People are choosing home birth around the world because they want more control of pregnancy and birth.
They are turning away from doctors and hospitals usually because they had an unpleasant birthing experience or they simply do not want to be bossed around by a doctor or nurse.
Here are some important questions you should ask before you choose your midwife.
Questions to Ask How long has she been a midwife? Where did she attain her training? How long did she train? How many births did she attend while under supervision? How many children does she have and where were her births attended and by whom? How many mothers has she delivered and how many were home births? Does she work alone? with apprentices? other midwives? What happens if she must transfer to the hospital? What is her transfer rate? What are her views on episiotomy? What is her rate? How often do mothers have intact perineums? How often do they require stitches? Does she suture? When does she go on vacation? Does she have a back-up if something happens during her absence? What is her fee.
What does this include? When does it have to be paid? Ask when she attended her last three births.
Ask to be given their names and phone numbers as references.