Homebirth Midwives

The aim of this statement is to outline our philosophies and the type of service we intend to provide, before engaging our services.

Aim of our care:

Is to prepare you mentally, physically and spiritually for your birth and parenthood. Discussion, education, relaxation, visualisation, positive affirmations and physical examinations of both yourself and your baby achieve this.
To provide you with all the information, available to us to assist you in making "informed choices" regarding your care - antenatally, the birth and postnatally.
During your care - We will inform you, at all times if we have any concerns or feel it advantageous, to call in another opinion (Midwife or Doctor).
To tell you when we do not know something, and to seek out the required information.
We will monitor you and your baby's progress during pregnancy, the birth and postnatally to ensure the well being of both. This is achieved by taking your pulse, blood pressure, testing your urine (if the need arises), monitoring the growth and position of your baby, and listening to the foetal heartbeat.
We will take a full comprehensive history and recommend any necessary tests.
We will maintain confidentially at all times
We will invite you to attend Sharing sessions, which are birth support groups.

Back up and bookings:

Due to the type of service we desire to give, our personalities and circumstances, we ideally would like to accept 4 clients per month.

With this workload, the likelihood of one of us not being available to attend your birth is greatly reduced.

On call availability:

We are available 24 hours of the day for support, concerns and information via telephone and mobile phone (which has a pager service).

Holidays and time off - Before engaging our service we will advise you of any planned time off, during the course of your care.
Exceptions - In the event of a serious illness, accident or death within a family, or circumstances arise in which we feel "unfit" to attend you, we will, with your consent, arrange for another midwife of your choice.
We maintain the right to withdraw our care, should a situation arise where we feel unsafe.
You also have the right to discontinue our care, if you feel it appropriate.
Venue for Visits - Each midwife runs a clinic from her home. We will also visit you once each in your home, the timing for visits is as follows:
> Monthly until 30 weeks
> Fortnightly until 36 weeks of pregnancy
> Weekly until the birth of your baby.
Visits are usually around an hour in duration and may be more frequent than the above schedule if necessary.

Birth:

We see our role as Guardian of the birthing woman.
To facilitate you to give birth in the manner in which you choose.
To facilitate those present at the birth to be sensitive to your needs.
To assist you in any way appropriate depending on your needs, eg massage, hot towels, reassurance.
We will attend you in your home, from the time you wish us to come. (usually the "primary" midwife comes first and makes an assessment on when to call the second on call), remaining for at least 2 hours post birth, or until the condition of the mother and baby is comfortable and stable.
Should a situation arise whereby you need to transfer to hospital, one of the midwives will accompany and support you.
We provide all the necessary birth documents.
We provide extra home birth equipment, eg cord and suture equipment, intravenous and resuscitation equipment, however you will be required to hire your own oxygen cylinder and regulator.
We monitor your baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope or Doppler

Postnatal care:

Visiting schedule- One midwife will visit daily for 4 days and then ring you on day 5, visit day 6 and once the following week, at your home. We then like to have a 6 weekly visit to ensure all is well physically and emotionally.
We will encourage you beforehand to organise this period whereby all your needs (cooking, cleaning, washing etc) are taken care of by "other" loving hands.
The midwife will perform the Neonatal Screening Test, should you choose to have it done.
Basically our care encompasses an "holistic" approach, and is on of non-intervention and empowerment to the birthing woman. We therefore:

> do not carry drugs (narcotics) for pain relief
> do not routinely suction mucus from the baby's mouth
> do not artificially rupture membranes as we do not believe it to be beneficial to the woman or baby
> do not routinely perform vaginal examinations
> do not consider short or reduced care as being satisfactory for the woman or midwife.

What we require of you

That you be totally honest with yourself and in your communications with us
That you have a strong belief in the natural birthing process and breastfeeding
That you consider, seriously, all recommendations the we may make regarding your care eg alteration in diet, attending a naturopath or doctor etc.
That you consider the initial blood tests, Blood group, iron count, rubella status, Hepatitis B status, and syphilis status.
That if you are considering birth at home that you have read and understood you rights and responsibilities as homebirth parents.

Fees:

That the amount and manner which it is to be paid, be agreed upon prior to the 1st home visit.
That we will invoice you once before you baby is due with the final payment in the postnatal period.
If you wish to change this agreement please let us know