Why Homebirth
Why do families choose homebirth and how safe is it?
As providers of homebirth services we believe in individualized care, respect for women and families, and informed consent and shared decision-making. We believe in physiologic pregnancy and childbirth, use technology sparingly, and interventions rarely. As examples, while mid-pregnancy anatomy ultrasounds are encouraged, no other sonograms are ordered unless medically necessary; cervical exams are avoided during prenatal visits and in labor unless there is a need to know and only after receiving consent; freedom of movement in labor and freedom to choose a delivery position are routine; and nutrition and hydration are encouraged. We invite involvement of partners, family and other children as per the mother's wishes. We believe that patience is a virtue and truly practice according to the tenet of "to do no harm". Homebirth revolves around creating a trusting relationship between the midwives and the families.
Homebirth is also healing for women who may have had a traumatic previous delivery, whether physically or emotionally. Many times home birth empowers women and creates a positive path forward.
Planned homebirth is as safe, if not safer, than hospital birth. Without interventions such as induction, pitocin, rupture of membranes, epidural, refusal of food , denial of position changes, repeated cervical exams, and forced bed delivery on back and in stirrups, there is less chance of fetal distress, failure to progress, maternal or fetal/neonatal infection, c/s and maternal hemorrhage. And for those women who had very fast previous deliveries - it is much safer to be at home than to be speeding to the hospital only to deliver in the wheelchair, the lobby or the hallway, or to actually deliver your baby in the car. And do not forget that all humans were born at home for thousands of years before hospitals were ever created.
As experienced homebirth midwives we carry all necessary emergency equipment, and are skilled at knowing when transfer to a hospital is or may be necessary. While transfer is always a possibility, the true rate is extremely low, especially for those who have already experienced a vaginal delivery. As for first-time moms, exhaustion and need for pain-relief are the most common reasons for transfer, and even these women are typically very motivated and have low transfer rates as well.
And while true emergencies are unlikely, you can be comforted to know that we have nearly 40 years of combined midwifery experience; have attended over 2000 deliveries; and as two midwives who have been partners for 20 years, we also partner up to attend nearly all of our delivering mothers together - when you hire us you hire us both as a team and as your partners as well, and in the rare event of unavailability of one of us due to illness, two (or more) labors, or something else, we will hire another midwife or trained birth assistant to attend.
IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED “CALL THE MIDWIFE” ON NETFLIX, THIS LOVELY BRITISH SERIES BASED ON A MIDWIFE’S EXPERIENCE IN LONDON DURING THE MID-20TH CENTURY, YOU MUST! YOU CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL AND SEE THE BEAUTY OF MIDWIFERY CARE AND THE NATURAL PROCESS OF BIRTH. THIS SERIES IS TRULY A GEM.
There’s No Place Like Home
Trusting Birth and Empowering Families
Pregnancy Health
A healthy pregnancy begins with a trusted and supportive relationship with your care attendants. Our first prenatal visit with you and your family typically lasts 90-120 minutes, and follow up visits may last 30-60 minutes. We take the time to address your physical and emotional needs to ensure that your prenatal experience is one that you will cherish. Visits will take place at our home-like office setting, and we will visit you in your home at 36 weeks.
Labor and Birth
Your home is the most familiar and peaceful place for you to birth your sweet baby. Both Kara and Julie will attend your birth together as a team. You will have the freedom and support to invite those that you desire to attend this most awesome event. You will be encouraged to eat and drink, change positions, rest, walk, labor in a birth tub, and even deliver in the tub if you so desire. You will get to recover in your own bed to snuggle your baby. We honor our mamas, as they are the true givers of life. After your birth, we remain with you and your newborn for typically 2-3 hours.
Postpartum and Newborn Care
A return visit to your home is made 24-48 hours after your delivery, to assess you and your baby’s wellbeing. We assess breastfeeding, collect and perform the newborn screenings, get your baby‘s footprints, and gather any needed information for the filing of the birth certificate. Follow-up is then in your home at 1-2 wks - again to assess you and baby - , at our office at 6 wks, and at any other time that may be necessary. We also will invite you to return to our office at 3 months postpartum for a social visit if you so desire.
After you establish care with us,
you will have 24/7 access to us through text or phone through 3 months postpartum. After that, we can care for all of your gynecological needs well into the future.