This is a loaded question that I invite you to explore your own research and feelings about! There are many factors that play into the safety of home birth. There is good evidence that home birth can be a safe option for low-risk clients with appropriate midwifery care.

“While evidence regarding neonatal outcomes related to home birth remains inconclusive, what is clear is that when guidelines and systems of transfer are in place, there is either minimal or no increased risk associated with home birth for low-risk women. Maternal outcomes are consistently in favor of planned home birth. Low-risk women experience less intervention and fewer complications when they plan a home birth, even if they ultimately give birth within the hospital. Additionally, women are very satisfied with their birth experience within the home setting. When not only neonatal but maternal factors are taken into consideration, there is compelling evidence that home birth should be available to low-risk women who choose it, and that policies should be in place to support integrated systems of care to support it.” - Zielinski, R., Ackerson, K., & Kane Low, L. (2015). Planned home birth: benefits, risks, and opportunities. International journal of women's health, 7, 361–377. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S55561

Please also explore Outcomes of Care for 16,924 Planned Home Births in the United States: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project, 2004 to 2009

Available here: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12172

I want to make my practice a safe option for low-risk clients by setting and following clear guidelines based on current evidence and standard of practice, respecting the physiology and spirituality of birth, as well as exploring individual client needs. Transfer of care and interventions should be used with good judgement to protect the safety of those involved.

Medication for labor pain relief and epidurals are not available in the home birth setting. HOWEVER, there are many many other labor pain coping/relief strategies and tools that are available in the home birth setting!

Birth pools are one common and effective form of pain relief in the home birth setting. The Birth Partner book by Penny Simkin covers labor coping strategies quite thoroughly. Going through a childbirth education class with your birth partner is also recommended.

Midwives are skilled and equipped to manage many emergencies including shoulder dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage, and neonatal resuscitation.

If a sudden emergency occurs, the midwife will initiate emergency transport to the hospital according to their emergency transfer protocol. Emergency transfers are uncommon as midwives are typically excellent at identifying when things are no longer normal before it becomes an emergency.

The following are some of the safety items brought to every birth: resuscitation equipment including a bag valve mask (BVM) and oxygen, doppler for listening to fetal heart tones, herbal remedies, IV supplies, suturing equipment for moderate perineal tears, and a urinary catheter.

Some supplies the midwife does NOT carry are: intubation supplies, blood for transfusion, pain medication (or epidural), nitrous oxide, medications for inducing or augmenting labor, vacuum or forceps for surgical delivery. Midwives also do not perform cesarean sections.

It is my goal to never attend a birth without at least one other collaborating midwife or NRP certified and trained assistant. I will strive to be the primary care provider at your birth. In the rare case where there are two births at once or situations beyond my control, one of the midwives I collaborate with will be present with an assistant in my absence.

I am unable to bill insurance for services. I can provide a maternity service itemized “super”bill for you to give to your insurance provider to attempt to gain whatever the insurance may reimburse up to the $5300 cost of care. There is never a guarantee that your insurance will offer any compensation. Insurance does not like to cover home births. Yes, this is very unfortunate and needs to change!

Yes! The two most common types are Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs). There are many great descriptions of the types of midwives, but here are some points:

Nurse midwives have a nursing degree and then additional midwifery schooling, most commonly practice in the hospital setting (but also home or birth center), are licensed in all 50 states, and have prescriptive authority.

CPM is the only midwifery credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital settings, they can have formal schooling and a degree from a college plus apprenticeship or self-study plus apprenticeship, they must complete all requirements from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) including passing the NARM Exam and they must attend a minimum of 55 births before becoming a CPM (more than a CNM). CPMs have a path to licensure in 36 states and the District of Columbia. There is currently no licensure available for CPMs in Kansas or Missouri.

Traditional midwives may have varied training and choose not to become certified or licensed.

I am happy to discuss why I chose the path I did!

Doulas are different from midwives and an additional (worthwhile) investment. If you have any questions about doulas, they may be covered in this page I created for your benefit!