Tip #3: Recruiting your care team

Home birth may seem like an intimate and solitary experience - at least compared to the hustle and bustle of a hospital ward - but you'll need a lot of people behind the scenes to make sure your birth is a success. One of your most critical tasks will be lining up this all-important care team. You'll want these folks on your side.

Midwife

Your midwife is the No. 1 key player on the care team. She's the medical authority. She'll conduct your prenatal visits, refer you for prenatal testing if desired, monitor your health and the baby's health during labor, and give your newborn a quick check-up after birth. Referrals are the best way to find a midwife, but you can also try the search features at Mothers Naturally (affiliated with the Midwives Alliance of North America) or Midwife.org (affiliated with the American College of Nurse-Midwives).

Midwife’s Assistant

Your midwife should have an assistant she brings to the birth to help set up the room and act as a second set of hands.

Back-Up Obstetrician

Yes, even in a home birth, you need an obstetrician in case something goes wrong or you decide to pack it in and go to a hospital.  In a true emergency during labor, you’re going to head to the nearest emergency room and see whomever’s on call.  But sometimes, an issue emerges before labor, such as a breech presentation or a baby that’s gone past its due date.  In these unexpected circumstances, you’ll need to work with an ob/gyn to assess your options.  Your midwife probably has an ob/gyn with whom she works.  Set up at least one meeting with the ob/gyn in your last trimester. 

Back-Up Midwife
Every home birther dreads the thought of her midwife being sick or away on vacation when she goes into labor.  But your midwife should have another midwife who backs her up under these circumstances.  Meet with the back-up midwife in advance just in case she arrives for your birth.

Pediatrician

You'll need to take your newborn to the pediatrician within 24 hours of the birth just to make sure everything's okay. Meet with the pediatrician in advance and let him/her know of your home birth plans.