is it safe to give birth at home?
The largest study of planned, midwife-attended home birth suggests that birth at home is safe for low-risk birthing parents who are attended by a skilled provider. This means that parents giving birth to a term, head-down, singleton baby at home with a trained midwife are at a low risk of complications.
Outcomes of the study included...
If you would like to see your midwife's individual practice statistics, contact her today.
Outcomes of the study included...
- Most families who plan a home birth do indeed give birth at home (89.1%)
- Most families who plan a home birth have a vaginal birth (93.6%)
- Most families planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) at home have a successful vaginal birth (87.0%)
- Most families planning a home birth are exclusively breastfeeding at 6 weeks (97.7%)
- The primary reason for transfer of care in labor is "failure to progress," and urgent transports for fetal distress are rare.
- About 5.2% of parents planning to birth at home ultimately give birth by cesarean.
If you would like to see your midwife's individual practice statistics, contact her today.
changes in plans
The time you spend with your midwife prenatally provides an opportunity to establish rapport, trust, and open communication about your healthcare needs. Your midwife will be clear with you if things do not seem or feel normal for either party.
Madeleine prefers to intervene sooner rather than later if a complication of pregnancy or birth is developing, so as to encourage the safest possible outcome and fastest return to a normal and healthy clinical picture for the family. This might include consultation with another care provider, transfer of care to a hospital-based provider, and in rare instances, emergency transport by ambulance to the closest hospital.
Hospitals can have different many different policies, levels of care provided, and insurance affiliations. At the onset of midwifery care, Madeleine requires that each family fills out a transfer plan which includes the closest hospital to the place they are planning to give birth, the closest hospital with emergency obstetrical care and anesthesia available on-site, and the hospital covered by the client's insurance. This form is a requirement of the Medical Board of California and also assists with more safe and well-received transfers of care.
Madeleine maintains a safe transfer rate in part because she maintains open communication with clients about the need to occasionally move care to another setting to facilitate the healthiest possible outcome for the family.
Madeleine prefers to intervene sooner rather than later if a complication of pregnancy or birth is developing, so as to encourage the safest possible outcome and fastest return to a normal and healthy clinical picture for the family. This might include consultation with another care provider, transfer of care to a hospital-based provider, and in rare instances, emergency transport by ambulance to the closest hospital.
Hospitals can have different many different policies, levels of care provided, and insurance affiliations. At the onset of midwifery care, Madeleine requires that each family fills out a transfer plan which includes the closest hospital to the place they are planning to give birth, the closest hospital with emergency obstetrical care and anesthesia available on-site, and the hospital covered by the client's insurance. This form is a requirement of the Medical Board of California and also assists with more safe and well-received transfers of care.
Madeleine maintains a safe transfer rate in part because she maintains open communication with clients about the need to occasionally move care to another setting to facilitate the healthiest possible outcome for the family.
What can go wrong?
As clinicians regulated by the Medical Board of California, Licensed Midwives are equipped to assess for, prevent, and treat many of the complications and emergencies of pregnancy and birth. While most planned home births do not require any care other than routine observation, periodically taking vital signs, intermittent fetal heart auscultation, and gentle suggestions, your midwife is prepared to quickly and efficiently respond if you or your baby need extra help.
Your midwife is trained and experienced with the following:
Your midwife welcomes any and all questions about her practice guidelines, safety protocols, and experience with the management of complications. Madeleine is committed to utilizing her full legal scope of practice and level of training to best help families achieve a safe and comfortable birth.
A provider's understanding of and experience with the more common complications of pregnancy and birth does not in any setting, hospital or home, mean your experience is risk-free. Even with the most conscientious healthcare, emergencies can take place. When you hire a midwife, there is much more time to ask questions and clarify details to help you feel safe and confident in your healthcare choices.
Your midwife is trained and experienced with the following:
- "Unusual" labor patterns and fetal positions.
- Abnormal fetal heart tone patterns.
- Shoulder dystocia (shoulders stuck during the birth requiring intervention).
- Nuchal cord (cord around the neck).
- Nuchal hand (hand against the neck or face).
- Compound presentations (such as hand presenting on top of head).
- Suturing most types of tears that may occur during the birth.
- Treatment of shock and blood loss.
- Use of medications (including oral, intramuscular, and intravenous medications) for the prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.
- Use of IV therapy including fluids and medications.
- Use of IV antibiotics for Group Beta Strep (GBS) prophylaxis.
- Use of medical oxygen for the birthing parent and baby.
- Neonatal resuscitation in an out-of-hospital setting.
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for adults, children, and infants.
- Perinatal mood disorders including perinatal depression and anxiety, which are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
- Domestic violence and intimate partner violence, which are some of the leading causes of death for pregnant and newly postpartum people.
- Timely, safe, and professional transfer to hospital-based care.
- Facilitating referrals to social service agencies, medical care providers, and holistic health practitioners that can support the unique needs of your family alongside midwifery care.
- Knowing if it is safest to act quickly, to refer care, or to be patient.
Your midwife welcomes any and all questions about her practice guidelines, safety protocols, and experience with the management of complications. Madeleine is committed to utilizing her full legal scope of practice and level of training to best help families achieve a safe and comfortable birth.
A provider's understanding of and experience with the more common complications of pregnancy and birth does not in any setting, hospital or home, mean your experience is risk-free. Even with the most conscientious healthcare, emergencies can take place. When you hire a midwife, there is much more time to ask questions and clarify details to help you feel safe and confident in your healthcare choices.