Need advice on how to prepare for a home birth

[medmom7]

Just found out I am pregnant! So this is a long ways away but I know that I want to have a home birth this time around. Can anyone give advice on how to find a midwife? How to find a prenatal care OB who is okay with home birth? I live in Salt Lake city utah so any advice pertaining to this area particularly welcomed. Thanks!

[JamieCatheryn]

Congratulations!

Here is a listing: http://www.southwestdoulas.com/utah/locate.htm#midwives You can ask around for recommendations, doulas and other likeminded moms usually know what's available. Pick a few that sound good and interview them, see if your personalities and outlooks click and if you trust her experience and knowledge. It appears Utah has a great legal status for midwives: licensure offered and it's voluntary. As such there are lots of people to chose from. I'd ask the midwife you like if she recommends you get OB shadow care, if there's anyone she'd suggest. If you don't have complications an OB isn't really needed unless you really want it, especially in an area that legally embraces midwifery.

[Lady Lilya]

I'm planning my second home birth.  

I don't see an OB.  It is part of the MW's job to determine if I need an OB.  I wouldn't want to deal with an OB unless I had to.

[kawa kamuri]

Originally Posted by Lady Lilya 

I don't see an OB.  It is part of the MW's job to determine if I need an OB.  I wouldn't want to deal with an OB unless I had to.

I'm seeing an OB that only attends births at home. They exist. 

[Lady Lilya]

That's cool, Kawa!  I guess they are pretty rare.  

[thebeljur]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 

You should check out your "Finding Your Tribe" area in Mothering to get midwife recommendations: http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/list/91. 

You can also hit up local LLL meetings: http://lllofslc.wordpress.com/ (you'll usually find at least a handfull of home birthing mothers there).

Why are you looking for an OB for prenatal care?

[serendipity17]

Congratulations mama! I highly, highly recommend Rebecca Williams. She has a birth center in Murray and attends home births in the Salt Lake area. She was my midwife with my first baby and I thought she was wonderful-- we would have gone back to her in a heartbeat if we hadn't moved out of the area. Her website is http://www.greatexpectationsbc.com.

Good luck!

[likesapples]

When looking for a midwife, the best advice I could give you interview as many as you can and go with your gut - who feels like the best match for you, who you feel the most comfortable with and whose philosophy best matches your own. Talk to other homebirthers, ask what they liked and didn't. Shopping around is a GOOD thing - you are a consumer of healthcare - don't forget it! :)

Happy pregnancy to you!

[MegBoz]

Just another comment that you don't need an OB. AMA & ACOG officially oppose HB, so OBs who are outspokenly accepting of HB are going to be rare.

Not necessary anyway. With MWs being legal in your state, your MW should be able to handle things like ultrasounds for you if you want them - so you'll never need to see any other care provider. I've chosen a CPM, who is illegal here in Maryland, & she couldn't get me ultrasounds, but I just saw the hospital-based CNMs I saw for my DS birth. I told 2 of the 4 in the practice who I know are HB-friendly (my MW knows them) & they're totally supportive, but they haven't put it in my chart that I'm planning the HB since the docs who practice together with them may give them a hard time.

[Panonim]

Originally Posted by kawa kamuri 

Originally Posted by Lady Lilya 

I don't see an OB.  It is part of the MW's job to determine if I need an OB.  I wouldn't want to deal with an OB unless I had to.

I'm seeing an OB that only attends births at home. They exist. 

Wow!    That is very cool.  Good to know that they are out there.  Are you in the US?

[kawa kamuri]

    Quote:

Wow!    That is very cool.  Good to know that they are out there.  Are you in the US?

I am! He's awesome and certainly more hands off than many local midwives. I feel very lucky. 

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by kawa kamuri 

    Quote:

Wow!    That is very cool.  Good to know that they are out there.  Are you in the US?

I am! He's awesome and certainly more hands off than many local midwives. I feel very lucky. 

Wow - I'm astounded! Really astounded. Does he have anyone who will back him up? OBs on the whole tend to oppose HB, so I can imagine his OB colleagues aren't too supportive (of course he might have a MW as back-up in case he's at another birth, which is great.)

[SusannahM]

I think Kawa stole the thread!  I agree that's very cool.

OP, there are some great lists of questions to ask potential midwives floating around.  Schedule an interview with some midwives and have a list of questions ready, is my advice.