, this journey is yours to take, and that every pregnancy and birth is different and deserves its own place and respect.

Exhale Birth Services offers homebirth midwifery services, including waterbirth and birth tub rentals. This includes prenatal care, initial bloodwork, and lab testing referrals, continuous labor and birth support, newborn assessment and care, and postpartum care.  

Is Home Birth Legal in Washington State?

Yes, and you can birth with a wide variety of providers from community midwives to licensed midwives to certified nurse-midwives, naturopaths, family practitioners, and obstetricians.

Read Washington State’s statutes regarding midwifery: (1) The Revised Code, Chapter 18.50 RCW; and (2) Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 246-834 WAC.

Washington State Department of Health: The Midwife

Traditionally, community midwives are the midwives who were trained by others as apprentices. Their training varies from apprenticeship to completion of midwifery programs and beyond. There is no requirement and no limit to how they may have been educated. It’s up to you, the client, to ask about their training. In recent years, Washington state has severely damaged the role of community midwives by passing laws restricting them from accepting payment and/or advertising. These restrictions do not affect their ability to serve at births, just their ability to be paid for their hard work. Community midwives have always been the backbone of homebirth midwifery in Washington.

Licensed midwives are required to have a CPM credential, are allowed to accept payment and advertise and have legal requirements to follow. They can offer home or birth center births. For more information, click here.

Also, if you are looking for a homebirth midwife, the Washington Alliance for Responsible Midwifery (WARM) may be able to help you. Learn more here.

Certified Nurse-Midwives, Naturopaths, Family Practitioners and Obstetricians also offer home birth in the state of Washington or are legally allowed to do so, whether at home or in birth centers.