HOME BIRTH WITH A CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE
CAN'T FIND A HOMEBIRTH MIDWIFE? YOU'RE IN LUCK!
Currently only CNMs can fully practice homebirth midwifery legally in Indiana. Laura began offering her services in the Fort Wayne, Allen County and Dekalb County areas in 2004, making homebirth easier to obtain. Laura remains the only CNM offering homebirth services in this area.
Click on picture above to go to Laura's website
BIOGRAPHY
Laura first became interested in midwifery in her teenage years after witnessing the hospital birth of her sister, Sarah, in 1989. Though her mother had desired a homebirth, she could not find a midwife but told Laura that the birthing experience could be much more positive than the hospital experience she had witnessed.
Laura never lost this interest and began working with the direct-entry midwife when she was just 18, beginning to witness the complete course of pregnancy from prenatal visits, to childbirth and postpartum home visits. This experience led Laura to fall in love with homebirth and appreciate the special relationship that people have with their midwives. While her roots were in lay, or direct-entry, midwifery rather than nursing, Laura recognized that a career in nurse-midwifery would provide greater opportunities and ability to be available to more women.
Laura married
After spending a few months mothering Iyla, with wonderful support from her husband, Ryan, Laura opened her homebirth midwifery practice in August 2001. In June of 2004, Laura welcomed her second daughter, Helen Juliet Stoy, after another home waterbirth.
Laura GIlbert
EDUCATION
IN EARLY 1993, AFTER YEARS OF INDEPENDENT STUDY, LAURA HAD A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP AT CASA DE NACIMIENTO IN
Upon returning from
After two years away from school, Laura returned to
LAURA GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM
First moments at home
Homebirth Package Includes:
Prenatal Care
In an effort to encourage early prenatal care, the cost will be the same no matter when you begin or how many visits you have. Prenatal visits either at my
Prenatal Care May Include:
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Monitoring for normal progress and growth of mother and baby and routine observations that screen for complications.
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Getting to know each other. Relationship is the essence of midwifery. I do not want us to be strangers when your baby is born. I love getting to know individuals and families. Homebirth is safer when midwife and client trust each other and communicate well. Each prenatal visit is about an hour long so we have time to talk.
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Nutritional Counseling--A healthy diet supports a healthy pregnancy; your baby is what you eat!
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Laboratory Testing: pap smear, cultures for sexually transmitted diseases (STD's), screening for vaginal infections, blood tests, Group Beta Strep (GBS) culture and others are standard obstetrical care. These are available, but not required; their cost will be extra. I will provide written and verbal information to assist the mother and her partner in deciding which prenatal testing and labor procedures they wish to have and those they wish to forego. This is your body, your birth and your decision!
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Information about and referral to community resources: including childbirth education, doulas, other supportive professionals and organizations.
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Home visits: At least one prenatal home visit so that I and the birth assistant will know where your home is and to review with you preparation for birth.
Postpartum Care & Breastfeeding Support
Two postpartum home visits in the first few days after birth. These are usually at least an hour long. I, or my assistant, will assess both mother and baby thoroughly.
Visits at two weeks, six weeks and six months postpartum. Traditionally a complete physical exam, pap smear and assistance with birth control are offered at either six weeks or six months postpartum.
I will remain on-call after the birth for questions and emergent situations. As always, my clients shouldn't hesitate to call me with concerns.
Breastfeeding Support
Breastfeeding is natural, but occasionally the first few days are difficult. Should you experience difficulty beyond what I can assist with, I will refer you to a local resource.
Click on picture for info on water birth and tub rental
WATER BIRTH AND VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN (VBAC)
WATER BIRTH
Using a nice large tub of warm water during labor and birth can be a wonderful option at a homebirth. However, water bith is not an option at any local hospital. Water can ease early labor allowing the laboring woman to rest. Water reserves a woman's energy; neither she nor her labor companions have to support her weight. Contractions often become stronger and more efficient in the water while at the same time warm water relieves pain and promotes deep relaxation. SEE THE AQUADOULA RENTAL PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY ON THE SAFETY OF VBAC...
Guise, J. M. McDonagh, M. S. Osterweil, P. Nygren, P. Chan, B. K. S. Helfand, M.
Systematic review of the incidence and consequences of uterine rupture in women with previous caesarean section.
British Medical Journal 2004; 329: 19-25
Results indicate that, while uterine rupture is more likely with trial of labor than elective cesarean after a previous surgical delivery, the difference is only small, and the risk is not eradicated by opting for a cesarean, say researchers. "... existing studies indicate that 370 elective cesarean deliveries would need to be performed to prevent one symptomatic rupture," Guise et al conclude.
Rageth JC; Juzi C; Grossenbacher H.
Delivery after previous cesarean: a risk evaluation. Swiss Working Group of Obstetric and Gynecologic Institutions.
Obstet Gynecol, 93(3):332-7 1999 Mar
CONCLUSION: A trial of labor after previous cesarean is safe. Induction of labor and epidural anesthesia are associated with VBAC failure and uterine rupture. FINDINGS: Uterine rupture rate was 0.4% with 0.03% fetal mortality due to rupture of those planning a VBAC. According to the study, for women attempting a VBAC, "all other maternal risks, including peripartum hysterectomy, were lower. Women with uterine rupture more often had induced labor (24.29% compared with 13.92%) and had epidural anesthesia (24.29% vs. 8.44%) "
ADVANTAGES OF HOMEBIRTH
ADVANTAGES FOR THE BABY
Your baby is more likely to be born vaginally, without the breathing difficulties often caused by cesarean birth or anesthesia.
There is less likelihood of infection when the baby is with you than in the newborn nursery.
The baby’s experience at birth can be recognized and made as gentle as possible. Routine procedures such as deep suctioning, scrubbing the baby, etc. are avoided.
The baby is not separated from the mother. The mother-infant bond is never sacrificed for institutional procedures. Bonding is enhanced and includes everyone who has contact with the baby, including neighbors and relatives.
Breastfeeding is easier to establish when the baby can nurse on demand, not be given bottles and your baby remains with you.
ADVANTAGES FOR THE MOTHER
Your care provider knows you well and you know your care provider. You have established a trusting relationship.
You are on your own “turf” where you make the rules.
Emerging from the birth feeling capable and confident puts you in the ideal position to meet the challenges of new motherhood
You have the opportunity to discover that you can cope with labor using your own resources and strengths.
You can choose whatever labor and birth positions you prefer and any comfort techniques that work for you.
Statistics show that home birth is as safe or safer than hospital birth for low-risk women with adequate prenatal care, and a qualified attendant.
You are not likely to be subjected to potentially problematic procedures, drugs and restrictions common in many hospitals.
You will have greatly increased attention, care, observation, and monitoring by a trained person or persons. Continuous one-on-one care is given by the midwife, providing ongoing assessment of the baby's and mother's condition throughout the birth process and postpartum period.
The best judgments will be made by caregivers who are familiar with you and whose presence on the scene enables them to pick up subtleties that would be missed by someone who doesn’t know you and pops in now and then.
You have a caregiver who nurtures, encourages and supports you and who respects your right to participate fully in any decisions made about your care.
You have far less likely to have interventions such as cesarean section, internal monitoring, forceps, vacuum extraction, analgesia, episiotomy, artificial rupture of membranes and routine vaginal exams.
You will be in a familiar, supportive, relaxed and private environment.
You are supported throughout the hard work of labor, and encouraged through the deeply personal experience of this powerful, life-changing event.
Studies indicate that labor progresses more rapidly in the familiar home environment.
You have a greatly decreased chance of infection. The dangerous bacteria and viruses that commonly inhabit hospital environments are far less likely to inhabit your home. Plus, you already have immunity built up to the common bacteria in your home.
You are not subjected to routine procedures such as electronic monitoring, IV’s, blood draws, numerous vaginal exams or stirrups.
You will be treated and your progress evaluated as an individual, rather than being sacrificed to protocols or statistical averages.
You are much less likely to need pain killing drugs, forceps or a cesarean section when you have attendants who feel that birth is a normal physiological function.
Postpartum depression is less common
Labor is allowed to progress normally, without interference and unnecessary interventions.
During labor you are encouraged to eat, drink, walk, change position, make noise, shower, bathe, etc.
Your midwife and her birth assistant do not go home because their shift has ended. They also don't take the day off because they planned something else or because it is a holiday.
You don't have to worry about when to go to the hospital since your care-providers come to you.
ADVANTAGES FOR THE FAMILY
Partners are in their own home, not just "allowed" to be present; they can participate as fully as they want. Caregivers are invited guests in YOUR home.
Your other children can be present if you desire. You can have anyone you wish present: family, friends, children, etc.
The birth is an integral part of family life, helping with postpartum adjustment as a family.
Your family is in charge and you are the center of undivided attention.
A home birth typically costs 1/2 to 1/3 that of a hospital birth.
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HOME BIRTH RESEARCH
Kenneth C Johnson and Betty-Anne Daviss | |
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Macfarlane A, McCandlish R, Campbell R. The assumption that hospital birth is safer than home birth is not supported by evidence. |
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Duran AM.
The safety of home birth: the farm study
American Journal of Public Health. 82(3):450-3, 1992 Mar.
Based on rates of perinatal death, of low 5-minute Apgar scores, of a composite index of labor complications, and of use of assisted delivery, the results suggest that, under certain circumstances, home births attended by lay midwives can be accomplished as safely as, and with less intervention than, physician-attended hospital deliveries.
Olsen, O.
Meta-analysis of the Safety of Home Birth.
Birth. 24(1): 4-13, 1997.
Concludes: "Home birth is an acceptable alternative to hospital confinement for selected pregnant women, and leads to reduced medical interventions."
Murphy PA.
Outcomes of intended home births in nurse-midwifery practice: a prospective descriptive study.
Obstetrics & Gynecology. 92(3):461-70, 1998 Sep.
CONCLUSION: Home birth can be accomplished with good outcomes under the care of qualified practitioners and within a system that facilitates transfer to hospital care when necessary.
Albers LL. Katz VL.
Birth setting for low-risk pregnancies. An analysis of the current literature
Journal of Nurse-Midwifery. 36(4):215-20, 1991 Jul-Aug.
Nontraditional birth settings present advantages for low-risk women as compared with traditional hospital settings: lower costs for maternity care, and lower use of childbirth procedures, without significant differences in perinatal mortality.
LETTER FROM A CLIENT
In the summer of 2004, I was six months pregnant with our first child when we moved to
When labor began a week after my due date, Laura made the drive from
I am now 15 weeks pregnant with my second child and Laura was the first person we called to share our exciting news! Of course, she will be our midwife for this birth as well, and we couldn’t feel more secure about our decision to do another homebirth with Laura.
Crystal, David, and Dylan Whitlow