When labor is beginning, you will be asked to keep in contact and update as appropriate. One of the reasons homebirth is so safe for low risk pregnant people is because of monitoring! When planning for an unmedicated birth in hospital, we are told our best bet is to stay home as long as possible, so we do not end up on the conveyor belt of interventions we are likely destined for. You have an entire early active labor at home in those circumstances where you and your baby are not being monitored. Due to the nature of homebirth midwifery care, the cascade of interventions is not a concern! I come to your house when you are in active labor and will get a full set of vitals on you and then a long listen to your baby with a hand held (water proof!!) doppler. I will repeat listening to your baby every 30 minutes for 2 minutes (or more often if indicated), and your vital signs will be assessed every 4 hours (again, more often if indicated). I bring a “mobile birth center” to your home, meaning everything available at a free-standing birth center will also be available at your homebirth. My practice does not require routine vaginal exams/cervical assessments in labor. Once you begin pushing, I will listen to your baby every 10 minutes, or about every other contraction (more often if indicated). I believe a baby’s parents should be the first set of human hands on them, so I will do my best to allow for this. My commitment to your family is that I will attend you with patience and reverence. Birth is one of the two holiest spaces we are honored to inhabit in life. This is not lost on me. 

Once your baby is born…… 

Your baby will be placed on your chest, skin-to-skin. This contact with you allows for your baby to regulate their respiratory rate, temperature, heart rate, and blood sugar. During this time, your placenta separates and will also be born. My first priority following birth is ensure you and your baby are clinically stable. My next priority is to help facilitate an environment where you are able to focus on bonding with your baby as a birth parent and as a new family. You are welcome to keep your placenta or discard it. The cord is not cut (if opting to separate by cutting) until about 2 hours postpartum. My practice offers encapsulation for an additional charge. 

Our primary focus during the first hour postpartum is ensuring you are healthy and your newborn has initiated breastfeeding. After this first hour, we will get you up to use the bathroom. Once back to the bed, I will do a tear check for you. If you require sutures, most LCPMs (myself included) are able to suture at home, up to a second degree tear. I also need to ensure you are able to eat something before I leave your home. 

Around 2 hours postpartum the newborn exam will be performed. This is a comprehensive newborn exam (details on newborn exam page). Much of the exam can happen while baby is skin to skin with you, should you so choose. I like to offer a mini cranial sacral session for babies during this time. 

The birth team remains with you for about 3 hours (a minimum of 2 hours post birth of placenta). You will be read “postpartum instructions” and left with a physical copy for reference.