FAQs

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)?

A Certified Nurse-Midwife is a registered nurse with graduate-level education in midwifery and women’s health who has passed a national board certification exam. CNMs are licensed to provide prenatal care, attend births, care for mothers and newborns after delivery, and deliver routine gynecologic care such as annual exams, contraception, and screenings. At Cove Midwifery and Women's Health, your care is led by CNMs, including Julie Oates, CNM, with Board-Certified OB/GYNs integrated into the practice. Learn more about our team.

How is a midwife different from an OB/GYN?

OB/GYNs are physicians and surgeons trained to manage high-risk pregnancies, complications, and procedures such as cesarean births. Midwives specialize in supporting healthy, low-risk pregnancies with a relationship-centered, low-intervention approach that emphasizes education and continuity. At Cove, you do not have to choose: your midwife leads your care while our collaborating OB/GYNs are available for consultation or immediate intervention whenever your pregnancy calls for it.

Is midwifery care safe?

Yes. For healthy, low-risk pregnancies, midwife-led care is associated with excellent outcomes, fewer unnecessary interventions, and high patient satisfaction. Safety is the foundation of our model. We screen and monitor carefully throughout your prenatal care, and because three Board-Certified OB/GYNs are part of our practice, any shift in your risk level is handled quickly by a team you already know.

What services do you offer?

We offer prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, lactation support, childbirth education, fertility and preconception counseling, and well-woman gynecology, including annual exams, Pap and HPV screening, contraception counseling, STI testing, and perimenopause care. View all services.

Where do your patients give birth?

Our midwives attend births at a premier South Bay hospital, so you get the comfort of midwife-led labor support with full hospital resources close at hand. Your midwife will discuss birth location details, hospital registration, and your birth preferences with you during your prenatal visits. Visit our Labor & Delivery page to learn more.

Can I have a natural, unmedicated birth with Cove?

Yes. Our midwives specialize in supporting physiologic, low-intervention birth with movement, hydrotherapy, and hands-on comfort measures. We also fully support patients who choose an epidural or other pain relief. Your birth plan is yours, and our role is to give you evidence-based information and advocate for your preferences. Our childbirth education classes help you prepare.

What happens if I develop a complication during pregnancy?

If a complication such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure in pregnancy develops, your midwife will coordinate with our in-practice OB/GYNs and, when needed, maternal-fetal medicine specialists. In many cases you can continue seeing your midwife alongside your physician, so your care stays personal and continuous. See our conditions we treat for more.

How early should I schedule my first prenatal appointment?

Call us as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test. Most first prenatal visits take place between 8 and 10 weeks, when we confirm your pregnancy, estimate your due date, review your health history, and order initial labs. Contacting us early also gives our billing team time to review your insurance benefits before your first visit.

How long are appointments at Cove?

Our prenatal and midwifery visits typically last 30 to 60 minutes, roughly double the industry average. That time allows for thorough clinical care plus real conversations about nutrition, birth planning, emotional health, and anything else on your mind.

Do you accept insurance?

We work with many plans and specialize in self-funded employer plans, which are often administered by carriers such as Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, or UnitedHealthcare but paid for by a large employer. These plans frequently cover our midwifery-led and concierge services. Our billing team offers a complimentary maternity benefit review before your first visit. Visit our Insurance page for details.

What is the Cove Concierge Membership?

The Cove Concierge Membership covers the non-clinical services that set our practice apart, including priority midwife access, extended visits, curated classes, Cove Circles group visits, and coordination with our integrative specialists. Patients with qualifying employer-funded plans may have the fee waived to $0, while patients with standard fully insured plans or self-pay pay a flat $5,000 fee. All Cove patients are enrolled. Learn more on our Membership page.

Can I use my HSA or FSA for the membership fee?

In many cases, yes. Concierge fees are often an eligible expense for Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts. Please confirm eligibility with your plan administrator before payment.

Do you provide care after the baby is born?

Yes. Our postpartum care includes early recovery check-ins, emotional health screening, pelvic floor guidance, feeding support, and direct access to your midwives as you adjust at home. We watch closely for concerns like postpartum depression and anxiety and connect you with specialists when needed.

Do you offer breastfeeding help?

Yes. Our lactation support includes prenatal feeding planning, latch and positioning help, weighted feeds, supply management, and back-to-work pumping strategies. If you are experiencing pain, low supply, or other breastfeeding challenges, we can help you troubleshoot.

Do I need to be pregnant to see a midwife at Cove?

No. Our CNMs provide well-woman gynecology for every stage of life, including annual exams, cervical cancer screening, birth control, care for vaginal and urinary infections, and support for perimenopause and menopause.

What is preconception counseling?

Preconception counseling is a visit focused on preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy before you conceive. We review your health history, labs, nutrition, supplements, cycle tracking, and genetic screening options, and we can help evaluate concerns such as irregular periods or PCOS.

Which areas do you serve?

Our office is at 1026 Manhattan Beach Blvd, 1st Floor, in Manhattan Beach. We care for families throughout the South Bay, including Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Torrance, and Palos Verdes Estates.

How do I become a patient?

Call (844) 808-COVE or request an appointment online. Visit our New Patients page to see what to bring to your first visit, and learn more about our practice and why families choose Cove.