Natural homebirths, licensed midwife serving northeast Florida. Based in Jacksonville, FL.
A calm, safe homebirth—without hospital stress.
Why mothers choose homebirth with The Cove Midwifery in Jacksonville & St. Augustine
Personalized, One-on-One Care
I bring a calm, patient, motherly presence. Every visit is shaped around you, so you feel heard, supported, and confident.
Your Partner Fully Involved
Home birth lets your partner and loved ones support you freely—massaging, feeding, or simply holding your hand.
Less Medical Intervention, More Connection
Experience birth naturally, free from unnecessary hospital protocols and procedures.
Care in Your Native Language
I speak Spanish and Portuguese, ensuring you feel fully understood and supported throughout your journey.
Does finding the right midwife feel overwhelming?
Maybe you’ve already had a hospital birth that felt rushed and impersonal—too many rules, too little control.
Maybe you’re a first-time mom, overwhelmed by conflicting advice.
Or maybe you’ve decided on a home birth but feel stuck on the biggest question of all…
❌ “Will I be safe?”
❌ “Is this the right choice for my baby?”
❌ “How do I find someone I trust?”
👉 We get it. And we’re here to guide you through every step.
We believe birth is not a medical event—it’s a natural, transformative experience.
Every mother deserves to feel empowered, supported, and in control of her birth.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
HI! I’M ÁDELLE DANDRIDGE
Main Midwife at THE COVE Midwifery
Birthing my daughter at home was a transformative experience—one that lit a fire in me to support, empower, and care for other mothers. Born and raised in Brazil, I had always held a deep respect for the birthing process, but it wasn’t until I moved to the US and married my husband, Jon, and became pregnant with our daughter, Ádi, that I truly began to explore what choices were best for our growing family.
Choosing home birth was nothing short of revolutionary for us and those around us. Coming from a family rooted in a conventional medical mindset meant that educating our loved ones required extra care and determination. If we were going to choose a different path, we knew we had to be deeply informed. So I committed myself to learning—thoroughly and passionately.
That knowledge became my foundation. It gave me the strength to trust myself. With the support of a skilled birth team, the steady presence of my husband, and the cautious but loving encouragement of my family, I was able to surrender fully to the experience. I walked through that sacred portal between the physical and spiritual realms—a journey into the unknown parts of myself—to bring my daughter into my arms. And in doing so, I too was reborn alongside her.
Since then, I went on to train at the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery, specializing in providing evidence based home birth practice and deepening my trust in the body’s innate wisdom. I’ve watched women in my family claiming their own birthright to bring life into the world on their own terms, and becoming passionate educators and advocates for their own friends, creating this chain reaction of positive and empowering experiences. Over 150 births later, I’m still moved every single time I witness a mother discovering her own power, cradling her baby with pride and awe. There is nothing like standing at the threshold of birth, witnessing the strength, grace, and transformation of mothers as they step fully into their power. In those moments, I’m reminded that it is not by chance that I have the privilege of serving in one of the most meaningful roles on this earth—and for that I feel profoundly grateful.
ELIZABETH ROSS
Ádelle and I met as classmates at the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. While becoming friends, we learned we shared a lot in common, including a remarkably similar vision for midwifery. Now, I run my solo practice in the Ancient City of St. Augustine, and Ádelle runs her solo practice in the Bold City of Jacksonville, but we attend births together (2 licensed midwives at your birth!), and we back each other up to take time off for family, vacation, and the unexpected. This arrangement gives you all the benefits of having your own midwife, while giving us midwives the necessary support to practice midwifery safely and sustainably for the long term.
How to get started
Your 3-Step Journey to an Empowered Birth
Our homebirth midwife prices in Northeast Florida
Hospital births can cost $10,000–$30,000—even with insurance. Our complete home birth experience is $7,500, with no surprise bills, no unnecessary interventions, and care that’s fully centered on you.
Natural home birth
For mothers who want a fully supported, empowering home birth experience.
Pre-natal only care
Perfect for mothers who want personalized midwifery care but plan to deliver in a hospital or birth center.
At The Cove we provide safe, compassionate, and empowering home birth experiences that honor the unique journey of each family.
Hospital births vs homebirths
Home water births… a natural, sacred alternative you might not know about
How home births work
1. Your licensed midwife comes to you
I bring everything: oxygen, medications, fetal monitors, and a hospital transfer plan — just in case
2. You labor where you feel safest
Take a bath, nap in your bed, or dance in your living room — no rules, no rush.
3. Your baby arrives in peace
I stay with you from contractions to first cuddles. Immediate skin-to-skin. No bright lights or strangers taking your newborn.
FAQs
Yes, planned home births with a trained midwife are a safe option for low-risk pregnancies. A large study published in The Lancet found that home births attended by qualified midwives have comparable safety outcomes to hospital births while reducing the likelihood of medical interventions, cesareans, and infections (source). Additionally, home birth is associated with higher maternal satisfaction and lower rates of postpartum depression.
In Florida, midwives can practice legally through two pathways: Licensed Midwives (LMs) and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs). At The Cove Midwifery, we are Licensed Midwives (LMs) and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), specializing in out-of-hospital births.
What does this mean for you?
- Licensed Midwives (LMs) complete an intensive three-year, MEAC-accredited midwifery program and pass the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam to earn the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential.
- LMs are specifically trained for home births and birth center care—unlike hospital-based midwives (CNMs) who primarily work in medical settings.
- Our training covers prenatal care, labor & birth, postpartum care, newborn care, emergency management, pharmacology, and holistic wellness.
- We provide independent, personalized maternity care for low-risk pregnancies, collaborating with physicians and CNMs when needed.
At The Cove Midwifery, we attend births exclusively in clients’ homes, offering a safe, natural, and empowering birth experience with expert midwifery care.
We bring a wide range of medical tools and supplies to ensure we’re prepared for both the expected and the unexpected. These include:
- Monitoring tools for vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, fetal heart rate, oxygen levels)
- IV supplies and fluids, including antibiotics if necessary
- Oxygen and resuscitation equipment for both mother and baby
- Medications for managing postpartum bleeding
- Suturing supplies and local anesthetics for tear repairs
- Urinary catheter supplies, if needed
- Newborn care essentials, including eye ointment and injectable vitamin K
- Emergency transport plan and necessary supplies in case of transfer
The equipment and medications we carry are comparable to those used in free-standing birth centers and in hospitals that provide Level 1 maternity care—which means care designed for healthy, low-risk pregnancies. While we don’t have surgical or high-tech hospital infrastructure, we do bring what’s needed to manage most situations safely at home. And when something more is needed, we have plans in place for smooth collaboration and transport to higher-level care.
Our goal is to provide expert, hands-on care in the comfort of your home—while keeping safety at the center of everything we do.
Home birth is a great option for healthy, low-risk pregnancies. The best way to determine if it’s right for you is through a consultation where we review your medical history, previous births, and any risk factors. If needed, we collaborate with physicians to ensure the safest birth plan for you and your baby.
Our natural home birth service costs $7,500, and prenatal-only care is $4,500. We offer a 10% discount for military personnel. Many insurance plans cover midwifery services, and you may be eligible for reimbursement. We offer Verification of Benefits assistance to help you understand your coverage options.
A midwife is a licensed medical professional who provides prenatal care, delivers babies, and manages postpartum recovery. A doula is a non-medical professional who offers emotional, physical, and informational support during birth but does not perform medical procedures. Many families choose to have both a midwife and a doula for a well-rounded support team.
Midwives are highly trained to recognize and manage complications early. We bring essential medical equipment, monitor both mother and baby closely, and have clear emergency protocols, including access to hospital transfers if needed. We also collaborate with OBs and hospitals to ensure the safest possible outcome.
It’s estimated that around 9–13% of planned out-of-hospital births involve a transfer. While we can’t always predict if or when that might happen, we’ll prepare you well—with open conversations during prenatal visits and a personalized transport plan. Talking about it ahead of time helps things feel less stressful and more manageable if a transfer becomes part of your story.
At The Cove, we make sure that we only take a small number of clients each month so we can be fully present for each client. So it’s pretty rare for two labors to happen at the same time. But if it does, don’t worry—we’ve got a strong network of trusted midwives here in Northeast Florida who can step in and support you until your team arrives. You’ll be in good hands, no matter what.
Choosing a home birth with a licensed midwife offers several advantages, including:
✅ Fewer medical interventions (like inductions and cesareans).
✅ Lower risk of infection compared to hospital births.
✅ A calm, familiar environment for labor and delivery.
✅ Increased satisfaction and lower rates of postpartum depression.
✅ Cost-effectiveness—home births are often more affordable than hospital births.
These benefits are supported by multiple studies confirming the safety and effectiveness of midwifery-led home births.
Yes! Water birth is a safe and popular option for pain relief and a gentler birthing experience. We provide guidance on setting up a birth pool and ensuring your space is safe and prepared.
Yes, some women are candidates for a VBAC at home, depending on their medical history and previous cesarean. We carefully assess your individual situation to ensure it is a safe and supported option.
Midwives provide complete prenatal, birth, and postpartum care for low-risk pregnancies. However, if any concerns arise, we collaborate with OBs or specialists for additional support or testing if needed.
You’ll need a clean space, a birth kit (which we’ll help you order), a short list of supplies to gather, and your support team.
Some of my most treasured memories were made at my family’s beachfront home in Brazil, nestled on a serene stretch of coastline called the Cove of Corals. This special beach is protected by two layers of coral reefs — one close to shore, the other farther out, where the ocean begins to deepen. Together, they create a natural sanctuary: a warm, calm, crystal-clear pool teeming with vibrant sea life. There are no strong currents, just soft sandy bottoms and velvety rocks rising gently above the water, where you can walk and marvel at the beauty all around you. It’s a protected paradise — for thousands of ocean creatures, and for us.
That cove was my playground growing up. I’d spend my days in the water, exploring and feeling completely one with nature, only running back home when I saw my grandmother’s arms waving from the house — her signal that it was time for lunch, made by her loving hands with ingredients gifted by that very same ocean. It was a place passed down to us — a living expression of my grandfather’s powerful, protective love for his family. A love rooted in legacy, in guardianship, in the instinct to create safety and belonging. (Love, love, love!)
The Cove became a symbol to me — of balance, of nature’s wisdom, of the sacred harmony that exists when we’re held, safe and free, within something bigger than ourselves. Watching the tides roll in and out over the years, I came to trust deeply in the rhythms of the natural world — and the nature within myself.
That same spirit lives in our bodies. It’s the intelligence that creates life, grows our babies, and brings them earthside. The Cove represents that quiet mystery within — the protected place, both wild and wise, where birth begins.
Ready for a natural home birth?
With The Cove Midwifery by your side you will…
✔ Feel fully supported, safe, and respected throughout your pregnancy and birth.
✔ Trust your own body and instincts instead of fearing birth.
✔ Be an active participant in your birth experience instead of a patient following hospital protocol.
✔ Bring your baby into the world in peace, not panic.
Or contact me using the form below