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Natural Birth
ohdrama09
member
Tell me about your midwife/home birth experience
ohdrama09
member
Specifically, did you see the same home birth midwife the entire time or start off at an OB office for them to deem you not high risk? Did you have ultrasounds? The same blood work? Does the home birth midwife decide if you're not high risk?
I wasn't high risk with my first and had a normal vaginal delivery. I'm assuming I won't be high risk and should be a good candidate for home birth this time. DH and I are really leaning toward it. We just need to meet with the midwife. My only concern is I won't have access to a free LC. It'll be $120 per visit and I will need to see one. I had issues BF my first and I'm really hoping for a different BF experience this time. It is not an option NOT to BF for me. That is really the only thing weighing our decision at this point.
Sorry if that seemed ramble-y!
Big M 7/11/11
Little M 6/16/2013
Angel baby 5/17/2014
Little M 6/16/2013
Angel baby 5/17/2014
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Tell me about your midwife/home birth experience
I had two vaginal hospital births with a CNM before switching to a CPM to have a HB with #3 and now #4. I was low risk with the first two and had the standard prenatal testing with them. When I switched over to the CPM I never saw an Ob that deemed me low risk. My MWs were capable of assessing me for risk. We had an hour long interview before they accepted me as a patient and I accepted them as my MWs. We went over my medical history, my birth/pregnancy history, my husband's medical history, my kids' medical history - you name it.
I did not have u/s with the last one or this baby. That definitely isn't the norm, but I feel comfortable not having them.
I did not do the same bloodwork either. I don't need to be tested for STDs again or any of the other stuff. We do test hemoglobin and my urine is tested at every appointment for a handful of things, like sugar, protein, pH, etc.
Most MWs are trained on breastfeeding as well. They have taken breastfeeding classes as part of their training, so while they aren't LCs, they do have valuable advice. You may not need a LC with a skilled MW. And they will be coming to your home in the days and weeks following the birth to check up on you and baby and make sure BFing is going well.
Where I live, all midwives are licensed to do home or hospital births, and they are registered as primary care providers- I know that isn't the same everywhere in the US, so my experience might not reflect yours.
I saw the same midwife throughout my entire pregnancy. I didn't see an MD once, pre- or post-natally. If I was high-risk she would have transferred my care, and yes, she would have been the one to determine if I was high-risk, according to the scope of practice in our jurisdiction. I did have ultrasounds and all routine prenatal testing, as midwives here are able to order diagnostic testing (and prescribe medicine, etc). If I had to transfer to hospital during labour, she would have stayed with me, as my primary care provider if whatever caused me to transfer didn't make me high-risk, and in a supportive role to an OB if what caused me to transfer did make me high-risk. I saw the midwife for six weeks after the birth, during which time she helped with breastfeeding.
For my last baby, I saw the same homebirth midwife the entire pregnancy. She decided she could take me on based on no high-risk factors for this pregnancy and my history.
I didn't have a new bloodwork workup. I had had the bloodwork done for my previous pregnancy (ended in mc) recently enough that she felt we could use that workup for my baseline numbers.
I did choose to have a 20-week anatomy scan ultrasound. My midwife put in the order and I had it done at a separate place.
Honestly, if you are really hoping to set things up for a good start for breastfeeding, I feel that homebirth is a good choice. The lowered chance for interventions, and the higher likelihood of your birth following the normal physiological process can only help you get a great start. Your midwife should be able to advise you. If you have trouble again, you could try contacting your local La Leche League leader. They do phone consults for free (plus, of course, you can go to meetings and get tips in person), and they are super knowledgeable. One of the leaders of my local group is certified as an LC.
Meet with the midwife just as part of the decisionmaking process. She may have answers that satisfy your breastfeeding concerns as well. Sounds like it might be a good fit for you guys. Good luck with your decision.
The more a read the more I see home birth does set up for breastfeeding much more. I'm very close with my LLL group now and will continue to be. Thanks for the info.
Little M 6/16/2013
Angel baby 5/17/2014
I was in Canada for my first which was a home birth so it's a bit different than the US.
I saw my family doc to confirm my pregnancy around 6 weeks and then chose a Midwifery clinic and signed up with them. My MWs had two teams of three and you were assigned to one of the teams for duration of pregnancy and birth and post-partum visits for 6 weeks.
Had ultrasounds and bloodwork through my MWs.
The MWs deliver in hospital and at home.
You have to be low risk to have a home birth so if you had anything out of the ordinary, pre 37 weeks or post due, or any signs of pre-E or any other complication you would be advised to have a hospital birth.
You also have to be low risk to see MWs exclusively there. So if you become high risk or have a complication you will see an OB in conjunction with seeing MWs. But the home birth option is then not available to you.
I believe if you go past 41 weeks you start going to the hospital for NSTs every few days and possibly have a consult with an OB.
So yes, the MWs determine from a set criteria if you are high-risk.