Home Births

Information for moms wanting home births.

For a list of items needed for the home birth, click here

Home births are as safe as we can make them. We know from experience that there are certain criteria that we work with to keep them safe.

• Your pregnancy has to be 100% normal
• You need to have completed 37 weeks of pregnancy (to avoid having a premature baby)
• You should be within 10 minutes of a hospital (if this is a private hospital then you need to consider if you can afford to pay for a Caesar).If you can't afford this then it may be possible to have the birth at a place nearer a government hospital.
• We supply oxygen, instruments and medication(the cost of medication is over and above the quoted fee +/- R200.00)

We prefer to have two people at the birth either the two of us or one of us and someone we work with.

Exclusions. Below is list of things that would prevent you from having a baby at home.

• First babies, previous Caesars, any serious illness outside pregnancy, infertility, any major abdominal operations.
• If problems develop in pregnancy which will endanger mom or baby i.e. high blood pressure, bleeding, decreased foetal movement, prematurity or any condition that we may feel will influence you or your baby's safety.
• In Labour, below are the most common conditions that would necessitate you going to hospital.
• If your waters break and the colour is green,
• If your waters break and you do not go into labour and need to be induced (at midwives discrestion).
• If you should need pain relief.
• If the baby shows any kind of distress.
• If you go past your due date and need to be induced.
• If at any time you are not progressing in labour,
• If we feel that you or your baby are in any danger.

I know this all sounds very scary but I can reassure you that all of the above don't often happen but it is essential that you are aware of them.

Extra info

• Home birth extra info
• Home birth decreasing caesarean sections
• Contract for home birth
• Why Homebirth