Home birth care is for low-risk pregnancies.
Mountain Midwifery provides home birth care for low-risk families. That
does not mean every person will automatically be a good candidate, and
it does not mean risk is ignored. It means BenNi will talk with you about
your health history, pregnancy history, current pregnancy, labs, mental
health, baby’s growth, and other factors that may affect your care.
For some low-risk families, home birth may be an appropriate option when
care includes careful screening, ongoing monitoring, a trained midwife,
and a clear plan for consultation or transfer when needed. Sometimes a
family begins planning for home birth and something changes. If that
happens, BenNi will talk with you about what she is seeing and what the
next step should be—consultation, referral, dual care, or transfer.
Transfer planning is part of responsible care.
Planning for transfer does not mean expecting something to go wrong. It
means being prepared. Many transfers are not emergencies. Sometimes a
laboring person has been in labor a long time, is exhausted, and wants an
epidural or additional support. Other times, transfer is recommended
because something has moved outside the scope of home birth care.
If transfer becomes necessary, BenNi will explain what is happening, why
transfer is recommended, and how transfer will happen. Depending on the
situation, transfer may happen by private vehicle or by emergency medical
services. The goal is always the same: to make sure mother and baby
receive the care they need.
Supplies and support carried to births.
BenNi carries birth and emergency supplies appropriate to her scope,
including oxygen, medications and supplies for postpartum bleeding, IV
fluids, antibiotics for GBS-positive clients, and newborn resuscitation
equipment. She may also use herbal or homeopathic support in appropriate
non-emergency situations.
Supplies are important, but they are only one part of careful care.
Ongoing monitoring, communication, preparation, and knowing when to seek
additional support are just as important.