Chit Chat: Having Your Baby at Home with a Mid Wife

My sister had two of her three children at home with a mid-wife. The nearest hospital is about a mile away from her so if there was an emergency it wasn't far to go.
I think there is a lot less stress birthing at home. I understand needing medical attention for some births, but I feel that most doctors will push for a c-section if it is taking too long.

advantages of a (unplanned,we got snowed in) homebirth
.. no doctor screaming at you, after numbing you with every drug he could find.
...being awake to hear your baby's first cry, and coherent enough to hold them.
...much faster recovery, i was the only mother who gave birth an home, and then went to the hospital, but i was the first mother who was up and walking around, and i checked myself out of the hospital after about 30-36 hours
.. no dangerous drugs, no dangerous side effects, no stitches, no "cutting"
.. no emotional "crash" after the birth because of the drugs they would give you in the hospital
..much cheaper
...very private,
..and last of all, bragging rights
K. h.

I have not, though we considered it. I am a worry-wort, so I chose a hospital birth. I will tell you now that I deeply wish I'd had more faith in my body and chosen a midwife instead.

Statistically, for a normal (as in, NOT high-risk) birth, you are better off to have your at home with a licensed midwife. Healthier, fewer interventions, quicker recovery, etc.

If you want to educate yourself, rent the DVD "The Business of Being Born." It is admittedly biased toward (positive toward) at home/midwife births, but it is eye-opening nonetheless.

I have a friend who did a home birth with a midwife and doula, and had a wonderful experience. She chose this option after a "normal" vaginal delivery at a hospital. There is an active/supportive home birth community in our area with several licensed and experienced midwives.

A doula is not supposed to delivery a baby (unless she is also a licensed midwife, too) but is there to support the woman through labor, helping with non-medicine pain relief techniques, etc.

I live a block away from a hospital, and we chose a homebirth.

For me, it was a natural progression of my life. I'd explored childbirth and midwifery as a side hobby for about ten years or so, mostly through reading. (I was considering pursuing becoming a midwife or doula.) I felt that I had a good idea of what I was getting into, and knew myself. I'm a pretty introverted person and knew I would do better without the hospital. I also have a very high tolerance for pain and was willing to deal with it.

We made the right choice, thoroughly researched midwifery practices in our area and found a team that had a good history and good connections with the local hospitals. I always kept in mind that a transfer might be necessary, but it wasn't. I worked with my labor, and just kept inviting my son to come. I was checked by the midwife's assistant, told I was in early labor, and she left us. Two or so hours later, the midwife almost didn't make it in time, because I didn't even know I was in transition until I began pushing, which was when I told my husband to call her. The assistant came in plenty of time, midwife arrived as he was crowning, and all was well. My son was born early in the morning, on his bed in his room. I just had a few stitches from tearing, but my labor went very quickly. The care my midwives provided was very good. I'm glad we did it here and we have a great memory to share with him.

The rural area would concern me too. A good alternative in that situation is to have the child in a birthing center with her mifwife.

But, I know several women who have had successful home births. Unless it is a multiples pregnancy or high risk in any other way, than it is not a good idea. One though, the baby had to be rushed to the hospital immediately. Had the hospital not been only 5 minutes away, it would not have survived. I've known too many women and babies needing emergency care that the idea of home birthing scares me, though I applaud those situations in which they turn out well.

Also as a side note, doulas cannot deliver babies, they do not have that kind of training and are only labor coaches.

I do know if a friend in OR that had her two children at home, but I think it was with a doula, not a midwife. I believe one boy was born on the floor, the other one was a water birth. They are about 6 and 2 now.

Either way, if she is in a rural area, perhaps the midwife is closer than the hospital when labor comes.

My husband is from Europe, so his mom and pretty much most of the women have their children at home. I am sure it is painful and all that, but they said it was awesome because they were in their own bed in their own home. It was less stressful and no anxiety. I had our baby in the hospital... Epidural, please! =)

All three of mine were born at home in the bathtub, with a midwife. It was wonderful, and I wouldn't do it any other way.

AFA midwife qualifications, they vary from state to state and from individual to individual. My licensed midwife trained and practiced in the UK as a hospital midwife before she moved to the US, and now she attends home births.

I will start this by saying that I know I am a little biased, since I am an OB nurse at a hospital.
I have known someone who delivered at home. Her situation ~ she had a c-section with her first baby, this meant she was considered high-risk and never should have delivered at home. I have seen VBAC patients deliver successfully, but I've also seen the uterus rupture, which is why they're high-risk. Her "due date" was around Christmas, she delivered in March. (she had irregular periods, but with no testing/ultrasound, there was no way to verify her dates)...she hemmorrhaged after delivery. Her husband just about called 911.
I have no problem with certified nurse midwives. They usually work with a physician, just in case something happens and there is an emergency. They normally work either in a free-standing birthing center or in a hospital. But again, there is back-up available. Lay midwives usually do not have formal training. They train with another midwife who trains them. They sometimes are certified with the state, sometimes not.
I've been an OB nurse for over 16 years. In that time I have seen women who where totally low-risk patients who, during the course of laboring, somehow became an emergency situation. I have done CPR on mothers and babies who had zero risk factors. And yes, I have seen doctors call c-sections because they didn't want to wait, that irritates the nurses I assure you. My job is to be a patient advocate, help my patient in any way I can. Whether it's to help her deliver naturally with no medications, or to get her the medications she wants/needs to help her through the labor.
Unfortunately in today's age, most women do not take birthing classes, so when labor starts, they have no idea how to deal with it, so then they want an epidural, and they want to feel nothing....even during the early stages of labor. They lay in the bed, don't move/change positions, and the natural progression of labor doesn't happen, or doesn't happen fast enough, and they end up having a c-section.
Yes, having a baby at home can be a wonderful experience. Keep in mind, also, that babies are bigger than they used to be 100 years ago, and we are not nearly as active as we used to be, so all of that affects the process.
I wish your friend's niece good luck! I hope it works well for her :)
D.