If you decide to do a home birth, this can be an exciting and nerve-wracking process. Certified midwives have the skills and expertise to guide you through the entire pregnancy process. A midwife helps to make the birthing process easier for you and will have steps that they follow in case you need to be transferred to a hospital. While the midwife may understand what is going on,  it is important to make sure that you are also aware of what is required during a hospital transfer. Luckily, there are a few tips that you can use to prepare.

Meet Your Midwife's Backup Care Provider

A midwife's backup care provider is usually a doctor or physician. This person will be needed in the event of an emergency. For example, if you begin to experience complications during your birth, then you will be transferred to the hospital and the backup care provider will take over from there. It is important to meet this person before you give birth in order to see if they are a good fit for you and your baby.

Find Out Where Your Midwife Has Admitting Privileges

If a hospital gives a midwife admitting privileges, this means that the midwife can admit you into the hospital on their own. They will have the same rights and responsibilities as other health care providers in the hospital. This is important to find out because your midwife may not have admitting privileges to the hospital that is closest to your home. If you are transferred to a hospital where the midwife does not have admitting privileges, then you will receive care from the doctors on hand.  This will make it difficult for your midwife to be able to provide you with hands-on care.

Find Out If Your Midwife Has First Assistant Privileges

If you are transferred to the hospital and you require a cesarean section, then your doctor along with a first assistant will perform the procedure.  Midwives who are given first assistant privileges in cesarean procedures are allowed to assist a doctor with the cesarean section. If your midwife does not have these privileges, then a physician will be used as the first assistant. This can be problematic if you would like your midwife to be hands-on throughout your entire birth process.

Knowing the process involved in a transfer will help to keep your mind at ease in the event of an emergency. Therefore, use these tips to ensure that you are prepared for a transfer during an at-home birth. For more information, check out http://www.whallc.com.