Home Birth

Preparing for a Home Birth

Couples often benefit from taking a series of childbirth classes, whether a full course or a brief refresher. Just taking the time with a class to focus on your wishes and thoughts about the birth of your baby can help prepare you for the reality of labor and the early days of parenting.

Considerations for a peaceful home birth

Should a situation arise that precludes a home birth, it is helpful to have a plan for dealing with practical issues. In case of transfer ensure:

• Care is arranged for older children and pets
• A small overnight bag packed
• Infant car seat is installed in the car
• Awareness of the shortest route to the hospital

It’s important to recognize that even with the best planning and risk screening, not all births can take place at home. At any time, if some aspect of your medical condition or history necessitates a hospital birth, we’ll continue to provide your care and you can birth with us at our hospital.

Your acceptance for midwifery care and home birth will be based on your low risk status, which we together reassess continually as your pregnancy progresses. With careful forethought, a home birth can be a life-affirming, comfortable, and simple choice – giving parents the maximum autonomy and privacy they’ll find nowhere else.

Planning for your Home Visit

A home visit will be done for those planning a home birth, usually around 35 to 36 weeks. We always encourage the involvement of your family and welcome them at your visits.

Please ensure your home birth kit has arrived by the time of your visit. You can purchase the personalized midwifery care kit here.

Additional home birth supplies include: 

• 2-3 shower curtain liners
• 6-8 old towels, home laundered
• 4-6 wash cloths
• Unbreakable bowl for placenta
• Cookie sheet or tray
• Quart size plastic container or zip lock bags for placenta if you wish to keep it 
• 6-8 cotton flannel receiving blankets
• Basic baby clothes (gowns, onesies)
• Diapers
• Package of extra large absorbent bed under pads
• Maternity sanitary supplies
• Extra sheets for bed
• Car seat installed in your car
• Overnight bag for emergency transport to hospital

Water birth supplies: 

We will lend you a tub! For a water birth ensure you have the following 

• Tub liner that will fit all tubs 
• Submersion pump
• Air pump
• Potable (drinking water quality) water hose
• Hose adaptor, if needed
• Small fish net

Post Birth Visit

The midwives will return to your home on the second day after birth. We ask that all couples arrange for their baby’s care by a pediatrician, pediatric nurse practitioner, or family practice physician within the first 48 hours after birth.

FAQs

What is different between a home birth and a birth center?

Only the location! Our certified nurse midwives are equipped with all resources available in a birth center.

What kind of care will my newborn need postpartum?

Home-born babies are to be seen by the chosen care provider within a few days of the birth.

How will my baby get a birth certificate?

Our midwives will file all the necessary paperwork for your baby’s birth certificate and social security number. The birth certificate worksheet can be found here (add link).

What supplies will I need?

We have bags with home birth supplies for purchase and a list of items to have on hand for the birth. By the time of your home visit at about 35 or 36 weeks, preparations should be almost complete.

Resources:

• Pediatric Care Agreement Form