They’re in good company: for more than 20 years, midwives have attended over 49 000 home births in the province and currently attend about 4 000 home births a year.

Midwives are the only primary care providers in Ontario who receive extensive education and training to help you safely give birth at home.  If you are experiencing a low risk pregnancy, there is excellent quality research The AOM’s Choice of Birthplace Guideline summarizes the findings of four Canadian studies that confirm the safety of home birth.from Ontario showing that important health outcomes are similar whether you plan a home or hospital birth under the care of a midwife.

There are many reasons people plan a home birth with a midwife. Ontario-based research tells us that midwifery clients who choose home births have many things in common.

They:

  • value a birth without medical intervention (if not needed)
  • are confident in their ability to give birth
  • find their home a supportive and comfortable environment
  • feel more in control in their home environment
  • prefer to move freely in familiar surroundings
  • want to eat and drink as they like
  • believe labour will go faster in the comfort of their own home
  • prefer to avoid an epidural
  • believe recovery from birth will be easier where they are most comfortable
  • believe that home birth is safe, responsible choice for themselves and their babies

 

Watch this video to see how Rebeka decided to plan a home birth with midwives.