Home birth is a safe option for many pregnant people. There are risks and safety considerations to consider in all birthing locations. In some cases, home birth is safer than hospital birth. Each individual must consider their health history and other factors.

According to the Ontario Association of Midwives and their extensive research, ‘For every 1000 babies born, 998 are born alive and live past 28 days regardless of whether they were born at home or in hospital’.

Some concerns around home birth include emergency situations. Having easy access to a hospital in case of a required transfer is another consideration. However, most transfer are non-urgent, meaning they are precautionary transfers based on any sign of clinical stress or pathology. So there is plenty of time to make the transfer to hospital if needed. It is important to be informed and to collaborate with supportive, experienced providers.

Home birth may decrease risks in birth for certain individuals. Home births also have an overall higher satisfaction rate and often lead to feelings of empowerment, comfort, and ease.

Let’s chat and find out more about your birth location options and you and your baby’s safety.

Doula support is available in home and hospital settings.

This is common enough, and usually not an emergency. Non-urgent transfers can be less stressful if you’ve already packed a hospital bag. To have a more mindful transfer, it’s best to understand ahead of time in which situations you would consider moving to hospital. That way, you feel informed and empowered in that choice being right for you, in certain circumstances. Midwives and doulas are trained at different levels to assess risk and be of consultation when deciding whether to transfer to the hospital.

Have a carseat installed in your car if you have one, or ready to go by the door if you would call a cab/Uber in case of a transfer. Have a disposable underpad on top of your hospital bag to protect the car seat.

Calling an ambulance/paramedics is also a great option for urgent or non-urgent (in late active stage to transition) transfers.

Every individual’s health and history must be considered to get a full picture of the benefits and risks of home birth. Some of the potential benefits of birthing at home include:

• Increased feelings of safety and intimacy, which directly affects the hormonal passage that facilitate physiologic childbirth

• More freedom of movement and position changes in all stages of labour

• Higher likelihood of freedom of use of water and waterbirth

• Continuity of care and ease of transfer to postpartum (bed)

• Lower risks of infection and unnecessary interventions

• Increased privacy, spiritual and cultural considerations, intimacy

• Higher possibility of having an orgasmic birth

• Lower chances of episiotomy, forceps/vacuum birth, or surgical birth

• Promotes physiologic 3rd stage (birthing the placenta) and honours umbilical cord practices and preferences

VBAC is generally safe and even enhanced in its success rate when planned at home. Speak to your healthcare provider and even consult with multiple providers to make an informed choice about birth location.

Many twin births have occurred safely at home. While there is limited research, there is some research in support of home birth for health twin births. It is important to work with a provider who is skilled and understands twin birth physiology.

In Ontario, recommendations generally guide women and families to deliver twins in a hospital setting. There are various bodies of evidence that suggest epidural use in twin labour. Ultimately, there are choices - whether to birth at home, in hospital, in hospital with epidural, in hospital planned Cesarean - which need to be considered by your own health history, pregnancy, etc.

Contact us if you want more information about home twin labour and delivery in Ontario.

High BMI alone is not a reason to not have a home birth. Other health conditions, whether associated to your BMI or not, may be factors and worth discussing this with your healthcare team.

Recent research suggests that water birth and labouring in water may be highly beneficial and safe for individuals with higher BMIs and/or with obesity. Water aids in buoyancy and movement and is a mindful option for coping with labour and encouraging optimal fetal positioning and movements. It may be worth considering a home birth or a hospital/center where water labour is allowed and encouraged if you have a high BMI.

Remember, your BMI does not define your ability to grow, birth, and care for your baby. Stay informed and stay empowered.

The doula is typically in attendance of the labour sooner and for a longer duration of labour than the midwife.

The doula plays a different, key role in supporting the physiology of birth, observing for normalcy and red flags, guiding and supporting the labouring person and family.

The midwife attends as a medical support in a home birth. The midwife will likely perform the following : check vitals, fetal heart tones (intermittent fetal monitoring), blood pressure, temperature, cervical dilation, assistance in second and third stages of labour, assessing blood loss, and helping the newborn breathe.

The midwife carries a small medical hospital with them! They have oxygen tanks and tools for resuscitation, suturing tools, and some pain relief options. The perform newborn procedures after birth such as the Vitamin K shot and other newborn assessments.

The doula carries a suitcase of comfort! Equipment includes a fan, ice pack, heating pad, essential oils & massage oils, kneeling pad, birthing stool, and more. The doula helps the family to be informed, self advocate in birth, and have their best experience possible.