Home Birth Midwife Services Melbourne Victoria
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More women in Australia are choosing to give birth at home than ever, and with good reason. Home births take place in comfortable, familiar environments where there is no need to be separated from partners, children, or other loved ones. Women who opt for home births won’t have to interrupt their labour to head to the hospital unless there are complications, and they can be looked after by the same midwife who assisted during the pregnancy and birth. Plus, eliminating a trip to the hospital or birthing centre is a great way to protect the entire family’s health during the global coronavirus crisis.
Having a home birth requires careful planning. This process starts with choosing a home birth midwife who can provide care throughout the antenatal period, the birth, and the seven weeks immediately following birth. The information following will offer all the information expecting couples need to understand their home birthing options and make informed decisions about mothers’ and their babies’ care. 
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Antenatal Care
Antenatal care is any care provided to an expecting mother before she gives birth. This stage begins as soon as a woman finds out she is pregnant and decides to pursue a home birth with midwife.
Initial Consultation
During the initial consultation, or initial booking visit, private midwives get to know the couple and help them fill out the Victorian Maternity Record (VMR). They will also perform basic check-ups, which involve feeling the uterus, checking the mother’s blood pressure, and, if the mother is more than 12 weeks pregnant, listening to the baby’s heartbeat. If available, midwives will also review routine blood tests before the initial booking visit and will be prepared to refer women for routine ultrasounds if they want them. Most expecting mothers get their first ultrasound at 12 weeks, followed by another one at 20 weeks. These tests must be performed in a clinical environment with access to ultrasound technologies.
Routine Visits Up to 28 Weeks
During the earliest stage of pregnancy, midwives will usually perform home visits once every three to four weeks. The primary purposes of these visits are to give the midwife and the client a chance to get to know each other, to provide education about the pregnancy, and to discuss any concerns that might come up. At the 26-28 week visit, midwives will also schedule their clients for routine blood tests and check the results to look for issues like iron deficiencies and issues with glucose tolerance. Women who plan to pay for their care using Medicare or private insurance will also be asked to complete a Maternity Care Plan that outlines the scope of the practice and what will be involved in her care.
From 28 to 36 Weeks
During this stage of the pregnancy, women should expect to see their midwives once every two to four weeks. At the 36 week exam, they will discuss GBS swabs, discuss the expecting mother’s intentions for birth, and come up with a birth plan.
From 36 to 40 Weeks
After 40 weeks into the pregnancy, midwives will usually start visiting their clients once a week. They will also be on call for phone consultations 24/7.
From 40 Weeks to Birth
Visits will continue to occur on at least a weekly basis, but some women prefer to see their midwives much more frequently during the last stage of their pregnancies. Between 41 and 42 weeks, midwives usually recommend some monitoring of the baby’s condition either in a hospital setting or a private provider.
Call us today 03 9860 4440 to book your free 15 min phone consultation.
Antenatal care is any care provided to an expecting mother before she gives birth. This stage begins as soon as a woman finds out she is pregnant and decides to pursue a home birth with midwife.
Initial Consultation
During the initial consultation, or initial booking visit, private midwives get to know the couple and help them fill out the Victorian Maternity Record (VMR). They will also perform basic check-ups, which involve feeling the uterus, checking the mother’s blood pressure, and, if the mother is more than 12 weeks pregnant, listening to the baby’s heartbeat. If available, midwives will also review routine blood tests before the initial booking visit and will be prepared to refer women for routine ultrasounds if they want them. Most expecting mothers get their first ultrasound at 12 weeks, followed by another one at 20 weeks. These tests must be performed in a clinical environment with access to ultrasound technologies.
Routine Visits Up to 28 Weeks
During the earliest stage of pregnancy, midwives will usually perform home visits once every three to four weeks. The primary purposes of these visits are to give the midwife and the client a chance to get to know each other, to provide education about the pregnancy, and to discuss any concerns that might come up. At the 26-28 week visit, midwives will also schedule their clients for routine blood tests and check the results to look for issues like iron deficiencies and issues with glucose tolerance. Women who plan to pay for their care using Medicare or private insurance will also be asked to complete a Maternity Care Plan that outlines the scope of the practice and what will be involved in her care.
From 28 to 36 Weeks
During this stage of the pregnancy, women should expect to see their midwives once every two to four weeks. At the 36 week exam, they will discuss GBS swabs, discuss the expecting mother’s intentions for birth, and come up with a birth plan.
From 36 to 40 Weeks
After 40 weeks into the pregnancy, midwives will usually start visiting their clients once a week. They will also be on call for phone consultations 24/7.
From 40 Weeks to Birth
Visits will continue to occur on at least a weekly basis, but some women prefer to see their midwives much more frequently during the last stage of their pregnancies. Between 41 and 42 weeks, midwives usually recommend some monitoring of the baby’s condition either in a hospital setting or a private provider.
Call us today 03 9860 4440 to book your free 15 min phone consultation.
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Home Birth Care
Women who choose to work with private midwives often prefer to give birth at home instead of in a hospital. Although this option is not for everyone, it’s perfect for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies who are expecting healthy babies and would prefer to welcome them into the world from the comfort of their own homes.
In today’s uncertain times, many women also prefer undergoing routine antenatal exams and giving birth at home to avoid unnecessary risks. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage across the globe, Melbourne residents are not immune and mothers need to be especially careful about safeguarding their health. A home birth with midwife is the best way to decrease the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Women and their midwives will already have an established birthing plan before the woman goes into labour. This plan will include where the birth will take place, who will be present, where the mother can go for medical care if needed, how the home will be prepared, and more. Local hospitals offer back-up bookings for planned home births to ensure that new mothers will get the care that they need.
When a woman goes into labour, she, her partner, or another loved one can call the midwife who will arrive to monitor the expecting mother and her baby’s condition throughout the process. If labour does not progress as usual at home or other complications arise, the midwife will make plans to have the client transferred to a hospital. Otherwise, the birth will take place at home and the midwife will assist with the delivery.
Women who choose to work with private midwives often prefer to give birth at home instead of in a hospital. Although this option is not for everyone, it’s perfect for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies who are expecting healthy babies and would prefer to welcome them into the world from the comfort of their own homes.
In today’s uncertain times, many women also prefer undergoing routine antenatal exams and giving birth at home to avoid unnecessary risks. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage across the globe, Melbourne residents are not immune and mothers need to be especially careful about safeguarding their health. A home birth with midwife is the best way to decrease the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Women and their midwives will already have an established birthing plan before the woman goes into labour. This plan will include where the birth will take place, who will be present, where the mother can go for medical care if needed, how the home will be prepared, and more. Local hospitals offer back-up bookings for planned home births to ensure that new mothers will get the care that they need.
When a woman goes into labour, she, her partner, or another loved one can call the midwife who will arrive to monitor the expecting mother and her baby’s condition throughout the process. If labour does not progress as usual at home or other complications arise, the midwife will make plans to have the client transferred to a hospital. Otherwise, the birth will take place at home and the midwife will assist with the delivery.
Postnatal Care
The weeks following the birth of a new child can be incredibly stressful, but also incredibly beautiful. New mothers will continue to receive assistance and advice from their midwives during this time. The midwife will visit most days during the first week to perform wellness checks on mothers and babies and will be available by phone between visits.
New mothers should schedule an appointment with a pediatrician within two weeks of the baby’s birth to perform a well-baby check. Midwives can help with making arrangements for these visits if necessary, but they can’t perform well-baby checks themselves. An experienced pediatrician will examine the infant to make sure there are no detectable abnormalities and report any findings to the mother and her midwife.
Some private midwives continue to visit their clients’ homes once a week for check-ups until the baby is six or seven weeks old. Others encourage new mothers to attend clinics for check-ups. Either way, the midwives will check on new mothers to make sure they are healing well and track physical and developmental milestones in newborns. This helps to give babies the best possible start in their new lives.
The weeks following the birth of a new child can be incredibly stressful, but also incredibly beautiful. New mothers will continue to receive assistance and advice from their midwives during this time. The midwife will visit most days during the first week to perform wellness checks on mothers and babies and will be available by phone between visits.
New mothers should schedule an appointment with a pediatrician within two weeks of the baby’s birth to perform a well-baby check. Midwives can help with making arrangements for these visits if necessary, but they can’t perform well-baby checks themselves. An experienced pediatrician will examine the infant to make sure there are no detectable abnormalities and report any findings to the mother and her midwife.
Some private midwives continue to visit their clients’ homes once a week for check-ups until the baby is six or seven weeks old. Others encourage new mothers to attend clinics for check-ups. Either way, the midwives will check on new mothers to make sure they are healing well and track physical and developmental milestones in newborns. This helps to give babies the best possible start in their new lives.