Home Birth
Benefits of Having a Home Birth with a Midwife
Safety and Home Birth
No study has ever shown that out of hospital birth resulted in worse outcomes provided women were pre-screened for risk factors and had planned an out-of-hospital birth with a trained attendant. The largest landmark study is reported in the British Medical Journal in June 2005. It proves that having a planned home birth attended by a Certified Professional Midwife offers a safe an outcome for low risk mothers and babies as does a hospital birth with a much lower rate of medical interventions, including cesareans.
Out of hospital births report half or less of intervention rates with equally good or better outcomes. National average rate of cesarean delivery is 32.8 percent. Among low-risk mothers delivering in hospitals the rate is 19.0 percent, compared to 3-4 percent for home and birthing center deliveries respectively.
Midwifery Care Package
Prenatal Visits
Home Birth
Postpartum Visits
- The normalcy of birth is promoted with midwifery care.
- The birth setting is where the mother feels familiar.
- Information is shared and decisions are made together.
- Emotional support is provided.
- An awareness of the spiritual significance is acknowledged.
- Care is individualized and continuous. A relationship is established between the client and care giver based upon trust.
- Having a home birth can be empowering for women. The birth experience is important too not just “a healthy baby, healthy mom”. Surveys show what women need most during labor is to be respected and treated as an individual, to be informed about what is happening and to be involved with decision making.
- In home birth the family’s values are honored. The partner has an opportunity to be involved. Siblings can attend the birth. This can offer a feeling of family closeness. Some families attribute having a home birth with reducing sibling rivalry later.
Safety and Home Birth
No study has ever shown that out of hospital birth resulted in worse outcomes provided women were pre-screened for risk factors and had planned an out-of-hospital birth with a trained attendant. The largest landmark study is reported in the British Medical Journal in June 2005. It proves that having a planned home birth attended by a Certified Professional Midwife offers a safe an outcome for low risk mothers and babies as does a hospital birth with a much lower rate of medical interventions, including cesareans.
Out of hospital births report half or less of intervention rates with equally good or better outcomes. National average rate of cesarean delivery is 32.8 percent. Among low-risk mothers delivering in hospitals the rate is 19.0 percent, compared to 3-4 percent for home and birthing center deliveries respectively.
Midwifery Care Package
Prenatal Visits
- Monthly prenatal visits until the 30th week of pregnancy
- Bimonthly prenatal visits from 30 weeks until 36 weeks
- Weekly visits after 36 weeks
Home Birth
- Telephone consultation as needed
- Continuous hands-on labor and birth assistance
- Immediate postpartum care until mother and baby are stable (usually 3-4 hours)
Postpartum Visits
- 24 hours
- 3-5 days
- 2 weeks
- 6 weeks
Luca, born at home in 2013
