Birth: Home
There are many women that want their birth to be natural and normal and unhindered by those with a medical view of birth as something that they need to be saved from. Women are the power behind birth and if they learn to trust their bodies and listen to them, they are less likely to be disappointed. Most births, if allowed to progress the way that they are supposed to without intervention, will unfold in a peaceful and safe manner. It is so much easier to remain in control of your environment if it is your own home, somewhere that you feel safe to walk, eat, sing or shout in. You can use the bathroom any way that you want, you will feed your body as it desires and can have as many or as few people with you as you want, you do not have to ask for permission. You do not have to transfer during labour to a hospital which means that your labour won’t stall. You do not have to accept strangers that you haven’t met before, performing vaginal exams on you or offers of drugs. Home birth with a registered midwife, a healthy mom and baby and good support is a wonderful way for a new family to start.
What is a midwife?
The term "midwife" comes from Old English and literally means "with (wid) woman (wif)". Midwives provide primary prenatal care, normal pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, usually until 6 weeks after your baby is born. While worldwide, midwives deliver the majority of babies, in the past 10 to 15 years, midwifery in Canada has increasingly gained acceptance both within the medical community and with pregnant women seeking more holistic care. In many parts of Canada, midwifery has been formalized through legislation and regulation, with a number of provinces paying for midwifery care through their health insurance.
Midwifery is defined by provincial legislation and regulated by professional bodies or colleges. Where midwifery is legislated (in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec), midwives specialize in low-risk or normal pregnancies and birth. They can also prescribe and administer drugs, and order tests.