Home Birth
Home Birth
We have been trusted home birth providers in the Santa Barbara community since 1978. We service Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, and Lompoc.
Birthing in a familiar environment, with familiar people, allows the mother to relax and trust in the work of labor without needing to protect themselves: they are protected. Under those conditions the birth process can unfold in its own fashion, without restrictions of time or the constraints of institutional rules.
Research has shown that for a normal healthy pregnancy home birth is as safe as hospital birth, with much less intervention. Our c-section rate is 4%.
As licensed and skilled midwives we are trained to manage the unforeseen complications that can arrive during or after labor and birth: some examples are neonatal resuscitation, use of IV fluids for hydration, medications for maternal bleeding, and suturing for repair of the perineum. If we need auxiliary medical support we transfer to our friendly local hospital for ongoing medical attention.
Every person births in their own way, every labor is a unique journey. As midwives we acknowledge the process, holding the safety and well being of the mother and baby, watching, waiting and offering the support and professional experience the mother and the baby need.
Once the baby is born and stable they stay in the mother’s arms for as long as possible, taking the time to adjust to this new world and getting to know the family. We stay with the new family for a minimum of three hours after birth, perform a newborn exam, support breast feeding, and ensure both mother and baby are stable before we leave.