I was asked by the editor of Parenting Orange County to write a brief answer to a question submitted about home birth (I think I have exactly the word count they allow) and hopefully it will encourage families to do their own research about their options. I had almost forgotten about it until I passed by a newly stocked magazine stand at a local outdoor mall today:

I am interested in giving birth to my first child at home. It seems like such a beautiful, organic experience. But I’m wondering, is it safe?

In 2005, a landmark study summarizing the outcomes of births in the United States and Canada (attended by Certified Professional Midwives) was published in the British Medical Journal. The study found that these births had “lower rates of medical intervention but similar intra-partum and neonatal mortality to that of low risk hospital birth.”

In other words, for women with low-risk pregnancies, a planned home birth with a trained attendant can be as safe as a planned hospital birth!

In most home births, a midwife assists during childbirth. It is the goal of every midwife to assist you in achieving the birth experience you desire while monitoring your health and that of your baby’s during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. Midwives provide individualized education and access to prenatal testing (including ultrasounds if indicated) and perform fetal monitoring during labor as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Midwives continue to care for you and your baby following pregnancy by providing breastfeeding support, usually up to six weeks after birth sometimes concurrently with your pediatrician. Because midwives focus on your wellness, they are often able to resolve potential complications before they become dangerous. If at any point in pregnancy your risk status changes, referral to an obstetrician for a planned hospital birth may be necessary. You and your midwife will create a plan for transfer to the hospital in labor in the event you choose to do so—every woman has the ultimate decision of whether or not to proceed once labor starts in absence of known risks—or if an emergency warrants it. The vast majority of transfers from home to hospital are by private car, not ambulance. Common reasons for first time mothers to transfer are exhaustion and pain relief.

Ask your potential midwife if she is licensed in California (indicating she has met core competencies and education requirements), has current neonatal resuscitation provider certification (specialized CPR for newborns), and how she handles complications at home.

The answers to these questions will help you find the midwife who will provide you with the beautiful, organic and safe experience you envision for your baby’s birth! —Kris Bagiu, CPM