At Home Birth
Tap into the comfort of the familiar-greet your baby in your own home.
Midwives have always known how to support families through normal, healthy births. If we are allowed to trust and listen to our bodies, we will naturally seek out dark, safe, quiet places to give birth. While home birth is portrayed as new, trendy idea, it’s actually a very old idea. Surrounded by people you love and trust, your body can release the hormones that allow your body to open up and let your baby out.
“Thank you to all the kind and skilled midwives at Alma! You took care of my mind, body and spirit during a transformative time . I look back on my pregnancy, labor/delivery and postpartum period so positively and I always will! What a gift to begin motherhood on such solid ground!”
For a low-risk person, home birth is a safe option. Laboring in the familiarity of home for some people allows for the ultimate in the production of oxytocin. I think most of us feel that way when we reach home after a long day...aahhhh. It is the place where we have learned to really let go of inhibition. Not getting in the car while contracting is a big perk!
I had my first baby in the hospital and decided to give birth with the Alma midwives with my son. They came in with birth kits in suitcases, bags, an oxygen container and a portable birth tub. I was so happy to see these ladies! While Maddie set up, Laura rubbed my back and listened to the baby. Never once did I feel afraid. My husband caught the baby in the tub with the help of Janelle. My 2-year-old watched the birth too. He still says “The midwifes helped Mama.” I loved my home birth experience! - Lindsey G.
A home birth supply list will be given to you at the onset of 3rd trimester if you decide to birth at home in the Portland area (sorry, no Washington home births). The midwives will provide a home visit at 36 weeks gestation to become familiar with your home and to check over your birth supplies. This is an exciting visit because the home visit makes it all seem really real — this baby really is coming!
The supplies we bring to your home include: a birth tub (extra fee), all our usual tools & medications, oxygen, resuscitation supplies, and the same emergency birth supplies as we have available at the birth center. We do not have nitrous oxide available for home use. See link to full list of medication and supplies here.
Once baby is born and we have provided your immediate after baby care, we pack up our supplies and leave the house as clean as it was when we arrived. We will start the birth laundry too.
Once all the work is done and everyone is stable, we can all enjoy the beauty of this moment! The birthing person is snuggled down in their own bed with their newest family member and the midwives say goodbye & head home to their own families. This is a definite pro of home birth. It may also be the con for some people who want more postpartum education and support. It can be taxing on the partner or support person to provide immediate & continued postpartum and baby care.
The midwives are just a call away when questions or concerns arise and return to the home on day one for continued care. Did you know that the European model of home visits during the postpartum period have been shown to reduce postpartum depression and also keeps the freshest of humans out of the clinic waiting rooms?
See Postpartum - Home Birth for more information.
