Your pregnancy care at Oula starts with a Virtual Intake visit, regardless of where you are in your pregnancy. Unlike standard maternity care, we’ll see you as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test.

Your next step should be to watch the FAQ videos on our homepage to get your questions answered about Oula ahead of your appointment.

During your virtual visit, we’ll discuss the best time for your first in-person visit and ultrasound. Most ultrasounds, including anatomy scans, take place at Oula clinics.

Transferring your care to us from another practice? Please make sure to send your records to us well ahead of your appointment.

At Oula, we combine the best of obstetrics and midwifery care. We view pregnancy and birth as natural physiological processes, and only use medical interventions such as c-sections when absolutely necessary. This means you’ll have OBs and Midwives as part of your care team, who are focused on leading with evidence, equipping you with the right information, and trusting you to know your body best. We’re also built with your convenience in mind, providing options for virtual visits, remote monitoring, and high-touch communication. Through the Oula portal, you can book your appointments, track your progress, and make informed decisions about your preferences.

Check out our video on what makes Oula different.

Oula uses a collaborative care model, which means that we leverage both obstetricians and midwives. Our obstetricians follow a traditional M.D. or D.O. training pathway, with four years of medical school and four years of residency. Our midwives follow a certified nurse midwife (CNM) or certified midwife (CM) training pathway. They complete a graduate program in midwifery, which includes 500-1,000 hours of clinical practice. OBGYNs, CNMs, and CMs are required to pass national certification exams.

Oula is based on a “collaborative care model,” which allows you to get the best of both midwive’s and OBGYN’s expertise. Midwives lead much of the low-risk care and OBGYNs lead when there are pre-existing conditions or conditions that develop during pregnancy, as well as performing procedures and C-Sections.

We are happy to accept VBAC pregnancies (and are proud to have outcomes that beat National averages!) as well as patients of any age at Oula.

Most pregnancies are a fit for care at Oula, though some medical histories or pregnancies would benefit from more specialized care. If that’s the case, we’ll happily refer to you to our like-minded partners.

If you’ve already started your prenatal care with another provider, we’d be happy to welcome you as a transfer patient until you are 35 weeks along. We will need to review your medical records prior to your visit and ask that you send them to us as soon as you book your appointment.

Today, all Oula babies are born at the hospital. We do not offer home birth services.

We’re incredibly proud of the clinic space we’ve created. It was designed to be warm, welcoming, and tailor-made for the pregnancy experience. Our clinic includes a library of our favorite pregnancy books for you to peruse while you’re waiting, exercise balls for comfortable pelvic alignment while sitting, a hydration station with water and herbal teas, a toy box for any infants tagging along, and even aromatherapy scents that are selected to minimize nausea. We used curved, natural materials, and soft lighting, to create a clinical space we actually want to spend time in.

If you’d like to transition your care to Oula during your pregnancy, we are happy to work with your existing providers to get access to your existing medical records. If you’d like to complete your pregnancy outside of Oula, you’re still welcome to use any of our virtual coaching visits, as well as use our app to help guide the key decisions in your journey.

We are in-network with many of the plans from the below commercial and Medicaid carriers. Note that each insurance company has dozens of plans, so we’ll need to verify the eligibility of your exact plan.

Commercial:

• Aetna
• Cigna
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Anthem
• Emblem HIP and Emblem GHI
• Oscar
• Centivo
• Oxford Health Plans
• United Healthcare

Medicaid:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus

For labor & delivery, we recommend verifying with your health plan that Mount Sinai West (NPI# 1104982917) is an in-network hospital. Many health plans have it listed in their system by an old name (Mount Sinai St Lukes and Roosevelt).

Note: If your insurance company is not listed above, feel free to reach out to us directly to check the status as we are currently contracting with additional health plans in New York. You can reach us at 718-400-8339 or hello@oulahealth.com

Pregnancy care is covered by most insurance plans. However, out-of-pocket costs (or the portion that is not covered by insurance) varies depending on your plan and benefit package. Generally coverage and out of pocket costs fall into these categories:  

1. Prenatal & postpartum visits (billed by Oula)
2. Routine testing, genetic screening, outside ultrasounds (billed by the lab or imaging center)
3. Delivery (billed partially by Oula and partially by the hospital)
4. Other common ancillary services (billed by that service provider)

Like most things in healthcare, the answer is unfortunately “it depends”, based on your individual insurance plan. Below we have a set of questions to ask your insurance plan to clarify your benefits for prenatal care. We are happy to talk you through these questions and the answers you get back from your health plan:

• What are my annual in-network deductibles?
• How much of my in-network deductible have I met so far this year?
• Is the deductible based on a calendar year? If not, when does it start and end?
• Does my deductible count towards my out-of-pocket max?
• What is my co-insurance rate for in-network coverage?
• What is my individual out of pocket maximum for in-network coverage?
• Does my plan cover midwives?
• I plan to deliver at Mount Sinai West, can you confirm that this facility is in-network? The NPI for the facility is 1104982917

While it can vary by health plan, typically we bill your insurance company:

• For the first visit
• For the “global” bill after your delivery which covers all the prenatal visits, except the first visit, the labor & delivery, and a postpartum visit
• For any visits, tests, ultrasounds, procedures that occur during prenatal care that aren’t considered part of the “global” bill. 

For appointments outside of traditional clinical care such as nutrition, lactation consulting, the cost of these will depend on your specific insurance plan. You also can pay out-of-pocket, with sliding scale options for those in need.

Yes! Email us at hello@oulahealth.com and we are happy to help.

Yes! We are in-network with many of the plans from the below commercial and Medicaid carriers. One of our trusted care navigators will guide you through verifying eligibility of your exact plan.

• Commercial:
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Anthem
  • Emblem HIP and Emblem GHI
  • Oscar
  • Centivo
  • Oxford Health Plans
  • United Healthcare
• Medicaid:
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus

• Annual Wellness Visit: Your annual exam focused on preventative care, including pap smear, pelvic exam, bloodwork, and breast exam.
• GYN Virtual Counseling: See us virtually for prescription needs, contraception counseling, and UTI evaluation.
• GYN In-Person Visit: See us in person for STI screening, pain, bleeding, discharge or other concerns.
• Note: We don’t provide colposcopy, pelvic ultrasounds, mammograms or other minor or major gynecological surgeries. If you and your Oula provider determine these options are clinically necessary, we will ensure a warm referral to one of our vetted imaging or surgical partners of your choosing.

We provide both in-person and virtual gynecology care. For any virtual visit, we may have to see you for an in-person follow up, depending on each individual circumstance and need.

At Oula, we provide judgment-free gynecological care. Our midwives and OBGYNs take the time to get to know you, focusing on your health history, physical health, emotional health, and goals for the future. Whether you’re due for your annual, navigating a gynecologic issue, or planning to start a family, we’ll support you at every stage of your journey.

It is generally recommended to have a gynecological exam annually. All routine exams are covered in Oula’s Annual Wellness Visit.

Your annual wellness visit will be focused on preventative care and will include routine exams such as a pap smear, pelvic exam, bloodwork, and a breast exam. Oula midwives & OBs will take the time to get to know you as a whole person, understanding how your health is intertwined with your family, community, work and home.

Note: Any separate problems or IUD insertion/removal is covered in a separate visit from your annual exam.

No – gynecology care is open to all, regardless of whether you have given birth with Oula!

Our care team of midwives and OBs will center consent, preference and non-judgment in all aspects of your care. Cultural competency around gender identity, sexual orientation and race is core to our mission to provide equitable gynecological care to all.

While we can work to make your hospital birth home-like, the hospital has its own systems and protocols that are designed to keep everyone safe. We believe our patients and their babies benefit from the safety net of your Oula midwives and doctors who work in strong collaboration with the nurses and physicians at the hospital. 

With every Oula birth, the midwifery team will be taking care of you throughout your labor and birth, and will continue to check on you during your postpartum stay.

Oula is a collaborative midwifery-led practice that offers hospital-based births. So, when it is time for you to have your baby, you’ll head to the hospital and your primary provider will be an Oula midwife.

A hospital environment allows both “high risk” and “low risk” births to take place there. If your birth requires medical interventions (such as a cesarean birth) to keep you or your baby safe, your Oula midwives will be with you at the hospital throughout to help you understand what is happening. We have access to world-class medical care and can collaborate with obstetricians, pediatricians, or neonatologists who can respond and participate in your care with a moment’s notice.

Read more here.

There are lots of reasons we chose to deliver at Mt Sinai West. One of the most popular birth centers in NYC history used to be based within Mt Sinai West. Although it is now closed, the hospital is committed to policies, procedures, and even a culture, that allow low-risk patients to be cared for in a similar way. For example, allowing intermittent monitoring, offering hydrotherapy (tubs!), nitrous oxide, and other alternatives for pain management, etc.

Additionally, we think it’s important that all the other providers you may engage with while in the hospital (OBs who help with emergencies, Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists who care for high-risk patients, etc), are aligned with the benefits of midwifery care and enthusiastic about collaborating. Mt Sinai West has a long history of doing that. And an added bonus: the majority of our current and upcoming clinical team members have already worked at Mt Sinai West and are very familiar with how to navigate it.

To learn more about our approach to birth and labor, watch this video.

It’s very common for people to wonder about the optimal distance between their home and the hospital! We can tell you that patients come to Mt Sinai West from all 5 boroughs (and even New Jersey and Westchester!) to have their babies. 

When your contractions begin, you’ll give us a call, and we’ll decide together when it’s time to leave for the hospital. Most of the time we’ll encourage you to stay home for a while longer, and we’ll be in constant contact about how you’re feeling and the timing of your contractions. We’ll also take into account where you are coming from, and how you will be getting to the hospital, to ensure you aren’t cutting it close.

We should also note that, especially for first time moms, labor often lasts many hours! Despite what the movies may have us think, labor very rarely involves a “rush to the hospital.” As long as you call us right at the beginning, we’ll be able to coach you through the right timing. 

Yes! Birth can be painful, but we can help you build a toolkit to avoid suffering, and reduce or relieve your pain. We’re judgement-free about whether you’d prefer to be medicated or unmedicated, and you’re also welcome to change your mind! In the hospital, you will have the option of 3 types of medicated pain relief: Epidural, Nitrous Oxide, and IV narcotics such as Morphine or Stadol. It’s important to chat through the pros and cons of these options with your care team. If you’d prefer an unmedicated birth, your midwife and doula (if you have one) can guide you through breathwork, acupressure and massage, and you may even have a birthing ball and warm tub available as well. Even if you plan to have an epidural in labor, you will likely experience some pain, so it is important to plan non-medicated support and comfort measures as well.

Unfortunately, no. Many of the rooms do have small bathtubs and you are welcome to use them during labor, but hospital policy does not allow birth to happen in the tub. That said, we are big fans of using water for pain relief, and recommend spending plenty of time in the bath while laboring at home during the early stages of labor.

Midwives are licensed health care professionals that are trained to provide expert nonsurgical care to women from puberty to menopause. This includes pregnancy, from prenatal care to delivery and neonatal care. While a midwife’s experience and area of expertise is in low-risk pregnancies, they are trained to identify complications and work with obstetricians in emergency situations. For most birthing parents, their pregnancy is low-risk and can be led by a midwife.

Check out our blog post: What actually is a midwife?

We follow ACOG guidelines at a minimum, but also are happy to see you as early as your positive pregnancy test. We can also do early ultrasounds at an Oula clinic around 7-8 weeks when it’s possible to see your embryo. After that, it’s standard to have monthly visits starting around week 10, that move to bi-weekly, and then finally weekly leading up to your due date. We also offer some of these as virtual visits, as well as a few optional group virtual educational visits.

Watch our quick video on collaborative care at Oula.

We love doulas at Oula, and our name is actually a nod toward their wonderful care and proven results. A doula is a non-medical member of the birth team that provides continuous emotional and physical support, from when your labor begins at-home until you’re back at home with your baby. While OBs and midwives make medical decisions and deliver your baby, doulas serve as a coach, advocate, and resource. This continuous support is an evidence-based method of reducing c-section and other intervention rates throughout the course of labor. Many doulas have particular expertise in pain coping techniques, including comforting touch and massage, breathing and meditation, and acupressure. You can find doulas in a wide range of budgets, some with sliding scale fees, and we’re happy to help match you. Read more about doulas on our blog.

Pregnancy and birth are more than just medical experiences – they also involve your mental health, nutrition, pelvic floor health, and desires to breastfeed. At Oula, we have a dedicated care coordination team that will help you navigate amongst the various supportive providers and help you decide what’s best for you, as well as help match you with providers in our network. For some services, like nutrition and lactation counseling, we have Oula providers who can directly coordinate with your midwife and doctor.

At Oula, we practice whole person care and believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. That’s why we integrate automated mental health check-ins into your pregnancy and postpartum care. As an Oula patient, you also have access to mental wellness consults with our care team who specialize in perinatal mental health and can prescribe or manage your medications, or discuss support options available to you.

Yes! Your support person is important to you and us. We also welcome your support person into some of our group class offerings.

From demystifying cycle tracking and fertile windows to preparing for genetic testing, Preconception Counseling at Oula goes beyond traditional care and offers personalized support, uniquely tailored to meet your needs. 

What to expect from Preconception Counseling: 

• A personalized review of your medical history 
• A guide to cycle and ovulation tracking
• An overview of genetic testing options 
• How to prepare your body for conception
• Co-creation of a personalized preconception plan
• A space to discuss your hopes, fears, and address questions and concerns
• Compassionate & evidence-based guidance from our experienced team 

What this offering does not include: 

• Fertility diagnostics or treatments for those actively struggling to conceive. We’d be happy to refer you to one of our fertility clinic partners for that!

Oula offers virtual Preconception Counseling for those ready to start their pregnancy journey. This offering does not include fertility diagnostics or treatments for those actively struggling to conceive. If you’ve already been trying for 6 months, we’d recommend you see a fertility clinic instead and we are happy to refer you!

Oula Circles are a cash pay service and are not covered by insurance. FSA/HSA payments are accepted. For a limited time, we’re offering $100 off your membership! Use code SUMMER100 at checkout.

As we build Circles, we will be working to ensure the diversity of our educators and Circles cohorts. We are committed to creating safe spaces where every individual feels welcome and has access to the support and care they need. We also understand that this price may not be accessible, which is why we include supplemental programs and support for Oula patients as part of our care, like our newborn feeding group and extensive resources and workshops. If cost is a concern and you’re particularly interested in joining Oula Circles, reach out to us about our scholarship program at circles@oulahealth.com.

The discount code will unlock in your Oula portal under the “perks” tab after you’ve had your first visit.

Oula Postpartum Circles offer 8 weeks of group support with a postpartum doula/lactation counselor and a community of birthing parents going through the same thing, at the same time. Your doula will guide you through weekly virtual gatherings covering topics such as sleep and feeding, and you’ll get the tools and resources to take the guesswork out of the early days. Learn more here.

We’ll refund you no questions asked 60 days before your due date. That said, we understand that birth and postpartum circumstances are unpredictable and so please let us know if you have extenuating circumstances and need to cancel after that point.

We have opened bookings for all 2024 due dates!

We recommend joining the Circle that most closely follows your due month. Most Circle participants will be within their fourth trimester when sessions begin. Expect an intimate group of people in your Circle.

You will gain access to your Circles Whatsapp chat a few weeks before your virtual sessions are set to start.

We will provide everything you need to know and zoom links for each session closer to your Circle start date.

If you’re currently pregnant or newly postpartum and seeking a comforting space to learn, ask questions, and share experiences, Oula Circles are for you. You do not have to be an Oula patient to join Circles!

Can I join if I live outside of NY? While most of our Circles participants are New York based given our clinic locations, we welcome those who live outside of the New York area.