How a Fort Wayne Homebirth with a Midwife Can Transform Your Birth Experience | FORT WAYNE NEWBORN & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

Are you curious about the ins and outs of homebirth? Want to know what it's really like to have a baby at home with the guidance of a skilled and experienced midwife?

Join me- as someone who had a high-risk pregnancy leading to a complicated induction in a hospital- for this exclusive interview with Lauren at Nurtured Beginnings Midwifery Services to learn everything from your partner’s role in homebirth to the village it takes to support a family through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

So grab a cup of hot cocoa (to help you feel cozy during this frigid season!) and get ready to be wowed by the empowering and transformative world of homebirth!

Lauren Hale, CPM, CDEM Nurtured Beginnings Midwifery Services

1- How long have you been a midwife and what got you into midwifery?

Lauren: “I was always fascinated with childbirth, however it wasn’t until I began having my own children that I felt the call to midwifery. My birth experiences deeply shaped not only how I mothered, but also how I viewed myself as a woman. I didn’t realize just how much I needed to be poured into as a new mother.

My goal as a midwife is for families I serve to feel that sense of being well cared for and poured into.

After completing my apprenticeship and didactic coursework I have been licensed in the State of Indiana since March 2021, however I obtained my CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) credentials in December 2020."

2- Can you walk me through a typical home birth, from the initial consultation to postpartum follow-up?

Lauren: "The beautiful thing about midwifery care is that we can customize it to the needs of the family. Generally, families first contact us through our website. We begin by scheduling a one-hour meet and greet at our office. This session allows us to thoroughly review your family's health history, ensuring we have a comprehensive understanding of your individual needs. During this time, we also explore your personal goals and expectations for your birth experience, creating a foundation for collaborative and personalized care. Additionally, we discuss the basic flow of care within our practice to provide clarity and set expectations for the journey ahead. Each appointment throughout your care is scheduled for one hour. We recognize that some families may not require the full hour, while others may need a bit more time. Our flexible approach ensures that everyone receives the attention and support they need during every stage of care.

During prenatal visits we take vitals on mom, listen to the baby, measure the growing uterus, and palpate baby’s position. We also have a list of questions to make sure mom is feeling well physically and emotionally and doesn’t have any concerning pregnancy symptoms. We spend time during visits discussing prenatal testing, milestones in pregnancy, birth and postpartum plans, and whatever else may be on the family’s mind.

We stay in close contact with families once labor begins, and when the time is right, we join the family. The point at which we join families varies - some prefer to have us join them earlier, others prefer we wait until closer to birth. We work in a team of three - Lauren (the midwife), Kirsten (the student midwife), and Ronae (our birth assistant). Our goal is to be unobtrusive during the birth, providing calm presence and careful monitoring for both mom and baby.

Once the baby is born, they remain in their mother’s arms as much as possible. Nearly all assessments can be done right in mom’s arms. We are generally with a family 2-3 hours postpartum, helping with nursing, assessing mom and baby’s wellbeing, tidying up, and reviewing normal expectations during postpartum recovery. We return to the family 24-26 hours after birth to again check in on mom and baby and perform the newborn screening, if families choose.

Postpartum visits are scheduled for 1 week, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks postpartum. During those visits we screen for postpartum mood concerns, assist with any newborn feeding concerns, monitor weight gain and growth of the newborn, and answer any questions or concerns the family may have.

We are thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with Fort Wayne Lactation and included in care is two visits with an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS)I. The first visit is generally scheduled for mid-third trimester to help identify any concerns and provide some basic education. The second visit is scheduled within the first 7-10 days postpartum to help catch any concerns early and establish a strong breastfeeding relationship."

3- Can you talk about the role of the father or partner during a homebirth and how you support them in their role?

Lauren: “I cannot stress enough how invaluable it is to have your loved one by your side during birth. Birth can be challenging for partners - watching a loved one go through the work and emotional challenge of childbirth can be emotional in a way that just can’t be prepared for. If I could give one unsolicited bit of advice to dads, it’s this: your presence makes all the difference in the world, even if you don’t “do” anything during labor. Just being there provides a sense of calm and comfort in a way that nobody else can provide. Throughout care we seek to understand dad’s hopes and concerns for birth also, so that he maintains an active role in the pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. I once had a father tell me that during their hospital birth he was encouraged to sit quietly on the sofa and watch. That’s not the case at home! Dads are asking questions, helping with set up, making decisions, moving through the home with mom, and sometimes even catching the baby!”

4- How (if at all) do you work with other healthcare providers (OBs, pediatricians, etc.) to ensure the best care for families?

Lauren: “We like to talk about how it takes a village to raise a baby, well it also takes a village to support a family through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Most of the families we serve choose not to see an OB during care but always have the option of scheduling an appointment with my collaborating physician’s practice (Fertility and Midwifery Care Center) should health concerns arise. We regularly collaborate and/or provide records to other healthcare providers of the family’s choice, such as forwarding newborn records to pediatricians or referring for pelvic floor physical therapy.”

5- Can you share any experiences you've had with water birth and how it can benefit the mother and baby during labor and delivery?

Lauren: “Waterbirth can be an amazing tool during childbirth. On average just under half of the families we serve plan waterbirth. Water is an amazing pain reliever, and it also aids in increasing mobility for a mother. Often, the water is enough to help take the edge off during transition and the buoyancy of the water helps moms sustain squatting or kneeling positions. Many argue that the transition for baby is much gentler, as they slowly transition from the warm, wet environment of the womb.”

6- Can you share any examples of how you have supported families who have had a previous traumatic birth experience and how they were able to have a positive home birth experience?

Lauren: “We have served many women who have experienced birth trauma, or other forms of trauma. One of the most important things we can do is listen to and really hear a woman’s story. Understanding factors leading up to the trauma and exploring ways we can provide care which does not deepen that traumatic experience is crucial. I encourage women to advocate for themselves during care. I also aim to provide informed consent throughout care - knowing and understanding creates empowerment for birthing families. It's not possible to "re-do" a birth, however we can strive to make this current birth supported and nurtured.”

7- How do you handle emergencies during a home birth?

Lauren: “Our goal is to recognize yellow flags early so we can hopefully avoid complications and emergencies at home. Unfortunately, sometimes things move quickly or unexpectedly and need to be managed in the home setting. Much of the equipment we carry is only used in emergency situations, such as antihemorrhagic medications or neonatal resuscitation equipment. Every two years we are required to renew our Birth Emergency Skills Training, which includes lectures and in-person simulations for managing situations such as shoulder dystocia, retained placentas, hemorrhages, surprise breech births, and more. In addition to formal trainings, we get together as a team (Lauren, Kirsten, and Ronae) to review procedures and plans for managing any emergencies or complications. Additionally, we require a Homebirth 101 class for every family we serve who is birthing outside of the hospital for the first time. During this class we discuss complications and emergencies, and how they are managed. We breakdown what can be managed at home, what is best managed at the hospital, and what to expect as we work through these situations.”

I hope you all found the exploration of homebirth and its potential fascinating. It's a distinctive and empowering journey that can become a reality with proper support. Don't hesitate to dream big and trust your instincts, especially when making birth decisions. Keep in mind that with a homebirth, you'll have a midwife who is not only skilled but also enjoyable, ensuring your birth experience is both safe and unforgettable.

Click her to contact Lauren directly!