What Happens at a Home Birth?

When will my midwife come?

Your midwife will tell you when to page or call them once you are in labour. They will assess your labour over the phone to determine when they need to come. They will stay at your home to monitor you and your baby once you are in active labourActive labour is when contractions are: around five minutes apart or less so strong most people can’t talk through them strong enough to open the cervix so the baby can move into the birth canal.

Labour and birth

Once your midwife arrives, you and your baby will be closely monitored to make sure there are no complications developing. A second midwife (or second attendant) In some places where there aren’t many midwives, births are attended by a midwife and a second attendant instead of a second midwife. For example, in some remote communities nurses act as the second care provider at births with midwives.¹Ontario C of M of. Second Birth Attendant Standard [Internet]. Canada: Web; 2018. will arrive when you are close to giving birth to help care for you and your baby.

Midwives bring medical equipment and medications to all home births similar to those available in Ontario birth centres and hospitals where Level I The level of a hospital outlines: the complexity of care it can provide to birthing people and their babies the medical staff and services they must have to meet the needs of their patients care is provided.