Frequently Asked Questions (That We Love!)
Is home birth safe?
Yes! Having your baby in your home with a midwife that is trained in out-of-hospital birth is safe. There have been numerous studies that illustrate a woman with a normal pregnancy is just as safe, or safer, having her baby at home with trained midwives as she is in the hospital. Home birth midwives stay with the laboring mother throughout her labor, monitoring her and her baby allowing for seamless care. There are no shift changes at a home birth which mean less mistakes and more focus on mama, baby and the partner. Check out this study for more information. Here's an easy to navigate fact sheet, too.
Home birth is a common occurrence for women in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. However, in the U.S., home births are rare and actively discouraged by many obstetricians, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Although U.S. home births have increased by 30% in the past few years, less than 1% of American women give birth at home (MacDorman et al., 2012). This means that for every 100 of your friends and family members who get pregnant and have a baby, 99 of them will birth in the hospital.
What does home birth care look like?
Home birth care is personalized care. Women who plan a home birth with a midwife generally receive care that is based on the midwifery model of care The midwifery model of care sees pregnancy and birth as normal life events. Midwives who practice using this model monitor a woman’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. They provide individualized education, counseling, prenatal care, hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support. When you receive care based on the midwifery model of care, you are less likely to experience unnecessary medical intervention or Cesarean birth, and you are more likely to feel in control during birth and to initiate breastfeeding. Midwives are trained to identify and refer women who experience pregnancy or birth-related complications. (Wiysonge, 2009). See the prenatal and postpartum page for more information.
Does my insurance cover home birth?
Yes and No. Some insurances are a bit quicker to cover home births. Woo-hoo! And some insurers haven't yet realized that home birth is MUCH more cost effective, with better quality of care, for its clients. If you have insurance and are interested to see what your coverage is, just send an email and we are happy to check your benefits for you at no charge. Seriously. Home Birth Midwifery care is comprehensive and cash pay. After your baby is born we can provide you with a global bill for you to submit for insurance reimbursement.
Is home birth messy?
This is a question we get a lot, usually with a raised eyebrow and head tilted just so. But the answer is NO! We clean as we go just like they do in a hospital. We take great care in making sure any spots are cleaned before we leave and when we do leave, there's usually one garbage bag and we've started a load of laundry for any linens we use.
So why would I choose to have my baby at home?
This is a great question and a really import one, too. The simple answer is because having your baby at home is the gentlest most peaceful way to start a life. During pregnancy, mamas spend so much time eating all the right things, avoiding foods we love (sushi!), weekend cocktails, medicines and even activities we love. We get pretty protective over this little baby growing inside us. And we should! Yet, when it's time to have the baby, we tend to trust the doctors and the hospital systems to do what's best for us. However, there are many other things at a play that often get in the way of a doctor or certified nurse midwife giving her client (we don't say patient because patients are sick people and a pregnancy is not a sickness) the best, most attentive and evidence-based care. Too often their hands are tied because of protocol and hospital or birth center policy. And sadly, doctors don't need women to labor normally now, they have drugs and forceps an operating rooms. Prenatal, birth and postpartum care with a home birth midwife is personal care designed specifically for the mama and partner in front of us.
A midwife-led birth gives a woman a measure of control generally unavailable with a physician-led hospital births—the freedom to move, eat, bathe, or whatever else might help her labor and birth more confidently. The role of a midwife is to monitor labor, guiding and supporting the birthing woman safely through the birth process. For many women, care with a midwife allows them to birth their way, safely and naturally, supported by the people they love.
Yes! Having your baby in your home with a midwife that is trained in out-of-hospital birth is safe. There have been numerous studies that illustrate a woman with a normal pregnancy is just as safe, or safer, having her baby at home with trained midwives as she is in the hospital. Home birth midwives stay with the laboring mother throughout her labor, monitoring her and her baby allowing for seamless care. There are no shift changes at a home birth which mean less mistakes and more focus on mama, baby and the partner. Check out this study for more information. Here's an easy to navigate fact sheet, too.
Home birth is a common occurrence for women in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. However, in the U.S., home births are rare and actively discouraged by many obstetricians, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Although U.S. home births have increased by 30% in the past few years, less than 1% of American women give birth at home (MacDorman et al., 2012). This means that for every 100 of your friends and family members who get pregnant and have a baby, 99 of them will birth in the hospital.
What does home birth care look like?
Home birth care is personalized care. Women who plan a home birth with a midwife generally receive care that is based on the midwifery model of care The midwifery model of care sees pregnancy and birth as normal life events. Midwives who practice using this model monitor a woman’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. They provide individualized education, counseling, prenatal care, hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support. When you receive care based on the midwifery model of care, you are less likely to experience unnecessary medical intervention or Cesarean birth, and you are more likely to feel in control during birth and to initiate breastfeeding. Midwives are trained to identify and refer women who experience pregnancy or birth-related complications. (Wiysonge, 2009). See the prenatal and postpartum page for more information.
Does my insurance cover home birth?
Yes and No. Some insurances are a bit quicker to cover home births. Woo-hoo! And some insurers haven't yet realized that home birth is MUCH more cost effective, with better quality of care, for its clients. If you have insurance and are interested to see what your coverage is, just send an email and we are happy to check your benefits for you at no charge. Seriously. Home Birth Midwifery care is comprehensive and cash pay. After your baby is born we can provide you with a global bill for you to submit for insurance reimbursement.
Is home birth messy?
This is a question we get a lot, usually with a raised eyebrow and head tilted just so. But the answer is NO! We clean as we go just like they do in a hospital. We take great care in making sure any spots are cleaned before we leave and when we do leave, there's usually one garbage bag and we've started a load of laundry for any linens we use.
So why would I choose to have my baby at home?
This is a great question and a really import one, too. The simple answer is because having your baby at home is the gentlest most peaceful way to start a life. During pregnancy, mamas spend so much time eating all the right things, avoiding foods we love (sushi!), weekend cocktails, medicines and even activities we love. We get pretty protective over this little baby growing inside us. And we should! Yet, when it's time to have the baby, we tend to trust the doctors and the hospital systems to do what's best for us. However, there are many other things at a play that often get in the way of a doctor or certified nurse midwife giving her client (we don't say patient because patients are sick people and a pregnancy is not a sickness) the best, most attentive and evidence-based care. Too often their hands are tied because of protocol and hospital or birth center policy. And sadly, doctors don't need women to labor normally now, they have drugs and forceps an operating rooms. Prenatal, birth and postpartum care with a home birth midwife is personal care designed specifically for the mama and partner in front of us.
A midwife-led birth gives a woman a measure of control generally unavailable with a physician-led hospital births—the freedom to move, eat, bathe, or whatever else might help her labor and birth more confidently. The role of a midwife is to monitor labor, guiding and supporting the birthing woman safely through the birth process. For many women, care with a midwife allows them to birth their way, safely and naturally, supported by the people they love.