Home Birth Midwifery Service

Advantages of home birth...

• Statistics show that home birth is as safe option for low-risk women who have adequate prenatal care and choose a qualified birth attendant.

• At home, the woman can labor and birth in privacy and comfort of the familiar surroundings of her own space, surrounded by loved ones, in whatever positions and attire she finds most comfortable.

• The laboring woman maintains control over everything impacting her labor and birth. Meeting her needs is the only focus of all those present. Nothing is done without discussion first and her informed consent.

• Labor is allowed to progress normally, without interference and unnecessary interventions.

• Studies show that the risk of infection is reduced for both the mother and baby.

• During labor the woman is encouraged to eat, drink, walk, change position, make noise, shower, bathe, etc.

• Care-givers are invited guests in the birthing woman’s home. She can have anyone she desires present: family, friends, children, etc.

• The birth professionals (midwife and birth assistant) do not go home because their shift is has ended. They also don't take the day off because they planned something else or because it is a holiday.

• She doesn't have to worry about "when to go" to the birth center/hospital since her care-providers come to her.

• Continuous, one-on-one care is given by the midwife, providing ongoing assessment of the baby's and mother's condition throughout the labor, birth, and postpartum period.

• Her care provider knows her well and she knows her care provider. They have established a synergistic, trusting, collaborative relationship.

• Women are supported throughout the hard work of labor, and encouraged through the personal experience being derived from such a powerful life changing event.

• Bonding is enhanced and includes everyone who has contact with the baby including neighbors and relatives. Breast feeding is facilitated by the baby remaining with the mother.

• Cost of home birth is about 68% less than vaginal birth in the hospital.
  

Disadvantages of home birth...

• Clients must assume a greater responsibility for their own health: physical, mental, and spiritual. This requires active, ongoing participation in decision making in all aspects of their care and a willingness to accept the consequences of those choices and decisions.

• Since the hospital is currently the "socially acceptable" location of birth, choosing otherwise may result in negative judgments and lack of support.

• Access to operative/surgical delivery (Cesarean section, forceps, vacuum) and a neonatologist are not available at home. Transport to the hospital is necessary for these and other medical interventions.

• Personal arrangements must be made for early postpartum care, such as meals, housekeeping, child care, etc.

• The cost of home birth may not be covered by the health insurance.

Advantages of a birth center birth...

• The facility is usually only provided for pregnancy and birth events.

• In a birth center, pregnancy is considered a natural and healthy process.

• During pregnancy and birth women are encouraged to show responsibility for their own health care.

• It provides an alternative to parents not comfortable home birth, yet who are not wanting to give birth in a hospital.

• It has many of the same advantages as home birth, such as greater parental control, non-interventive obstetrical care, freedom to eat and move during labor, and to give birth in any position, and to have family and friends attend the birth.

• It offers personalized care at a much lower cost than traditional hospitals.

• In most centers, parents can meet the entire staff prior to the birth.

• The rate of cesarean and forceps deliveries is less than hospitals.

• The discharge time after birth is normally measured in hours not days.

Disadvantages of a Birth Center birth...

• Rigid screening criteria often eliminate healthy mothers, i.e., VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), mothers over 35, twin and breech births.

• The mother is still moved to the birth center during labor, and still labors away from the home environment.

• Many have rigid rules concerning transporting of the mother to the hospital (i.e., prolonged labor, ruptured membranes).

• There are usually no pediatricians on staff if the baby has special needs.

• The mother cannot remain at the birth center for a two or three day rest; discharge is usually within 4 to 24 hours after birth.

Advantages of a hospital birth...

• Many mothers feel safest laboring and giving birth at a hospital.

• It is the safest environment for the mother sick or at-risk of certain medical complications before, during, or after labor.

• It is the only option available in the event a cesarean is necessary.

• Immediate neonatal/pediatric attention is available should the newborn need immediate medical care.

• It has round the clock emergency help for the mother and baby.
  

• Visitation hours are usually set as "rules," thus unwelcome visitors can be discouraged more easily.
  

Disadvantages of hospital birth...

• Parents are not on "home ground" and do not have the same control.

• Hospitals can seem impersonal and intimidating.

• The father is less likely to be actively involved in a hospital setting, and may feel like an "outsider."

• Water birth is generally not allowed by most hospital protocol. Laboring in water is often an option, but the mother MUST get out of the water when its time to push the baby out.
  

• Some routine separation of the mother and baby is almost unavoidable.

• The mother's birth is usually managed by experts trained in pathology, not in normal birth. Un-medicated birth is much more rare in hospital.

• The mother is at a significantly higher risk of having an unnecessary cesarean section. (1 out of 3 births [33.3%] ends in abdominal surgery in the U.S. The World Health Organization says that an appropriate cesarean rate should be absolutely no more than 15%)

• The risk of complications or infections caused by medical interference to the mother and baby is greater among mothers who deliver in hospitals rather than with the help of a qualified midwife in their own home.

• Less privacy is available.Medical staff, students, and other personal all have access to your room. Most are strangers, who don't know you or your wishes.
  

• Most hospitals do not allow the mother much rest.

• No matter who your care provider is (even if it's a midwife), you & your provider are still bound by hospital protocols and procedures. It is very difficult to have a non-medical, un-medicated, normal birth in most hospitals.