How do you address complications?

It depends, of course, on the complication. It is important to note that there are complications, and there are emergencies. Most problems with childbirth are not true emergencies and, if recognized early in the process, can be corrected using a variety of simple measures. Should these fail to work, we will together consider transfer to the hospital.

In actuality, the most common obstetric emergencies, such as hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia and neonatal resuscitation are managed essentially the same regardless of birth setting. Nonetheless, it is true that there are some extreme and acute emergencies that cannot be optimally managed outside of a medical facility. Such emergencies are rare. Part of being an informed home birth consumer is accepting that very small–though not absent–risk. Part of working with me is trusting my clinical acumen should I initiate an emergent transfer to the hospital.