Considering a home birth during COVID-19?

As the concerns surrounding COVID-19 grow, many midwives are now fielding an overwhelming amount of calls from families weighing their options for birthing at home due to current fears surrounding a traditional hospital setting.

Traditionally, home births are a safe option for most low-risk women and are a way to birth in a calm, familiar environment. Women who birth at home choose to do so without the use of labor augmentation and without the use of IV anesthesia for pain management. Home births are usually attended by a midwife who is their healthcare provider throughout the pregnancy. Midwives use their expertise and skills in determining labor progression and may encourage hospital transfers if adverse signs occur during labor and after delivery.

Unassisted births, however, are growing in popularity due in part to the unavailability of midwives in the area and also due to mothers wanting to birth without assistance. The laboring mother does not have the assistance of a healthcare provider during her labor. Mothers may choose this option if they are confident in their ability to birth alone without monitoring by a midwife or other healthcare personnel.

Better Birth MS’s official stance is against recommending unassisted births even in the most low risk births. For the safety of both moms and babies in MS, we always recommend birthing with a qualified healthcare professional whether in your home, birth center, or a traditional hospital setting. However, we understand during this time of uncertainty, many women may be faced with an unplanned, unassisted childbirth due to new hospital policies or closures, lack of access to qualified birthing professionals, delayed responses from emergency medical services, travel restrictions, etc. Please contact your provider and discuss emergency risk management planning for your birth, if faced with the reality of any uncertainty surrounding your birth at this time.