Homebirth
Homebirth
is a wonderful
alternative to having your baby in a hospital! Many people unfamiliar
with the concept of delivering a child at home are surprised to discover
that for the majority of women, homebirh is not only just as safe, but
in fact, safer then giving birth in a hospital. It is also simply more
convenient and has the potential to be much more humanizing and celebratory.
And, when it comes down to it, homebirth is less expensive.
For low-risk pregnancies, a planned homebirth with a skilled attendant is as safe, or safer, than birth in the hospital. In the infrequent instances when a woman or baby is transferred to the hospital from the home, the situation is rarely an emergency and plenty of time is available to get to the hospital. (Click here for more on the safety of homebirth)
Most excitingly, homebirth proves to be a joyful and freeing experience for many women. You are free to labor and birth how and where you instinctively desire. In planning a homebirth you also have more responsibility. You will not be handing your body and baby over to an institution; as a midwife I work in partnership with you. In accepting responsibility for your pregnancy and birth comes freedom and profound joy. At home, a woman can know with pride that she, herself, delivered her baby without drugs or technology. You will experience the bliss of greeting your new baby in your home and never being separated.
Homebirth is also less expensive than hospital birth. You will only recieve necessary procedures and medications. You are less likely to have surgery to deliver your baby. You will not be paying for the significant overhead of separate facilities and utilities, neither will you pay for a hospital's advertising budget or the large support staff. I do my best to keep costs to a minimum.
My Homebirth Package Includes:
In an effort to encourage early prenatal care, the cost will be the same no matter when you begin or how many visits you have. Prenatal visits usually occur at my Goshen office or we can arrange for me to come to your home.Prenatal Care May Include:
- Monitoring for normal progress and growth of mother and baby and routine observations that screen for complications.
- Getting to know each other. Relationship is the essence of midwifery. I do not want us to be strangers when your baby is born. I love getting to know individuals and families. Homebirth is safer when midwife and client trust each other and communicate well. Each prenatal visit is about an hour long so we have time to talk.
- Nutritional Counseling--A healthy diet supports a healthy pregnancy; your baby is what you eat!
- Laboratory Testing: pap smear, cultures for sexually transmitted diseases (STD's), screening for vaginal infections, blood tests, Group Beta Strep (GBS) culture and others are standard obstetrical care. These are available, but not required; their cost will be extra. I will provide written and verbal information to assist the mother and her partner in deciding which prenatal testing and labor procedures they wish to have and those they wish to forego. This is your body, your birth and your decision!
- Information about and referral to community resources: including childbirth education, doulas, other supportive professionals and organizations.
- Home visits: At least one prenatal home visit so that both I and the birth assistant will know where your home is and to review with you preparation for birth.