Besides homeschooling, this is the biggest thing I get questions about. People want to know “why” and “how,” so I’m going to try to answer that today.
I will start by saying that I know a home birth doesn’t fit every person or situation, so I’m not trying to convince my readers that it’s the only way. But for a normal, healthy woman I certainly think it’s worth considering.
I first witnessed a home birth when my sister had her first child. Technically, she had him in a birthing center, but the process was the same. It was such a natural, relaxed event that I knew it was for me. So when I became pregnant with my first, I called the same midwife. The rest is history!
I will give you my personal experiences, since midwives and their methods may differ some, and explain the pros and cons as I see them.
Prenatal Care
First, I’ve always used a Certified Professional Midwife. There are other variations, such as a Certified Nurse Midwife, etc.
At each prenatal visit, they do many of the same things a doctor would do. They check weight and vital signs, question your physical state, measure the baby, listen to baby’s heart rate, and sometimes perform blood tests. The visits are monthly up until about the 7th month, when you begin going every 2 weeks. Then during the last month, you visit weekly until birth.
Depending on the situation, the midwife may come to your home, or you may visit her. I used one midwife for my first birth, and then (because the first one was retiring) began using a new one for the rest. With her, we’ve had many different circumstances. She first worked out of her home, which I visited with child number 2. With the 3rd child, she came to see me for many of the visits. With number 4, she had an office. Now with number 5, she is opening a birthing center in a historic home, so we visit there.
If any exams result in information that is less than desireable for a healthy pregnant mom or baby, the midwife will immediately work to fix the situation. It could mean a change in supplements, a sonogram, a visit to the doctor, or even the ER. Home birth is for low-risk pregnancies, and if the pregnancy cannot remain low-risk, a midwife generallly will not continue as the primary caregiver.
Although my first trimester sickness can be very severe, it never has endangered me or the baby to the point of taking me out of the low-risk category. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to continue on with each pregnancy with no further problems.
Late in the pregnancy the midwife will generally give you a list of birth supplies to assemble by about 36 weeks. This includes things like 6 clean towels and washcloths, 2 sets of sheets, a heating pad, various medical supplies and disinfecting ingredients easily purchased at your local store, and of course, baby clothes and blankets.
Sonograms
Some midwives may have the ability to perform sonograms in their office or birthing center. Mine does not, but she has a list of home-birth friendly establishments that will do a sonogram for a fairly low fee. She sets up the appointment for us. We’ve usually paid between $60 and $80 to find out what gender the baby is. This is optional, of course.
Labor and Delivery
The “big day” is when you will notice the main difference with home birth. As with any situation, when the mom begins to have contractions fairly close together and it seems like the real thing, she calls the midwife. The midwife takes note of the signs, prepares her bag, calls her assistant, and heads to your house.
When the midwife arrives, she sets up her supplies in the birthing room. This room can be wherever the mom is comfortable. I’ve always had my births in the bedroom, but you can use any room. It’s your birth, and your home! This is one of the main differences between a home and hospital birth: freedom. The lady having the baby gets to make many of the decisions based on what is comfortable for her.
Now we wait. Or, at least, everyone else waits. Mom is busy with labor! There may be many people or just a few in the home. Again, it’s mom’s choice. I always have my husband, my mom, my sister, and the midwife. My dad is always around, but he stays out of the birth room (usually watching the little ones and preparing the herbal bath) until the baby arrives.
As my girls get older, they’ve chosen to witness the birth. Not everyone likes to allow their children to watch. I’m fine with it.
During labor, mom is encouraged to do several things that are forbidden in the hospital. First, she is encouraged to eat a healthy meal. Food provides energy, and she will need it for the task ahead! Second, lots of water and fluids are encouraged. No ice chips here! Third, mom is allowed to labor wherever and however she would like. Take a walk outside, clean out the fridge, relax in the tub, or just lie in bed. Whatever is comfy is what she does. Movement is encouraged, but not necessarily required.
During this time, the midwife and/or assistant are constantly measuring dilation and monitoring baby’s heartrate.
When it’s time to push (hallelujah!) that’s when the midwife takes over. It’s time for mom to focus every bit of energy on the birth at hand, and the midwife does a wonderful job of coaching her through. When mom hears “there’s the head!” she knows the work is almost over.
Since I’m telling this from the viewpoint of the mom in labor, I can only say that everything is handled smoothly while I’m either pushing or in that deep sleep that comes between contractions.
Check out Part 2, where I will describe the handling of the birth and after care and fill in some details not mentioned today. Please feel free to ask questions, and I will also try to answer them.
Welcome to my blog! I live in Texas with my husband and five children, and a wild assortment of dog, cats, chickens, and ducks. I’m a second-generation homeschooler, a book lover, and history enthusiast. I gush about all of these things on this blog, and I hope to share the love with you! Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Join my subscriber list for access to my FREE Download Library:
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I don't know if I've ever asked you before, but would you mind sharing what Midwife you use?
Nicki, thanks for sharing that! I've always knew you did that but just never had to courage to ask. So thanks again and I was glad to hear you're expecting again.
How wonderful to be able to home birth! Do you have any borth stories posted? I love natural birth stories! They are so empowering, uplifting, amazing!
I live in a town that's only hospital has a horrible awful reputation, so for emergency purposes, my husband will not agree to a home birth. I however, will not go to a hospital because I was present for my sister's first labor and was absolutely HORRIFIED at how she was treated (lied to, manipulated, blackmailed…) by the hospital staff! I must say after seeing that I was scared out of ever having a hospital birth. So our compromise is a midwife-run birthing center. I love not having an IV, not being told what to do, not having to push a baby out while lying on my back like a dead cockroach with a bright light in my face and strangers screaming "puuuuuush!" I love not being threatened with a c-section every time something doesn't go just like the textbook says. And I have never been very normal so that would be pretty much everything. ;D I love giving birth on the birthing stool. I love putting my newborn in the car 5 hours after they emerged from my uterus and going HOME to nurse my new baby and sleep in my own bed. And my husband loves that the city we go to with the birthing center has good hospitals just in case I should need to be transferred. I actually switched birthing centers this time and my new one has a homebirth option which the old one did not. I really would love to have a home birth someday. If we lived in a city with a good hospital I am sure my husband would let me. He's a man with a backup plan though, and our local hospital is not a good backup plan. 🙁 A bummer for sure.