Home Birth Option

        For birth moms who are experiencing a normal pregnancy, with no risk factors for baby or mom, having a baby at home may be a great option.              

        As a mother, I have had 7 of my children at home.  I love it!  Some of my birth stories are up on the site here at Sherry's birth stories  and you can see why I am committed to birthing, gently in my own home.

         With Bonners Ferry, being 45 minutes from a hospital, I am always honest with my clients about home birth. My goal is to share with every mom her best chances of having a gentle, safe birth. For many moms this does end up being at home.

                                  Should you consider a home birth?
        If you're a healthy woman, having a normal pregnancy and you have no medical or obstetrical risk factors, giving birth at home may be an option for you.  Giving birth at home allows you to labor and give birth in your own environment. Having a say-so over your birth experience puts the welcoming of your baby in your hands. You don't have to endure routine medical interventions!  At home, you can have as many friends and family you like, and you get to share the experience with them in your own way, in you own home.

        But giving birth at home isn't for everyone.  Moms-to-be, who are more likely to have complications during childbirth, should give birth in a hospital. This includes women that have things like:

•Medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes
•More than 1 previous c-section or other uterine surgery that puts them at risk
•Pregnancy complications, such as premature labor, preeclampsia, or a baby in the breech position at 37 weeks

        If you choose to have a midwife attended home birth, please understand that if complications arise, you might have to transfer your care to another provider or give birth in a hospital.  Also, being flexible about your birth plan, helps you remain content and can sometimes make for extra special memories.  Our goal together, as midwife and family, remains having a safe, gentle birth.

        Oh yes.... if you wish to have a home birth, you'll need to be committed to giving birth without medication. This involves spending time preparing your body and your home for the birth. You need to have good support available to you not just for the day of birth, but in the days after you give birth.  Learning how to cope with pain and practicing makes you more ready to deal with pain in your own way.  Each birth is different and each level of pain is different in each person.

Also another consideration: Not all insurance companies and HMOs cover the cost of home births.

As a midwife, I am committed to helping families have the birth they desire, and will take payments and trades as appropriate. 

   Is giving birth at home safe?
            For healthy women, who are low risk, and have a good system in place for transfer to a hospital when necessary, a number of studies show that giving birth at home is just as safe as giving birth in a hospital. There is also research showing that moms who planned to give birth at home (regardless of where they actually had their babies) ended up with fewer interventions, such as episiotomies and c-sections, compared with a group of equally low-risk women who had planned hospital deliveries.
            But home birth remains controversial in the United States. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Medical Association (AMA) oppose home birth. They contend that the hospital is the safest place to give birth because capabilities of the hospital setting and the expertise of the hospital staff are immediately available if a complication arises suddenly.

                           Supporting women's choice, The American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association say that "qualified caregivers, along with appropriate arrangements for backup and transfer, should be available for moms-to-be who want this option."
                            If you're not sure if you are a good candidate to have a home birth, just call me or e-mail and we can talk about your concerns. If there are no obvious reasons to rule out a home birth, let's make an appointment for a first prenatal visit.

At that time, we do a detailed health history, and talk about which lab tests are appropriate for you. As a midwife, I continue to assess your situation throughout your pregnancy and during labor, birth, and the postpartum period.

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