More Babies Prefer Home Birth

The number of babies born at home in Maryland has increased dramatically since 2001. According to MarylandReporter.com, 291 babies were born at home in 2001, compared to 409 in 2010. At-home births accounted for just 1 percent of all births, and while the trend does not appear to have taken hold in Allegany County as dramatically as in metropolitan areas, several mothers here have given birth to their children in their homes with great success. Jamie Bailey, 32, of Grantsville is the mother of three children. Her first two children were hospital births but she wanted to do things a bit differently with her third child. “The hospital births were not the worst experiences, but I wanted better. I wanted to labor and deliver my way — without an induction, dangerous labor-augmenting drugs, pain meds and constant monitoring — all which raise the risk of C section,” she said. “I didn’t want to be on a time schedule; if it was going to take two days, then I was up for the challenge. I wanted my family there, including my other two children. I wanted to bring my new infant into a quiet, dim and warm environment, where bonding and breastfeeding could begin immediately.” Delivering her child at home not only met Bailey’s expectations, but exceeded what she had hoped to be the outcome of her home birth. “I found that it wasn’t just the amazing birth experience that I had received. In actuality, I received an amazing pregnancy experience, too. I had a caregiver who listened and gave advice and was experienced enough to refer me elsewhere if a problem arose.” Bailey and her midwife met regularily for her checkups and the midwife also met with Bailey’s husband and other children prior to delivery. “It was amazing. I progressed a lot faster in my own home and warm tub than I anticipated. My midwife actually missed the birth by five minutes. I caught my own 8-pound, 15-ounce baby boy, Blake. I felt on top of the world — tired and sore — but on top of the world.

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Bonnie Pascal’s son drew his first breath on his mother’s bed, surrounded by women. It was seven years ago, and Pascal was in her 40th year. The birth, attended by her husband and three midwives, was bloody, wrenching and joyous. And baby Aaron? The picture of health. Nine months earlier, Pascal had never envisioned she would be delivering a baby in her home. The freelance designer and artist had always wanted children. She met her husband and married at 38. When she found out she was pregnant, her family doctor asked if she preferred an obstetrician or a midwife. “I said ‘I’m almost 40 years old. How can I go to a midwife if I’m high-risk?’

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The Grand Isle town clerk was a little nervous when Marada Cook and Ryan Redmond brought their infant to the town office to be registered July 23, 2007. “Seems we were all three a little nervous,” Clerk Marie Sirois recalled recently. “It was a first-time experience for me.” In her years as clerk, she had never been asked to record the birth of a child born in the town. “I called Augusta to guide me,” she said. “They were very helpful in Augusta, guiding me on what documents to use, what forms to fill out.” Marie gave the appropriate forms to the new parents to look over while she called Augusta again for the answers to their questions. It’s no wonder the procedure was unfamiliar. The couple learned later that their firstborn, Eli, was the first child born at home in the town of Grand Isle in 40 years.

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In stark contrast to TLC’s “A Baby Story,” laboring at home exuded a quiet comfort. The fire crackled as autumn rushed in with October’s arrival, and the birthing tub sat beneath the mantel adorned with homemade Halloween decorations. She had no IV, no internal fetal monitor and no Pitocin drip. Instead, she had tea and toast at the window seat, smiling between contractions and discussing a range of topics, from old television shows like the “Newlywed Game” to influential parenting styles. Eventually, labor slowed and we agreed to come back when things quickened and as late afternoon turned to dusk, she asked me to return.

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I’ve had a lot of people ask me what the biggest difference between hospital birth and home birth is, and while the birth it’s self is more relaxing and comfortable in your own home, I think the biggest difference is the postpartum.

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