So much to consider!!!!

[Buddhamom]

My last two children were born 21 and 19 years ago in a hospital but with only midwives and NO pain meds. or IVs so I want a homebirth this time. Right now since I am only 6w5D along I have only seen Ob and Assoc. MW there. My concern is what happens if you need to transfer to a hospital? Who takes over since the HB midwives aren't affiliated with them? Did anyone keep going to their medically affiliated midwife while still seeing a HB midwife?

[emnic77]

My concern is what happens if you need to transfer to a hospital? Who takes over since the HB midwives aren't affiliated with them? Did anyone keep going to their medically affiliated midwife while still seeing a HB midwife?

If you need to transfer to a hospital, you would get whatever OB or MW (most likely OB) was on duty at that time. Much like a planned hospital birth (I had two, one with an OB and one with a MW, and I had never met either one before they assisted my births). They take over, your hb mw likely has no hospital affiliation. My own homebith midwife would, in the event of a transfer, accompany us as our doula. It was important to me that if we needed a transfer (we didn't) that she would stay with us. I would ask about that.
I did not see anyone else for the care of my last baby, only my homebirth midwife.

Happy pregnancy!!

[MsBlack]

Some families do keep on seeing their OB/CNM practice during pregnancy, when planning a homebirth. In many cases, it means if you transfer care during/after labor, you will either get their care in hospital, or at least be 'an official patient of theirs'--which often makes transfer go a lot easier even if you do get some other oncall doc for care that day.

[luckiest]

Originally Posted by Buddhamom

My concern is what happens if you need to transfer to a hospital? Who takes over since the HB midwives aren't affiliated with them? Did anyone keep going to their medically affiliated midwife while still seeing a HB midwife?

I believe this will all depend on the individual HB midwife. Most HB midwives, even though they don't have actual hospital privileges, have relationships with certain hospitals or have a hospital they prefer to transfer to (although obviously in an emergency transfer, you're going to the closest hospital regardless). They will still stay with you after the transfer, as a support person and advocate. You would then be in the care of whichever OB is on call. Lots of people do get "shadow care" from an OB or hospital CNM - that means they'll already have a chart on you, although I'm not sure what the other advantages would be...maybe you're less likely to get hassled if the hospital isn't HB friendly?

[Lady Lilya]

I'm planning my second home birth. I don't go to an OB or hospital MW. Just my HB MW. If she thinks I need a doctor, she will tell me so and help make the arrangements. If I transfer in an emergency, I would expect to get whatever OB is on call, as would happen in many hospital births anyway. And my MW would come along.