Answers to Common Questions about Homebirth

Is my home too small for birthing at home?

It is very unlikely that your home is too small to give birth in! Having a baby does not require a lot of space. You need a place large enough to lie down and space around you so I can access you and set up my equipment. You may need some room for a birth pool if you are wanting a waterbirth. The size of your home isn’t important; what matters is that you feel safe and comfortable there.

Is homebirth messy?

People often worry that home birth will be messy – I hear this a lot! I provide you with large, absorbent, disposable underpads to help prevent soiling materials and surfaces during labour and birth, and you will receive instructions about how to further protect your mattress and floors. After the birth, when it’s time for me to leave, you can expect to be tucked into a clean bed with only one bag each of laundry and rubbish. I help the birth partner to siphon out the pool and give him / her instruction as to how to clean and fold up the pool. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes!

What if I live far from the hospital?

When discussing whether a home birth is right for you, I will take your home’s distance from the hospital and additional factors (e.g. weather conditions, potential traffic, etc.) into consideration. I always recommend that you have ambulance cover so emergency medical personnel can reach you as quickly as possible in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Some families choose to give birth closer to the hospital – at a family / friend’s home or an Airbnb.

Who can be at my birth?

When you plan a home birth, it is up to you to decide how many (or how few) birth companions, family members and/or friends are there with you. I have a second midwife who will attend towards the end of labour. But outside of that, it is completely up to you as to who is present with you during the birth.

What will the neighbours think?

Some people are vocal during labour, and many people in labour make loud humming or moaning noises. In some cases, people make louder sounds for a short period of time as they are pushing their baby out. Most neighbours don’t find this too disruptive. However, it is a personal decision whether you inform the neighbours in advance about your planned homebirth.

What are my options for pain relief at home?

Midwives are skilled in providing comfort measures to support you in labour. Giving birth at home does not mean you are without pain relief options. Comfort measures available to you at home may include:

• Massage
• Relaxation and breathing techniques
• Hydrotherapy  (using warm water like taking a deep warm bath or shower for comfort and pain relief)
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation* (TENS)
• Sterile water injections

What if I want an epidural?

Pain relieving medications such as epidural analgesia are only available in the hospital. If you need, or choose, to have an epidural, we will make a plan to move to the appropriate hospital to access it. However, I find that it is rare for a woman to need an epidural. Usually, she is able to manage the sensations of labour when she is in the comfort of her own home.

What supplies do I need for homebirth?

I attend births with all the necessary medical medications and equipment for you to safely give birth in your home. You will be asked to have additional items available, such as nappies and baby blankets and towels, buckets, and a hose to fill the birth pool. I provide a checklist for you early in pregnancy so you have plenty of time to feel organised.