Why a home birth ?

 

Modern home births can be described as the

combination of the technology and medication of

a modern hospital with the peacefulness of

home and traditional alternative therapies.

It brings the best of both worlds to you.

The nurse-midwife will come to your house

with her equipment and medications/herbs

when you begin active labor (or earlier if she

feels assessment is needed). She will be with

you throughout your entire labor; monitoring

for safety, providing support and

recommendations to make labor remain smooth

and progressing. There is also a trained birth

assistant who will come and be available to help

the midwife and provide extra medical care as

needed. After the birth, she will suture as needed and inspect the placenta. Typically your newborn will be born directly into your loving arms and will remain skin-to-skin at the breast for 1-2 hours. After this the newborn becomes sleepy, allowing for a full newborn exam. You can take a shower, eat something refreshing and get into your own clean bed to rest with your little one. Your midwife will make sure breastfeeding is off to a good start and will review what you need to know to care for yourself and newborn for the first day. She remains available to you via phone. The next day she will come and reassess you, answer questions, evaluate nursing and the newborn. I will obtain the new born screen at this visit and the second new born screen at the 2 week postpartum visit. Follow up visits occur at 2 weeks and 6 weeks to ensure the postpartum transition is progressing smoothly. My Medical Back-up Plan An important part of home birth is having an established and supportive hospital back-up in the case of a client risking-out or simply needing further medical evaluation. We are blessed to be in an area of many hospital-based home birth supportive doctors and nurse-midwives. Your medical back-up will primarily depend on your geographic location and the issue at hand. Your midwife will make a specific plan with you before proceeding with any care. Our Supplies The nurse-midwife will bring a birth ball and a robozo to provide extra comfort and allow for a smoother, more pleasant birth. She will also bring medical supplies (rarely used, but always available) including maternal and infant resuscitation (oxygen, suction), IV supplies, urinary catheterization, amniohook, sterile suturing instruments, sterile supplies to verify waters broken, and medications and herbs for hemorrhage. Our Perks One of the main advantages of a home birth is having a highly qualified midwife give you her undivided attention, allowing for optimal care. In the hospital, oftentimes there is a busy nurse who has several patients and she does not have the same level of training and knowledge to keep you as healthy and progressing. It’s all about you. You are in your space with your comforts and your personal support team. Home birth enables you to have a healthy birth that combines evidence-based care with your personal needs. You are the priority, not the hospital’s protocols or schedule. Your midwife knows you and your family! This enables her to identify when the birth, you or your newborn may need extra medical attention, and also facilitates her working as a part of your established social support team.