Is Home Birth Appropriate For Me?
Home birth is appropriate for low risk women. Home birth with MidwivesCare, LLC may not be appropriate for you if you have one of the following:
History of previous uterine surgery and have never had a vaginal birth( more than one Cesarean, myomectomy, hysterotomy)
History of postpartum bleeding severe enough to need a blood transfusion
History of gestational diabetes controlled with medication
History of chronic medical disease for which you see a physician and take medication (high blood pressure, poorly controlled asthma, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disease, diabetes, kidney disease, etc)
History of tuberculosis
Certain infections are developed during the pregnancy which may cause birth defects
Substance abuse: smoking tobacco use of illegal street drugs, drinking alcohol during pregnancy or history of alcoholism
Current gestational diabetes requiring medication
Current high blood pressure
Multiple babies are expected
History of child with shoulder dystocia with birth injury
History of child with permanent birth injury
Planned birthplace more than 30 min from a hospital providing OB services
Inability to agree to transfer to the hospital for care
Inability to agree to emergency blood transfusions as patients who decline these must have alternatives in place prior to the emergency
Mother and/or partner prefers hospital delivery
What are reasons for “non-emergency” transfer of care?
- Patients who develop non-life-threatening risk factors during their pregnancy or labor will be transferred to the care of a physician. Reasons include but are not limited to pregnancy that continues beyond 42 weeks 0 days, position of the baby other than head down, placenta previa, high blood pressure (during pregnancy), gestational diabetes requiring medication, prolonged rupture of membranes, severely abnormal levels of amniotic fluid or defects in the baby.
- What do you bring with you?
- The midwife will bring with her supplies to care for routine deliveries and for life threatening emergencies. IV supplies and fluids, medications for bleeding or IV antibiotics. She will bring oxygen, adult and newborn bag resuscitators, laryngeal masked airways, face masks, nasal cannulas, glucometer, sphygmomanometer (to take blood pressure), adult and newborn pulse oximeters (to measure oxygen levels), delivery instruments, vaginal examination instruments and light, suture materials, doppler, fetoscope, adult and newborn stethoscope, suction catheters, flashlight, infant transformer, Delee suction. She may also bring comfort items such as massagers, homeopathic childbirth kit, essential oils, a rebozo, and a birthing stool.
Q. What about other items?
A. Patients will be given a list of items to fulfill prior to the birth as well as purchasing a birth kit. See the birth supply list on this website.
Q. Can I have my children present?
A. Witnessing birth can very special and inspiring for people of all ages. That said, children need to be able to have a place they can be by themselves with someone to watch over them in case they need a break from the intensity of labor. Or, if the mother needs a break from the children! Parenting in labor isn’t for everyone, but for many families bringing a baby earthside with all the family present is a great blessing.
