Home Birth
Midwives can offer women and their families a choice of birthplace.
Healthy women, with no identified risk factors, have the option
to deliver in their own homes. Midwives discuss the risks and benefits
of these options throughout the pregnancy.
Your midwife
will come to your home when you are in established labour. She will
stay with you during labour to assess the progress of your labour,
and provide support and guidance . She will monitor both you and
your baby's well being. The second midwife (who will be known to
you) will attend towards the end of labour to assist you and your
midwife.
In a small number
of planned homebirths, a situation may arise where a move to a hospital
is adviseable. The majorty of these situations will not be urgent
and transport will take place by car. On rare occasions an urgent
situation will require ambulance assistance. In transport situations
we have a pre-arranged plan with the hospital to facilitate a smooth
transport.
Some reasons
why women choose homebirth:
- women feel more
secure and comfortable in their own home
- no need to transfer
to hospital during labour
- mother can eat
her own food, rest in her own bed, etc.
- support people
present will be known to the mother
Post Partum
Following the birth,
the midwife will visit within 24 hours--in home or hospital. The
midwife will make further home visits depending on the needs of
the new family until six weeks postpartum. Midwives provide breastfeeding
support, ensure the mother is recovering from the birth, and the
baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. For urgent concerns,
your midwife is on-call 24 hours a day. The midwife sees mother
and baby for discharge at six weeks postpartum.
Home
Birth Statement of the College of Midwives of BC
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to Home or Hospital
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