Why Home Birth?

There are many reasons why families choose home birth. Some prefer the quiet, intimate setting of home, some are concerned with the overuse of routine birth interventions and want more autonomy in decision-making, others prefer the one-on-one care they receive from their midwives. All of these are valid reasons. Home birth is a sound choice for low-risk clients who want to be active consumers of their care. Choosing a home birth does not mean you must forego the standard of care. We offer most of the antenatal testing you would be offered in a physician’s care and, through the process of shared decision making, you will decide which tests or options you choose to utilize. If the need for more specialized care arises, we can refer you to a practitioner who can assist you. In general, your care will include:

Prenatal

  • Monthly visits until 28 weeks, visits every two weeks until 36 weeks, and weekly until birth. These visits will include a review of systems, urinalysis, maternal vital signs, and fetal heart tones.
  • Prenatal blood work,  ultrasound (via referral), blood glucose screening, Rhogam (if indicated), and GBS testing.
  • Rhogam (if indicated)
  • Individualized care and education to prepare you for the birth of your baby.

During Labor and Birth

  • Continuous care from active labor to delivery.
  • Continuous monitoring of you and your baby’s well-being.
  • Assistance with finding advantageous positions and comfort techniques during labor and pushing.

Postpartum

  • Immediate postpartum care and assessment of both mother and baby for at least 2-4 hours.
  • Rhogam (if indicated)
  • At least four visits in the postpartum period, two of which will be at your home, where both the well-being of mother and baby will be assessed.
  • Specialized breastfeeding assistance from an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
  • Referral to pediatric care for the baby, and any other referrals as necessary.

Unlike typical obstetric care, your midwifery appointments are scheduled for an hour, so that you have time to ask questions and we have time to get to know one another. Though situations may arise that are out of our scope of practice, or that make a hospital birth a better choice, most people find the care they receive from their midwives to be thorough and invaluable. We enjoy a wide range of collaborative relationships for consultation so that we can work together to resolve any problems. And we will work together to come up with a back-up plan, should you no longer be a good candidate for midwifery care, whether in  the prenatal, birth, or postpartum periods.

Have more questions about home birth? Here are some FAQs.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Mason Photography