Homebirth

The first intervention in natural childbirth is the one that a healthy woman does herself when she walks out the front door of her own home in labor. It is from that first intervention that all others follow. ~Michael Rosenthal, OB/GYN

Philosophy

Location isn't the only difference. Most homebirth midwives have a drastically different way of practicing and lower intervention rates compared to hospital-based providers.

Our extensive training is based in normal physiologic birth, and how birth is designed to be instead of what we want it to be because of convenience or fear.

Time limits are much more relaxed and research based medicine (instead of medical malpractice insurance protocol-based medicine) is of the utmost importance.

Intervention and cesarean rates for homebirth practices tend to be much lower than those in a hospital-based practice and the level of personal care (most prenatal and postpartum visits are about an hour long) is much greater.


Safety

For low-risk healthy women, homebirth is just as safe and can be safer than giving birth in a hospital. Because many complications can be caused by interventions and intervention rates are very low in homebirth practices, many complications can be easily avoided.

Despite the fact that the majority of births in the United States take place in a hospital and that technology is now routinely used even without medical indication, fetal mortality rates in our country have begun to climb. Countries that have some of the lowest mortality rates are where midwives are the primary caregivers for low-risk pregnant women and homebirth is the standard.

Midwives carry emergency medical equipment including oxygen, anti-hemorrhagic medicines and suturing materials. Mothers are monitored closely and midwives are trained to identify complications in their earliest presentations. If further intervention is needed, transport to the hospital is arranged. A safe outcome is always important.


Cost

Homebirth costs vary usually between $1,000-3500, which is similar to the amount for many hospital birth deductibles. Many insurances, including Oregon Health Plan (with an open card), pay for homebirths.


Big brother helps with the placenta examination

Birth Centers

Terminology for birth centers has recently gotten confusing because hospitals are now adopting the term birth center to replace labor and delivery ward. Hospital-based birth centers offer nothing different than traditional labor and delivery wards - they use the same protocols and restrictions as other hospitals and often perform surgical births just down the hall.

There are only a handful of truly independent birth centers in the state of Oregon and only one that is within a short distance from Salem.

Local Midwives

There are several local midwives each with their own unique way of practicing.


More Articles on Homebirth

Homebirth: Is It Really A Safe Option by Henci Goer


Films on Homebirth

Rent this new amazing documentary called Pregnant In America that is now available through Netflix. I highly recommend it for every pregnant woman.


The Business of Being Born - Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein's documentary on birth politics in America


~ Emily Heldt