Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between midwifery and obstetrical care?
| The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. The Midwives Model of Care includes: - Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle - Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support - Minimizing technological interventions - Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention - The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section. Midwives Model of Care definition copyright (c) 1996-2007, Midwifery Task Force, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Why would someone want to give birth at home?
Homebirth offers women many advantages, such as: control over decisions related to their care; the midwife/client partnership versus a traditional doctor/patient dynamic; individualized, unhurried prenatal visits; minimized risk of interventions; and freedom from regulation or hospital routine during labor.
Is homebirth safe?
Yes. Studies have shown that birthing at home with a trained midwife is at least as safe as birthing in a hospital for women with normal, healthy pregnancies. In fact, homebirth significantly reduces the laboring woman’s risk of potentially harmful interventions. And women who birth at home are more likely to be satisfied with their care.
What happens in case of emergency?
While complications are fairly common during labor, true medical emergencies are exceedingly rare, and part of a midwife’s expertise lies in identifying those emergency situations. Complications can typically be managed at home; if you have concerns about a specific complication, be sure ask your midwife how she would handle it. In case of a true emergency, transfer to the nearest hospital is in order.
Isn't birth messy? I have white carpets!
Your midwife will help you prepare your home for delivery when the time comes. Yes, there is some mess involved, but it’s a fairly predictable sort of mess—and we’ve done this before, so we know how to keep it contained! Most often, there’s no mess left after removing the birth supplies. We’ll let your new baby take care of staining those white carpets for you.
How much will a homebirth cost?
Please remember that your midwife is a medical professional with years of training and experience. She’s worth her wages!
That having been said, a homebirth midwife’s fee is typically a fraction of what a hospital birth costs—in many cases, only half as much. If you have insurance, some or all of your midwife's fees may be covered. Pregnant women without health insurance may want to consider California's Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM) program.
Your midwife may be willing to barter services or make extended payment arrangements if necessary—just ask her ahead of time. Otherwise, payment in full by the 36th week of pregnancy is standard.