Frequently Asked Questions
Is homebirth safe and am I low-risk?
Most pregnancies are low-risk. It’s your midwife’s job to look out for risk factors that may arise during the course of your pregnancy, so you don’t need to worry. Communication is high on our priority list, so if something does arise, you can rest assured that we will talk with you about it. Much of midwifery care is about prevention, and many risk factors can be controlled simply and easily. We have many tools in our toolkit to help you manage these, including a network of alternative health care providers to support you! If your risk factors fall outside our scope of care, we still provide midwifery support to you for the duration, working concurrently with medical providers as needed.
Research articles on the safety of homebirth:
• Maternal and perinatal outcomes by planned place of birth
• MANA Stats Project - Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health
• Outcomes associated with planned place of birth among women with low-risk pregnancies (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
What about the mess?
Birth isn’t always messy. And, when it is we make sure to protect your floors, bed and couch ahead of time to minimize the mess. Your birth kit comes with many protective layers to be used as barriers in your home. After your baby arrives and before we tuck you into bed, we clean up any mess that was created. We usually put in a load of laundry and take out any garbage that was created as well.
Is my place too small?
All you need is a comfortable place for you to have your baby, and a bathroom. If you think about the size of a hospital birthing room, that’s about as much space as anyone really needs.
Where do I give birth?
You can give birth wherever you want! This is one of the benefits of planning a birth at home.
What about the noise? Will it bother my neighbors?
The sounds of labor rarely bother anyone, even sleeping children and pets. Birth is often a very inward experience, the most common sounds are moans and heavy breathing.
Does my insurance cover homebirth?
Midwifery care and homebirth are billable to PPO insurance plans at the out-of-network provider rate.
Can you do lab work and ultrasounds?
Your midwives can perform any lab work you need during pregnancy. We offer an alternative to the gestational diabetes screen that is accepted by most health care providers. We can also refer out to local labs if desired. Though we cannot perform diagnostic ultrasounds, we can perform in-office ultrasounds to check your baby's position and to see the heartbeat.
What happens if I need to go to the hospital during or after labor + birth?
Though infrequent, transfers do sometimes occur. Birth is not without risk. Generally, people register with the hospital of their choice before birth. This smooths the transition if it needs to happen. Your midwife accompanies you to the hospital in this situation, and informs hospital staff. True emergency transfers are very rare. And, your midwife is trained in CPR, neonatal resuscitation, and carries the same antihemorrhagic medications used in the hospital to prevent and stop blood loss. Because your midwife is monitoring both you and your baby throughout the course of labor, if any concerns arise, she will communicate with you early-on and help you make decisions about the course of your labor before more emergent situations arise.
Can I have a water birth?
Yes. Water is an incredibly powerful tool for coping with labor. You can add a tub onto your birth kit for purchase or you can rent tubs locally for the month during your due window.
What’s in your bag?
Fetal doppler, blood pressure monitors, stethescopes, thermometers, baby scale, lab supplies, instruments, herbs, homeopathics, medications, oxygen tank and newborn resuscitation supplies, gloves, gauze, lube, suturing supplies. Everything necessary to support a laboring person and baby at home both during and immediately after birth. And, it all fits into a backpack!
Can I have a doula, birth photographer, friends + family at my birth?
Doula’s are wonderful for labor support, we have a list of referrals for you if needed. Your midwife shows up when you are in very active labor, and often times people need support before this to help them cope and to set the stage for a easeful birth. If this is your first baby, having a doula for support is highly recommended. Birth photographers, family and friends are always welcome. Some people prefer to birth alone or with their partner and midwives only, others make it a more social event. Our best advice is not to invite anyone that you can’t easily uninvite. Remember that everyone has their own stories and experiences with birth, and they carry those with them. Birth brings up all sorts of emotions for people. Be clear about what you want during your labor and birth. It is an intimate experience.