Birth
The atmosphere of having a baby at home is very different than that of a hospital birth.
That being said, I carry with me many of the same tools and skills that hospital providers have available plus a whole heck of a lot more! What you can expect from your midwifery team during your homebirth is as follows:
Birth
Commitment to being on-call for your birth beginning at 37 weeks
Contact in early labor to decide collaboratively when it is time to join you
Attendance for your labor and birth at home beginning during active labor or as desired or needed by the client
Provide an experienced birth assistant to attend your birth as well as providing an adequate back up should I be unable to attend your birth due to unforeseen circumstances
Monitor baby’s well-being through heart tones
Monitor you through regular assessment of vitals and contractions as well as labor progress through cervical exams as indicated or desired
Assisting in the birth of your baby in your desired location and position of choice
Waterbirth options
Skills, experience and equipment to manage complications during labor if they arise as well as stabilization of you or your newborn and facilitation of transfer to higher level care as appropriate.
Immediate Postpartum
Remaining at your home for 2–4 hrs after your baby is born to provide appropriate and routine immediate postpartum care.
Assistance in delivery of the placenta
Ongoing assessment of you and your baby
Assistance with the initiation of breastfeeding
Full newborn examination
Perineal/vaginal exam with suturing as needed and/or desired
Help you get up to empty your bladder and take a shower if you’d like
Fix you something to eat
If a tub was used during the birth we will empty it and break it down before leaving
Take out the trash, start a load of laundry and clean up any messes made during the birth.
Potential Transfer or Complications
I view an important part of my job being facilitating transfer of care as desired or clinically appropriate. This includes records transfer, coordination with nurses and receiving provider as well as accompaniment to the facility. My intention is to stay with you as continued support as I am able.
**Some of the more common labor complications midwives encounter and are trained to manage include: stalled labor progress, non-reassuring fetal heart tones, meconium stained fluid, postpartum hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia and newborn resuscitation. Many of these complications do not immediately result in a transfer; midwives use our skills and clinical judgment to make recommendations for appropriate care.
For more details on the guidelines we follow for discussion, consult and transfer of care please see this document published by the Midwives Associated of Washington State.
“The birth was wonderful. The midwives were quiet, calm and respectful. Although there was no unnecessary interference in the birthing process, their presence provided me with comfort and the ability to trust the birthing process.”