I get this question a lot, at initial consults, couples looking into this option and asking what to expect. Great question.
First of all, it’s unpredictable. I've never been to two births that were exactly alike, as bringing a human into the world is such a sacred, profound, personal experience, and every labor is different. Birth is a mystery, and I soon as I think I have it figured out, it surprises me. However, that said, there are some things that are standard with planning a home birth with Divine Birth Midwifery.
First, there is the prenatal care. This follows the typical prenatal schedule that would be similar if you were planning a hospital birth. Appointments typically begin early in pregnancy or around 12 weeks. Then, you have appointments every 4 weeks until you get to 28 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until 41, then biweekly until delivery.
So what happens at these appointments? They last about an hour in which we get know each other. Then, there is the standard clinical elements: blood pressure; pulse; checking urine in a cup; palpating your abdomen to feel baby’s position, size, and fluid; and listening to the baby’s heartrate. We also discuss any concerns you have, how to prepare for home birth, emotional and physical well-being, and determine if any risk factors have presented. There is also lab work that is done at various points in the pregnancy and potentially ultrasounds based on desire or need and these are done at outside lab and ultrasound facilities. All of the prenatal appointments are at my office except for the home visit which is done around 37 weeks. At the home visit, we will make sure you have the supplies you need (list provided), deliver the birth tub if you rented, ensure that the home is ready for birth, go over plans with the birth team, discuss signs of labor, and discuss an emergency plan.
Then the birth! Once you go into labor, we will keep in close contact with you as your labor progresses. If you hired a doula, she will come at some point once you feel you are needing more support. Then we will come once you have been in active labor for a bit. Some moms are not sure when they should have us come. Typically, if you were planning a hospital birth and determined that it was time to go to the hospital, that is a good time for us to come.
Once your midwife and assistant arrives, a set of vitals will be taken, and we will listen to baby with the doppler. However, you will be able to be in whatever position you would like, including the shower or tub because the doppler is waterproof. Then we will sit back and quietly observe to see how things are going and set up all of our supplies and equipment. Women tend to move around in labor and may go from room to room. So we set up our supplies on a tray so that we can easily take them to another room if that’s where you end up for birth. You will be left undisturbed as much as possible to labor as you need to. Many women change positions, walk around, get in the tub, whatever they need to get into ‘laborland’. We will periodically remind you to drink something and empty your bladder if you are not doing so. Overall, we will leave you alone to ‘do your thing’, however, we will offer support, encouragement, and suggestions if needed. We will also periodically monitor your baby’s heartrate to see how baby is tolerating labor. If at any time during your labor or during the postpartum period we have any concerns about you or baby’s well-being, we will transfer to the hospital or call EMS if needed. There are typically warning signs, or red-flags that things are not going well and that we need to transfer to the hospital. We do not routinely do a vaginal exam, it more depends on the circumstances, if doing one seems like it might give us beneficial information.
Next we sit back and quietly wait for you to begin feeling the urge to push. At first you may start feeling more pressure in your bottom at the peak of the contractions. Eventually this will build and build until you feel like you have to push with it. At some point your water will break, if it hasn’t already, and we will assess the color of the fluid and baby’s wellbeing. The nice thing about home birth is you can decide what position and where you would like to birth your baby, unless there is some reason we need you to do something different. Women end up birthing in all kinds of places, on the floor, on the couch, the bed, the bathroom, the birth tub, the shower, the birth stool, etc. They might be on their hands and knees, kneeling, standing, on side, or on their back. Typically, once that overwhelming urge to push takes over, moms start to push and do not want to move.
But don’t worry, it’s not messy! We put large chux pads or plastic-backed paper sheeting under wherever you end up if you’re not in the tub. And if for some reason, some mess does get on the floor or furniture, your birth team cleans it up as good as new before we go. Hydrogen peroxide gets birth fluid up amazingly well.
As your baby is being born, you can help deliver the baby yourself by placing your hands there, or the baby’s father if he would like, or your midwife will help lift the baby to your chest. As soon as your baby is born, your midwives will observe the baby’s well-being in your arms. Most of the time, no help is needed and your baby will begin breathing on his or her own and start looking around. If baby does need assistance, your midwife and assistant are Neonatal Resuscitation Program certified and have the necessary equipment to assist your baby during the transition.
At this point, as long as you and baby are doing well, baby will stay in your arms, skin-to-skin, during this amazing time. A cascade of hormones are rushing through your body which aids in bonding and in the delivery of your placenta. Shortly your baby will begin rooting for the breast, and breastfeeding initiation may begin. In the meantime, your midwife is monitoring your bleeding and you and baby’s vitals while waiting for the delivery of the placenta. At some point, usually within 15-30 minutes, you will start feeling cramping sensations, signaling that your placenta is ready to be delivered. Your midwife will help you deliver the placenta and then we will get you tucked into bed (if not already there), with baby still on your chest.
Next, when you’re ready, we clamp and cut the cord separating the physical tie between you and baby. You will still be left to bond with baby while we quietly monitor you both and get you food and drink. If your bleeding gets too heavy, we are prepared to handle that. While you are bonding with baby, we will examine your perineum and suture any tears if needed. About 2 hours after delivery, we will help you up to the restroom so that you can empty your bladder. Then we will do a full head to toe assessment of baby. Once your postpartum instructions have been given, and you and baby are both stable, we will quietly tip toe out so that you and the family can rest and bond, typically around 3-4 hours after delivery.
For the postpartum period we will keep in close contact with you during the first couple days by phone and return at any sign of a problem. Then, the midwife returns after 48 hours to assess both you and baby and perform the Newborn Metabolic Screen (unless you decline). The midwife also returns to your house 7-10 postpartum for another assessment (unless needed sooner). Then, you and baby will return to the office for 2 more postpartum visits at 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. This is always a bittersweet time as you and your midwife have just spent around 9 months together through this journey. But the best is when you come back for your next baby.
Overall, what is it like to have a home birth? No words can really describe though I’ll try. Empowering, enlightening, life-changing, hardest thing you will ever do, sacred, spiritual, and more.
First of all, it’s unpredictable. I've never been to two births that were exactly alike, as bringing a human into the world is such a sacred, profound, personal experience, and every labor is different. Birth is a mystery, and I soon as I think I have it figured out, it surprises me. However, that said, there are some things that are standard with planning a home birth with Divine Birth Midwifery.
First, there is the prenatal care. This follows the typical prenatal schedule that would be similar if you were planning a hospital birth. Appointments typically begin early in pregnancy or around 12 weeks. Then, you have appointments every 4 weeks until you get to 28 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until 41, then biweekly until delivery.
So what happens at these appointments? They last about an hour in which we get know each other. Then, there is the standard clinical elements: blood pressure; pulse; checking urine in a cup; palpating your abdomen to feel baby’s position, size, and fluid; and listening to the baby’s heartrate. We also discuss any concerns you have, how to prepare for home birth, emotional and physical well-being, and determine if any risk factors have presented. There is also lab work that is done at various points in the pregnancy and potentially ultrasounds based on desire or need and these are done at outside lab and ultrasound facilities. All of the prenatal appointments are at my office except for the home visit which is done around 37 weeks. At the home visit, we will make sure you have the supplies you need (list provided), deliver the birth tub if you rented, ensure that the home is ready for birth, go over plans with the birth team, discuss signs of labor, and discuss an emergency plan.
Then the birth! Once you go into labor, we will keep in close contact with you as your labor progresses. If you hired a doula, she will come at some point once you feel you are needing more support. Then we will come once you have been in active labor for a bit. Some moms are not sure when they should have us come. Typically, if you were planning a hospital birth and determined that it was time to go to the hospital, that is a good time for us to come.
Once your midwife and assistant arrives, a set of vitals will be taken, and we will listen to baby with the doppler. However, you will be able to be in whatever position you would like, including the shower or tub because the doppler is waterproof. Then we will sit back and quietly observe to see how things are going and set up all of our supplies and equipment. Women tend to move around in labor and may go from room to room. So we set up our supplies on a tray so that we can easily take them to another room if that’s where you end up for birth. You will be left undisturbed as much as possible to labor as you need to. Many women change positions, walk around, get in the tub, whatever they need to get into ‘laborland’. We will periodically remind you to drink something and empty your bladder if you are not doing so. Overall, we will leave you alone to ‘do your thing’, however, we will offer support, encouragement, and suggestions if needed. We will also periodically monitor your baby’s heartrate to see how baby is tolerating labor. If at any time during your labor or during the postpartum period we have any concerns about you or baby’s well-being, we will transfer to the hospital or call EMS if needed. There are typically warning signs, or red-flags that things are not going well and that we need to transfer to the hospital. We do not routinely do a vaginal exam, it more depends on the circumstances, if doing one seems like it might give us beneficial information.
Next we sit back and quietly wait for you to begin feeling the urge to push. At first you may start feeling more pressure in your bottom at the peak of the contractions. Eventually this will build and build until you feel like you have to push with it. At some point your water will break, if it hasn’t already, and we will assess the color of the fluid and baby’s wellbeing. The nice thing about home birth is you can decide what position and where you would like to birth your baby, unless there is some reason we need you to do something different. Women end up birthing in all kinds of places, on the floor, on the couch, the bed, the bathroom, the birth tub, the shower, the birth stool, etc. They might be on their hands and knees, kneeling, standing, on side, or on their back. Typically, once that overwhelming urge to push takes over, moms start to push and do not want to move.
But don’t worry, it’s not messy! We put large chux pads or plastic-backed paper sheeting under wherever you end up if you’re not in the tub. And if for some reason, some mess does get on the floor or furniture, your birth team cleans it up as good as new before we go. Hydrogen peroxide gets birth fluid up amazingly well.
As your baby is being born, you can help deliver the baby yourself by placing your hands there, or the baby’s father if he would like, or your midwife will help lift the baby to your chest. As soon as your baby is born, your midwives will observe the baby’s well-being in your arms. Most of the time, no help is needed and your baby will begin breathing on his or her own and start looking around. If baby does need assistance, your midwife and assistant are Neonatal Resuscitation Program certified and have the necessary equipment to assist your baby during the transition.
At this point, as long as you and baby are doing well, baby will stay in your arms, skin-to-skin, during this amazing time. A cascade of hormones are rushing through your body which aids in bonding and in the delivery of your placenta. Shortly your baby will begin rooting for the breast, and breastfeeding initiation may begin. In the meantime, your midwife is monitoring your bleeding and you and baby’s vitals while waiting for the delivery of the placenta. At some point, usually within 15-30 minutes, you will start feeling cramping sensations, signaling that your placenta is ready to be delivered. Your midwife will help you deliver the placenta and then we will get you tucked into bed (if not already there), with baby still on your chest.
Next, when you’re ready, we clamp and cut the cord separating the physical tie between you and baby. You will still be left to bond with baby while we quietly monitor you both and get you food and drink. If your bleeding gets too heavy, we are prepared to handle that. While you are bonding with baby, we will examine your perineum and suture any tears if needed. About 2 hours after delivery, we will help you up to the restroom so that you can empty your bladder. Then we will do a full head to toe assessment of baby. Once your postpartum instructions have been given, and you and baby are both stable, we will quietly tip toe out so that you and the family can rest and bond, typically around 3-4 hours after delivery.
For the postpartum period we will keep in close contact with you during the first couple days by phone and return at any sign of a problem. Then, the midwife returns after 48 hours to assess both you and baby and perform the Newborn Metabolic Screen (unless you decline). The midwife also returns to your house 7-10 postpartum for another assessment (unless needed sooner). Then, you and baby will return to the office for 2 more postpartum visits at 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. This is always a bittersweet time as you and your midwife have just spent around 9 months together through this journey. But the best is when you come back for your next baby.
Overall, what is it like to have a home birth? No words can really describe though I’ll try. Empowering, enlightening, life-changing, hardest thing you will ever do, sacred, spiritual, and more.
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