Homebirth

Having a homebirth can be life changing. I know when our 3 yr old was born it was miraculous. But having a homebirth should NOT be taken lightly. Well, the entire process of being pregnant, labor and birth should not be taken lightly. There has to be a connection with your midwife. You have to trust her and she has to trust you. When she tells you that this and this needs to be done to keep you and the baby healthy, then you need to listen and ADHERE to that advice. A homebirth midwife will not take just anyone. You interview them and they interview you. Safety of you and your baby is their primary concern so if you are lackadaisical about your health or the health of your baby...you better go looking for another care provider. They also generally do not take ANY high risk clients. Some take VBACs but only on a case by case basis. That includes taking anyone on that has to be on medication that has to be monitored by a doctor, anyone whose has PROM before 37w and who has not delivered by 42w, etc. Here are a few quotes from a few homebirth websites:

Many women feel there is no safer or more loving place to give birth than in their own home with the assistance of a midwife. The home setting is familiar and natural -- a place where the new baby and family are together from the start.

For low-risk pregnancies, there is no evidence to suggest that giving birth in the hospital is safest. The evidence does show much lower rates of obstetrical intervention, such as forceps and c/section deliveries, with midwife assisted births.

Compared with hospital delivery, home birth asks more of parents -- more participation, more responsibility -- and also gives parents more control and involvement in this intimate event. The woman, her family, and the midwife become partners in the health and well-being of the mother and the baby.

Here is the midwives model of care:

The Midwives Model of Care

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.

The Midwives Model of Care includes:

• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
• Minimizing technological interventions
• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

We absolutely cannot wait to have our 2nd homebirth. We are praying for a little bit slower labor and delivery. We want my midwife to be here and for us not to be transferred to the hospital. This baby and I are healthy because I have listened and taken the advice of my midwife. I am not so arrogant where I think everything I believe about pregnancy and birth are right. That is where I ask her what she thinks I should do. I know a lot about pregnancy and birth, more than the majority of women, so we agree on alot if not all things about pregnancy, labor and birth.

I urge women to talk to their midwives, be truthful with them and they can help you. They love to help women during this joyous time in their lives. They are a breath of fresh air to a sometimes frazzled pregnant woman. I praise God for my midwife. She is a blessing to us and many other families.