Frequently Asked Questions

About our Practice

  • Coyote Midwifery is led by licensed midwife and IBCLC, Caitlin Maddigan. Caitlin attends every birth, supported by an experienced birth assistant and, at times, a student midwife in training. This model ensures families receive personalized, consistent care with the benefit of a skilled and trusted team.

  • The Birth Cottage is located in Ashland, Oregon, serving families throughout the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon, and Northern California. Conveniently situated in the Railroad District, across from the Noble and Peerless, our birth center offers comfortable parking and a welcoming space for families. You’ll find us easily — we’re the only house on the block.

  • Coyote Midwifery was founded by Caitlin Maddigan and Joni Pedersen in Portland in 2018 and has been serving families ever since. After spending many years away, Caitlin returned to her hometown of Ashland, where Coyote has continued to grow and evolve. The opening of the Birth Cottage marks the newest chapter in this journey — expanding our commitment to safe, compassionate midwifery care rooted in both experience and community.

Care & Services

  • Our practice primarily provides care at our freestanding birth center in Ashland, The Birth Cottage. The cottage is intentionally small and cozy, offering a home-like environment with the added benefits of a dedicated birth space.

    We occasionally attend home births in special circumstances, which we can discuss during your consultation.

  • Yes. Lactation support is woven into your midwifery care. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Caitlin offers hands-on guidance during prenatal and postpartum visits and is also available for separate lactation consultations in Ashland, the Rogue Valley, and through telehealth.
    Click here to learn more.

  • We love offering fertility and insemination support, and it remains an important part of our vision for Coyote Midwifery. At this time, we recognize that our team is stretched too thin, so we are pausing these services. We look forward to resuming fertility support as soon as we have the capacity to provide the quality of care our families deserve. In the meantime, we are happy to connect you with local providers who specialize in fertility support.

  • We strongly believe that people should feel safe wherever they decide to deliver. We would love to support you in any way we can. Check out our Collaborative Care option.

Visits & Appointments

  • We follow the standard prenatal schedule: monthly visits until 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks, and weekly visits until birth.

  • Each prenatal visit lasts about 50 minutes, giving us plenty of time to go beyond the basics. We’ll check your blood pressure, listen to your baby’s heartbeat, measure growth, and review labs if needed. Just as importantly, we’ll sit together to talk about nutrition, emotional well-being, and your birth preferences—making sure you feel heard, supported, and prepared.

  • Most care takes place in person at Coyote Birth Cottage in Ashland, or at home during the first two weeks postpartum. When appropriate, some follow-up visits and consultations can be offered through secure online telehealth. 

    Lactation consultations are also available virtually for families who prefer or need the flexibility of online support.

Birth & Postpartum Experience

  • Yes. Our birth center is family-friendly, and you’re welcome to bring your children, partner, and support team. We also work collaboratively with doulas and are always happy to offer referrals. 

  • Yes. Coyote midwives have a lot of experience with waterbirth and will help you figure out if it is right for you. The vast majority of our clients spend at least a little time laboring in water—whether it’s the shower, your bath, or in one of our birth tubs.

  • Although very infrequent, baby storms do happen. We have partnered with other midwives in the area to support each other if all of the babies decide to come at once.

  • We’ve got you covered. As your new family bonds and gets to know each other, in that golden hour after birth, your midwives will begin tidying up the birth space. We will whisk away the tub, begin a load of laundry, and take out the trash. Our goal is to leave you feeling serene while you snuggle your new baby.

  • We have many tools to manage pain, both in your home and at the birth center. First, we will remind you to listen to your body. Move when it tells you to move. Walk, squat, get in the water, and rock your hips. As midwives, we follow your lead and will offer gentle direction when appropriate. We will squeeze your hips and rub your back and/or assist your people in doing that for you.

  • Birth is powerful! Birth is intense! It is overwhelming and profound. But there is a difference between power and suffering, and while birth can toe that line, we do not want you to suffer. You may decide that the hospital, with an epidural, is the best place for you to give birth. We will always honor and respect your decision on where and how you birth your baby.

  • Families are typically discharged around 4 hours after birth, once both parent and baby are stable, feeding is well established, and everyone is ready to transition home. Our goal is for you to be cozy and settled at home as soon as it’s safe. Before you leave, we provide a full newborn exam, postpartum care, and clear guidance for recovery. We then continue care with home visits during the first two weeks to be sure you and your baby are both thriving.

  • Our global midwifery package includes thorough postpartum care for both parent and baby. We provide four home visits in the first two weeks after birth, followed by two visits at the Birth Cottage, giving you support where and when you need it most. Each visit includes newborn care, lactation support, recovery check-ins, and space to talk through your questions and experiences as you settle into life with your baby.

Newborn Care

  • Yes. We provide a complete newborn exam at birth and offer routine screenings, including the Oregon newborn blood spot test and congenital heart screening. Jaundice screening is available when indicated, and we check your baby’s weight and vital signs at every visit. Because we provide comprehensive newborn care, we are often the only provider your baby needs to see until their 8-week check with a pediatrician.

  • Yes. We recommend that all families establish care with a pediatrician. During the first six weeks, we provide full newborn care — including exams, weight checks, screenings, and ongoing support — so your baby often doesn’t need to see another provider until the 8-week pediatric visit. At that time, care transitions smoothly to your chosen pediatric provider.

Insurance & Payment

  • Yes. We proudly serve families covered by the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). While eligibility rules are a bit more specific, most families find it’s absolutely doable.

    Click here for full details on OHP coverage and eligibility.

  • Often, yes. Check out this page to learn more.

  • Our global fee includes prenatal visits, on-call availability from 36 weeks through 43 weeks, birth attendance, postpartum visits, and newborn care during the first six to eight weeks.

  • Yes. We offer flexible payment plans because we believe midwifery care should be accessible to every family. We’re happy to work with you to create a payment schedule that fits your needs and circumstances.

    Click here to learn more.

Safety & Clinical Care

  • Yes. For healthy, low-risk pregnancies, midwifery care is a safe, evidence-based option. We follow Oregon licensing standards and national guidelines for consultation and transfer, ensuring families receive care that is both personalized and backed by best practices. Our focus is on safety, trust, and supporting your family with the right level of care at every stage.

  • If a transfer is needed, your midwife will continue to support you through the process. We collaborate with hospitals in Medford and Ashland to ensure safe, coordinated care, and we resume routine postpartum care with you and your baby as soon as possible after the transfer.

  • We bring a full set of emergency equipment to every birth, including oxygen, medications to treat postpartum hemorrhage, IV supplies, suturing equipment, and tools to monitor both parent and baby’s vital signs. We are also fully equipped for neonatal resuscitation, with our entire team certified in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and Basic Life Support (BLS). These preparations ensure we are ready to respond quickly and effectively in the rare event of an emergency, while keeping the focus on safe, personalized care.

  • The decision to have an out-of-hospital birth is a profoundly personal one. We are happy to talk with you about your unique history and experience in order to help you determine if a birth with Coyote Midwifery is right for you.

    As Oregon Health Plan (OHP) providers, we are required to follow stricter eligibility guidelines, which you can learn more about here.

  • Yes, we support families planning VBAC in Southern Oregon. We provide individualized counseling and review your history to ensure safe and supportive care.

  • Great! We would love to serve you! Let’s meet and talk about your pregnancy.

  • If your pregnancy develops risk factors that make out-of-hospital birth unsafe, we will collaborate with obstetric providers and, if needed, transfer your care to a physician while continuing to support you in your journey.

Getting Started

  • We recommend booking as soon as you know you’re pregnant to ensure availability, as our space is limited. Most families are seen between 8–10 weeks for the first prenatal visit at our Ashland birth center. 

    When space allows, we also accept late transfers of care up to 36 weeks, so please reach out even if you’ve just found us later in your pregnancy.

  • Yes. We offer free consultations where you can meet with the midwife, tour Coyote Birth Cottage, and ask any questions you may have. These visits are a chance for you to get to know us and explore whether midwifery care feels like the right fit for your family—no pressure, just support.

  • We’ll provide a packing list during your prenatal care, but families often bring clothes for themselves and the baby, snacks, comfort items, and personal supplies.