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Home birth: Is it for you?
Think a home birth might be for you? Then this is a great synopsis on what to expect.
Photo by Digital Vision/Getty Images
Finding care: Only registered midwives attend home births in Canada. Call early in your pregnancy, as they get booked up – there are only about 1,000 registered midwives in the country. During prenatal care appointments, your midwife will ask you where you want to deliver, but you don’t have to decide until closer to the birth. You can even change your mind during labour (midwives carry gear for unplanned home deliveries).
Are you eligible? If you’re having twins or a breech baby, suffer from conditions such as diabetes or pre-eclampsia, have had a caesarian section in the past or if you’re getting induced, you may not be able to have your baby at home (and you may be referred to an OB/GYN for care). Unplanned circumstances like a sudden fever during labour could cause your midwife to call off a home birth. If this is your second baby and your first labour was fast, you may want to prep for a home birth in case you can’t make it to the hospital in time.
Hospital versus home: According to Katrina Kilroy, president of the association of Ontario midwives (AOM) and a registered midwife in Toronto, the supplies at a home birth, including an IV, resuscitation equipment, catheters, and medical instruments are the same as what’s on hand at a small community hospital. Hospitals may have nurses and pain medication, but not always instant access to a doctor – at some small hospitals, often an OB/GYN is only called in from home if needed.
Is it safe? A 2009 study out of the University of British Columbia looked at almost 13,000 births in BC and found that planned home deliveries were just as safe as hospital births. According to the AOM, about 21 percent of Ontario planned home births between 2003 and 2006 ended up in hospital – usually when pain medication or hormones to speed up labour were needed. Only about five percent of the transfers to hospital were emergencies requiring an ambulance.
Making the call: For most women, the decision comes down to access to epidurals versus the intimacy of home. Kilroy reports that most mothers find home birth a positive experience. “It’s about where women feel safest,” she says.
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Stephanie (not verified) says ....
One thing to consider before choosing a home birth is how fast things can go wrong. Assume an uncommon but not rare situation - the cord around the neck. It occurs in low risk mothers, and is not always detected prior to labor. It is noticed when it causes cord compression, causing the baby's heart deceleration.
In a hospital, especially in a high volume location, an emergency c-section can occur within minutes. At my hospital I was told it takes less than 5 in a true emergency.
In a home birth, things go wrong just as quickly. So you call 911. Then you wait for the ambulance (average 7 minutes in large cities). Then the paramedics need to load the laboring mom into the ambulance and get a history (5-15 minutes). Then they need to drive to the hospital. (5-30 minutes). Then the doctors need to do an assessment and examination (5-15 minutes). Then they can rush you up for an emergency c-section (10 minutes - you don't come into L&D, you come in through emergency). Total best case: 32 minutes.
Brain damage begins within 4-6 minutes of oxygen deprivation. The absolute risks to home birth are small, and it should be an option available to women, but the risks do increase from the simple lack of proximity to an OR. Time is brain.
dawn (not verified) says ....
Having had both a hospital and a home birth. I have to say that both my husband and myself greatly preferred our home birth with the midwives in attendance. The care we received from the midwives was much more intimate and instilled a confidence in them during the birth of my son that I never had with the staff who were present at the hospital. Also the level of care afterwards was better since you and the baby are their primary concern. If you choose to opt for a OB and hospital delivery consider a doula they can be a great support for both the mother and father.
Calgary
Anonymous says ....
In Barrie, they ask that you make the decision for Home Birth by 37 weeks so that you can prepare for the necessary supplies and fill out any paperwork needed. I loved my home birth experience. I was able to have my husband and mother attend, a doula and two midwives (whereas at the hospital I would have had to chose between my doula and mother). I felt so secure and safe in their care. I spent a lot of time in my bathtub until I was ready to push. My father, who was very against me having a home birth told me later he was shocked to see how much equipment they bring and how professional it all was. My husband even helped deliver our little girl and we held her immediately after. We even ordered a pizza for everyone because I was starving! lol... The post natal visits at home were a lifesaver too. I would definitely recommend it.
Ainsleey (not verified) says ....
I had a wonderful unplanned homebirth for my first baby. Midwife was present....secondary midwife didn't make it in time. Guess I went a little faster then normal first births. I was planning a homebirth with my second only one baby ended up being two with one being breech.....so I had ob/gyn care and a c-section:( On a positive note I still was able to have midwife support for before and after care....which made a world of difference, especially when dealing with twins:)