Home Birth Safety: Midwives vs. Doctors & Complications

Question
What is the safest way to have a home birth?

Should you have a doctor present? Or a mid-wife?

What happens if their are complications?

Answer
Hello H. Thomas. The safest way is to have a midwife present. Very few of today's practicing drs. would even know what to do during a delivery without nurses at their elbow and all the equipment of a hospital. A midwife is trained to keep a woman in her healthiest possible condition so that complications are VERY rare. However, midwives are also trained to handle such complications should they happen. The best thing to do is locate several local midwives in your area and interview them. Pick one with whom you feel good and let her educate you about birth. Hope that helps- you might enjoy a website called BirthLove. Cheri.