IS HOMEBIRTH SAFE?
The evidence shows that out of hospital birth, either at home or at a free-standing birth center, for low risk women is as safe or safer than hospital birth with fewer medical interventions. Women who chose homebirth have shown greater satisfaction in their care. Please see the articles listed below for review of the research.
Summaries of some of the most recent studies can be found below.
Outcomes of Care for Planned Home Births
Some conditions that would be defined as high risk and are not appropriate for home birth with our practice are multiple gestations/ twins, high blood pressure, breech presentation at term, epilepsy etc…
IS HOMEBIRTH MESSY?
No. Unlike what most people imagine, homebirth is rarely messy. Your midwives will do everything possible to protect your home (and bed). Your birth kit will contain supplies that help us do this. When the midwife leaves your home you will be left with a bag of laundry (which we will happily get started for you) and a bag of garbage, but your home will look very much as it did when we arrived.
WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS DURING LABOR?
Sometimes circumstances of labor call for the need to facilitate transport to the hospital for additional support. Transport sometimes occurs in labor or in the immediate hours after the baby is born. In most cases there are events to precede the need to transport that lets the midwife know before a problem develops, allowing for transport non-emergently in your own car. Reasons for this kind of transfer may include, maternal exhaustion &/or desire for pain medication, insufficient contractions and need for pitocin, meconium in the amniotic fluid. Rarely, there is the need to call 9-1-1 and transport urgently by ambulance to the hospital.
Very rarely, and without warning, an event may occur that requires immediate and emergent transport to the hospital for equipment or services not available at home. In a situation like this, although there is no guarantee that being in the hospital would save a mom or baby it may make a difference. Parents choosing home birth must be aware of these risks and must be willing to accept these risks.
HOW CAN MY OLDER CHILDREN BE INVOLVED?
We love including older siblings into prenatal visits and the birth itself. With well- prepared kids, being at a sibling's birth can be exciting, special, and even fun. We really enjoy having siblings at births involved at a level at which both parents and kids are comfortable. Depending on age, it is important that older siblings have someone present at the birth that is there just for them: grandparent, babysitter, or family friend.
CAN I USE PAIN MEDICATION (EPIDURAL) AT A HOMEBIRTH?
No, licensed midwives do not offer pharmaceutical pain medication with the exception of local anesthetic for stitching small tears, which may occur during the birth. Licensed midwives are trained to use many non-pharmaceutical techniques to help laboring mothers relax and manage the possible discomfort of labor. Immersion into a labor tub can be a very effective pain reliever for some women. Some of the techniques we can offer include: acupressure, massage, hydrotherapy, sterile water injections, position-changes, counter-pressure.
CAN I HAVE A DOULA?
YES! We love working with doulas & value the support that doulas offer throughout your labor, birth and postpartum period. Please see our list of recommended doulas. If you have chosen a doula that we haven't worked with before we would love for you to bring her to an appointment with you so that your team can meet before your birth.
We are happy to take recommendations from clients and add to our list.