Home Births

"Every family has the right to a safe, satisfying childbirth experience, with respect for cultural variations, human dignity and the rights as consumers to freedom of choice and self-determination. The certified nurse midwives and certified midwife may practice in a variety of settings including hospital, home and birth center. In any practice setting, provision for the safety of the mother and baby is a primary concern." American College Nurse-Midwives, 1997.

Throughout the United States Nurse-Midwives attend about 3000 home births a year. In Vermont, two nurse-midwife practices offer homebirth services to women who choose this option. For some women and their families this is a viable and sought after choice. Most women have low risk and healthy pregnancies. Safety of homebirth was reiterated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists from a 1998 study which concluded that Nurse-midwives who attend homebirths have good outcomes when practicing in a system where safe transfer to hospital occurs when necessary.

When determining whether homebirth is an option for you it is critical to learn about your birth attendants, the philosophy of their practice, their experience level and the relationship with their consulting physician. Click here for more information about types of midwives, and birth attendants.

Homebirth allows women to labor and birth their baby in the intimacy and peace and privacy of their own home. In Vermont, practices are small and offer an extremely personalized, sensitive and high quality care. For more information about homebirth in Vermont see the directory in this website.