Home Birth Pre-natals vs Hospital Birth pre-natals

DoulaWendy · 04-02-2009, 12:02 PM

I am going to be doing my first homebirth pre-natal on Saturday and I want some feedback from other doulas on how your hospital vs homebirth pre-natals differ.

Would you still cover hospital procedures in the event of a transfer?

Thanks.

Sorry if this has already been covered. My son is sick and I don't have much time to look. I am cloth diapering a diarreha monster.

TO Doula · 04-03-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaWendy

I am going to be doing my first homebirth pre-natal on Saturday and I want some feedback from other doulas on how your hospital vs homebirth pre-natals differ.

Would you still cover hospital procedures in the event of a transfer?

Absolutely. A transfer is always a possibility, and if it happens it will be because the hospital has something she or her baby needs. A transfer is usually a disappointment and sometimes very scary. I'd talk to her about packing a bag for the hospital, too. It's a bit of a drag when the doula has to spend the last minutes at home digging around in the client's drawers for underpants etc because she didn't want to pack a bag and jinx things. Not that I know anything about this. ;-)

If her midwives haven't given her instructions about food, I'd talk to her about having nutritious snacks/meals available for herself and her family and also for the midwives and support people (ie you). Midwives often appreciate if the client has coffee WITH CAFFEINE available, too. One of your jobs will be to get everyone a big snack once the baby is out.

Quote:

Sorry if this has already been covered. My son is sick and I don't have much time to look. I am cloth diapering a diarreha monster.

Yuck. Poor both of you!

b'earth angel · 04-03-2009, 11:41 PM

Hope you little man is well soon.

I know that we have a great thread covering this very topic Wendy, I'll have to see if I can find it for you.
Off the top of my head, from having my own homebirth, but not attending any yet...
I was a little surprised at the amount of prep work I had to do, the midwife gave me a list of things, like sterilizing towels, blankets, etc. I never gave that much thought. And then the aftercare, again, not something I had thought about. But taking temps regularly, really watching lochia, checking babe for signs of distress, etc etc. The midwife should have a protocol that perhaps you can get your client to get a copy to you and go over these things on your next prenatal.
Rean's suggestion of nourishing snacks and hydrating drinks is a must. I also felt the need to supply my doula and midwife w/drinks, snacks and after meal, although this was my own personal preference.
making sure that she has the necessary comfort items at hand, ice packs, hot packs, microwave (we don't have one, so have to improvise)etc. etc. But most of these things you likely discuss at subsequent prenatals, not necessarily the first.
Now off to see if I can find that other thread...

b'earth angel · 04-03-2009, 11:57 PM

Found it. Aussie Doula has a great post w/a list on homebirth topics to discuss in addition to the regular comfort measures, etc. #21
Doula Support for Homebirth Doula support for homebirth

momofmany · 04-04-2009, 10:21 AM

I attended a birth as a doula and a midwife's assistant at the same time. During her prenatal for my doula part, I was prepared to ask her questions pertaining to transport and realized that the midwife and really covered that with her already and I felt like maybe that was her territory. I don't know about all midwives, but this one goes along on transfers and would most certainly convey mom's wishes to the staff or know what is best for that mom at that time.

TO Doula · 04-04-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b'earth angel

Hope you little man is well soon.

I know that we have a great thread covering this very topic Wendy, I'll have to see if I can find it for you.

Thanks for digging that up.

Quote:

I also felt the need to supply my doula and midwife w/drinks, snacks and after meal, although this was my own personal preference.

I've attended home births with about half a dozen different midwifery practices around here, and some have "food for the midwives" on the to do list. But even if it's not on the list I think it's imperative if you don't want members of your team to have to leave your home to look for something to eat. If they're there for more than three or four hours they're going to need something. Don't assume they're packing a lunch. :-)

Quote:

making sure that she has the necessary comfort items at hand, ice packs, hot packs, microwave (we don't have one, so have to improvise)etc.

I've had good luck with heating things like rice socks in the oven wrapped in aluminum foil. Heat to 200 or 250, leave them in for 15-20 minutes. I haven't seen midwives here who want you to sterilize anything, but you do get a shopping list of supplies you need such as chux pads, as well as stuff to have on hand like lots of clean towels, how to prepare your bed, etc. But that's really all midwifery info, not doula info. Finding out where the washer and dryer are and how to run them is probably more useful for the doula!

b'earth angel · 04-04-2009, 11:50 PM

my doula also goes over the necessity of a clean house.

ya know, some folks like me, suffer from the disorder C.H.O.A.S and need this little pep talk.

Otherwise, the doula ends up scrubbing the bathtub, tiddying up the bedroom, etc etc...
anyway, it's good to discuss logistics and where certain items are kept, like extra linens for the bed, towels, snacks, etc. before hand as well. Some of these topics are more for the doula's benefit than the mother's but do help the mother during labor as well.

TO Doula · 04-06-2009, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b'earth angel

my doula also goes over the necessity of a clean house.

ya know, some folks like me, suffer from the disorder C.H.O.A.S and need this little pep talk.

Otherwise, the doula ends up scrubbing the bathtub, tiddying up the bedroom, etc etc...
anyway, it's good to discuss logistics and where certain items are kept, like extra linens for the bed, towels, snacks, etc. before hand as well. Some of these topics are more for the doula's benefit than the mother's but do help the mother during labor as well.

Hmmm...I think I suffer from that disorder myself. :-)

sunlit_mists · 04-17-2009, 04:17 PM

I do suffer from CHAOS syndrome - the can't have anyone over soon....

sldsheppard · 06-24-2009, 11:51 PM

CHAOS? Is a real syndrome? THANK THE POWERS ABOVE I thought is was just me and my inability to get organized in my house and not throwing anything away I might need it. My husband has finally after 25 years given up harassing me about my disorder. About time HA Have my first doula client comming up and she is planning a home birth.....I never thought I might need to get personal with the drawers. Good tip to have her pack a just in case bag. I also never thought about a kitchen tour for post delivery nutrition...or even pre delivery snacks. I better get the tour before the time arrives! Thanks!!

genesis_doula · 08-18-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rean

Thanks for digging that up.
I've attended home births with about half a dozen different midwifery practices around here, and some have "food for the midwives" on the to do list. But even if it's not on the list I think it's imperative if you don't want members of your team to have to leave your home to look for something to eat. If they're there for more than three or four hours they're going to need something. Don't assume they're packing a lunch. :-)

not to high jack this thread but I had a question about this.... so when supporting at a home birth and the mama has midwives, as a doula we have to support the midwives as well? like as you mentioned with food and someone else mentioned doing temps and sterilizing things....

TO Doula · 08-18-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genesis_doula

not to high jack this thread but I had a question about this.... so when supporting at a home birth and the mama has midwives, as a doula we have to support the midwives as well? like as you mentioned with food and someone else mentioned doing temps and sterilizing things....

Well, in the bit you quoted, that was info for the parents, not for the doula. The doula can certainly help by getting everyone something to eat, including the midwives, but I would not expect to be supporting the midwives in a technical capacity. There is no way I would be expected to do anything more than I would do at a hospital birth. I can tidy things up, I can hold something or adjust a light if asked, but nothing clinical. I've never seen anything sterilized at the home, either! I expect the midwives to arrive with their instruments ready to go.

I understand that some things may be a bit different in the US where you can have solo midwives and a patchy regulatory system, but here midwives have more professional support when they do homebirths.

mathairdoula · 09-20-2009, 07:38 AM

the family is supposed to have packets made up that just need to be thrown in the oven, and the Temp taking is something the mother should do, you could remind her but it is medical and a doula shouldn't be doing it. if you have a home birth there are no nurses too do the medical things, but a midwife should be coming back the next day and on days 3, and 7 to do postnatal. Midwives are used to calls at 3 am, the mom should call her if she needs too.

busybusymomma · 09-20-2009, 10:44 PM

I would go into asking "what is the backup plan?". Simply because the backup plan with our homebirth clients varies according to where they live and whether they have chosen to get backup care from the doctor who backs us up. Then she can either fill you in or you can give her food for thought with the suggestions above.

We tend to put some effort into Plan B with the idea that since it's in place we are extremely likely to NOT need it.