We hear stories from women who dream of all the things that come with home birth, yet they are planning a hospital birth. When asked why they chose the location the chose, they often tell us it is because they want to deliver in the safest place possible. There’s one question they fail to ask- IS HOME BIRTH SAFE? The short answer is yes. It is statistically the safest place you can deliver in America- the industrialized nation with the highest infant and maternal mortality rate in the developed world.
Let’s take a journey of the imagination.
Those two little pink lines reveal excitement, feeling anxious, maybe scared. Your thoughts are spinning. Will it be a boy or a girl? Will they have a nose like you or their father? What will they be when they grow up.
At some point the excitement wanes enough to let other thoughts creep in. You start to think about logistics. Where will this baby be born? How far is the furthest hospital? What are their safety statistics like? Who will be your care provider?
You have a really good friend who suggests looking into a home birth. What? A home birth? No. Women DIE having babies.
Your friend is persistent and knowledgeable. She tells you about her experience and it sounds blissful.
She had personalized care.
She knew her providers trusted her body.
She didn’t have to worry about when to get in the car.
She didn’t have to worry about having a baby in the car.
She didn’t have to GET IN THE CAR.
She felt cared for, respected, valued as a consumer. She speaks so passionately, you start to wonder if this blissful experience is right for you.
Is home birth safe?
For birthing people who have low risk pregnancies, often including those working towards a VBAC, it is very safe to have a home birth. Studies show that having a home birth attended by a registered midwife, a birthing person is less likely to have interventions, maternal or fetal mortality, tearing, and hemorrhaging. Babies in the home birth group of the study had higher APGAR scores and were less likely to need resuscitation, oxygen therapy, or to have meconium aspiration.
Is a home birth right for me?
- Do you want to have a connected personalized relationship to your provider?
- Do you hate the idea of rotating through a series of doctors and having the person who attends your birth be an unknown?
- Do you want to be able to ask lots of questions and get thorough answers?
- Do you want to have an intervention free or low intervention birth?
- Do you worry about the risk of unnecessary interventions?
- Do you have “white coat syndrome”?
- Do you want someone to check up on you before six weeks postpartum?
If you answered yes to most of these questions, home birth might be right for you. It is important to feel confident and comfortable with your birth team and your birth setting. You can interview multiple midwives or ask your doula for advice based on who they have worked with. Remember you are always in charge of your birth.
What is a home birth like?
After seeing those pink lines appear, you call the midwife practice and schedule your first appointment. She is so excited for you and tells you she looks forward to seeing you for the consult. She’s even willing to see you before you are eight weeks. At the meeting, you are greeted by a warm and loving face. You are nervous but excited. The midwife takes time to answer all of your questions and hear your concerns.
Once a month, you meet with the midwife going over your health and your baby’s progress. She takes so much time with you. You never feel rushed or dismissed. She explains everything she is going to do before she does it. At your ten or twelve week appointment, she brings out the doppler. Your attention is drawn to the most beautiful melody you have ever heard. You swell with an abundance of joy and love at the sound of your baby’s heartbeat. Your midwife talks to your baby and tells them what a good job they are doing.
You enter your third trimester and you see the midwife twice a month now. You hear that precious little heartbeat every other week. Your midwife suggests a diet based test to help determine your glucose levels rather than that nasty drink your friends talk about. She has suggestions for easing pregnancy related complaints and ailments.
Just like with an OB, you see your midwife once a week beginning at 36 weeks. One of the weeks she even comes to you for your appointment. During your home visit, she learns about your home, checks your supplies are prepared and she helps you plan where you might want to labor and suggests a good place for delivery, though she doesn’t mind if plans change the day of.
As your midwife has watched you and your baby grow, her love for you and that baby has grown as well.
Now it’s time for your birth!
Your midwife and doula are there to support you. You wanted your mom and the baby’s older siblings to attend. The midwife was totally cool with the idea.
You want the comfort of the shower to loosen your muscles. The submersion of your body in a warm tub, YOUR tub, melts away the tension. There are no restrictions on food or drinks. You nourish your body properly and rest, uninterrupted, in preparation for pushing.
Your midwife and doula trust you, your body, and your baby. They know you will find the best way for you to birth. They encourage you to listen to your body, remind you that you are a badass and that you are doing exactly what you should be doing.
Home birth is safe because…
The midwife checks to make sure both you and your baby are healthy during the labor. She listens intermittently to the baby’s heart rate and takes your temperature and blood pressure periodically. Her high quality training and experience have helped her know when things are going smoothly and she is fully equipped with knowledge and skills if a need arises. You know she also values your safety, so if things aren’t quite right, she would suggest a transfer before the situation was an emergency.
Sweet first cries
Your precious baby is in your arms; the first cries have been heard. The midwife quickly assesses the baby to make sure they are adapting well and makes sure everyone has a smooth transition. Your doula is right by your side offering refreshing drinks and your victory food of choice. The midwives and doula clean up and throw any fabric that was used in the wash. Except for a new baby, your house looks like nothing happened. They leave for the night and are on call 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns you may have. The midwife even comes back between 24-72 hours after the birth.
Finally, you are snuggled in the comfort of your own bed with your brand new family member and your house is quiet. Newborns who are left alone after delivery will normally sleep for a longer stretch of 4-5 hours after nursing for the first time. You take everyone’s advice and drift off for a nice long sleep in preparation for the typical newborn sleep schedule you know you are about to experience.
How does this experience sound to you? If you still have questions, give us a call. We are happy to help you weigh your options.
If you had a home birth we would love to hear your experiences in the comments!
By: Angelina Miller
