HOME BIRTH TRANSFERS
reasons to transfer from home to hospital
The most common reasons to transfer to the hospital are not urgent. You will travel in your personal car and the midwife will ride in their car.
Most common reasons to transfer from a home birth:
⦁ The birthing person is requesting an epidural
⦁ Slow or stalled labour progress
(there is no rush because the issue here is that things are not happening!)
URGENT TRANSFERS
Rarely, will your midwife need to ride in the ambulance with you.
Remember you are healthy and low risk if you are planning a home birth. These scenarios are unlikely, but it's important to understand when its time to transfer to the hospital.
Urgent reasons to transfer from a home birth:
⦁ A fetal heart rate that is too fast or too slow
⦁ If you have a fever or your blood pressure is too high
⦁ *If your water breaks and there is a green or brown colour (baby has pooped inside)
(discuss this with your care provider. The decision to transfer for this reason often depends on how soon the baby will be born)
⦁ Heavy bleeding or a placenta that hasn't delivered
⦁ A tear that involves the rectum
⦁ Newborns that needed prolonged resuscitation or signs of difficulties breathing
⦁ Newborn with an unstable temperature
⦁ *Newborn is bigger/smaller than expected, monitoring blood sugar is recommended
(discuss with your care provider for the best course of action for your family.)
* The bullets marked with an asterisk are cases that are "urgent" but are not ones where you might be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Instead, decisions can be made after observation and conversation. An assessment of the bigger clinical pictures is needed and discussions with your care provider will determine the safest, and most suitable course of action for you and your baby.
Remember,
You will be at the place safest for you and baby.
When a labour starts for a healthy person with a low-risk pregnancy, this place is often home.
Often, this place continues to be home. Only when you need the services of a hospital, will you be at a hospital.