Frequently Asked Questions

Illinois State Home Birth Association offers a way for consumers to connect with Home Birth Midwives throughout the State of Illinois. In addition, this organization strives to educate the public on home birth and provide resources. 

Many have a desire to give birth without medical interventions such as pain medication, labor induction, fetal heart rate monitoring, or instrument deliveries. Many desire to give birth in a comfortable familiar environment. Some may have had dissatisfaction with previous hospital care or desire more control of the birthing process. Cultural or religious concerns may play a role. Lack of access to care and lack of transportation may be a consideration. The lower cost may also be appealing. 

Typically women who are considered low risk and who do not have serious medical conditions. Each midwife may have a list of conditions that may risk a woman out of midwifery care in the home setting.
Home birth is not for everyone. Each woman should deliver where they feel safest. 

They will provide prenatal care throughout your pregnancy, be there through the birth and beyond, and provide postpartum care all for a "package" price. It is truly a VIP experience. 

Some midwives accept insurance but most do not. Most are cash pay or can accept HSA or credit cards. However the services provided are very economical compared to hospital or birth center births. Costs of services vary from midwife to midwife but each midwife will openly share their costs with you. Package prices can vary from $3500 to $7000 on average In Illinois. Many will accept payment plans. 

Many resources demonstrate that care given in the home can be as safe as delivering in the hospital. In fact many resources have demonstrated there are better outcomes for women in the community birth settings such as home birth or in a birth center. Midwives are well trained  in handling unexpected emergencies and carry equipment to the home for emergencies if needed. Midwives and birth assistants are trained in CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation.

You are in a comfortable environment for labor to occur. You will be encouraged to eat and drink throughout labor and move about as you desire. Most midwives use intermittent fetal monitoring. There are less interventions in Homebirth often leading to better outcomes. The transfer to cesarean section rates are much lower than the cesarean section rates in hospitals.  

During a planned home birth you might need to go to a hospital if problems develop during labor and delivery. Your midwife might advise you to go to the hospital if labor is not progressing well, your baby shows signs of distress, your baby is not in the best position, you need pain relief, if you develop high blood pressure, you experience fevers or bleeding. If this occurs you will present to the nearest delivering hospital for emergent care by the physician on call. The midwife will facilitate the transfer of records and in some instances may accompany you. 

Many  midwives are supportive of the option of water birth. You can rent tubs, purchase tubs, or birth in your own large tub. Water immersion should be used as a tool and not a birth goal. There are times it may be better to be out of the tub for birth. Your midwife will discuss the pros and cons of water birth as part of your prenatal care. 

Refer to  www.evidencebased birth.com  for their article on the evidence surrounding water birth.

Midwives are all trained in natural physiologic birth but the focus of their training may have been different. You may use this link to explore differences between midwives and their training. https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/ccLibraryFiles/FILENAME/000000006807/FINAL-ComparisonChart-Oct2017.pdf

Yes midwives can repair most perineal or vaginal tears. If it is a complicated tear they may transport  to the hospital for a physician assist. Midwives do not routinely cut episiotomies. There are rare circumstances when an episiotomy is beneficial. Midwives will always ask your permission prior to cutting an episiotomy. 

The secret to having a Homebirth is understanding that you have control over your environment in the home setting. Because you are in a setting where you feel comfortable and more relaxed it can make a difference in how that pain is perceived. There are many tools that can be used such as breathing, relaxation, water therapy, position changes, acupressure, massage or touch to name a few. 

Of course you can. We cannot expect you to do the physical and mental work you need to in labor without fuel. In fact we have research that dates back over 20 years to support this practice in all labor settings. 

Many will use intermittent monitoring to check periodically on your baby throughout labor. The research supports this as the best option for low risk laboring moms. When we listen we will use a Doppler, fetoscope or stethoscope. Check out  Evidenced Based Birth topics to read more about this. 

Any that YOU  choose! We have good research to show that any position is better than the traditional hospital position of laying on your back  so we encourage alternative positions. 

It has always been "legal" to have a home birth in Illinois but the State of Illinois has not aways recognized midwives as a provider for home birth services. CNM's and CPM's and Physicians can be licensed in Illinois and can serve as home birth providers. 

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