Are you curious about the ins and outs of home birth? Want to know what it's really like to have a baby at home with the guidance of a skilled and experienced midwife?
As a birth photographer who has witnessed home births, I thought it could be time to talk a little more about the benefits of being in your own space and birthing that baby of yours.
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with La Crosse area home birth midwife Crystal Komp with Health Inspired to learn some information about her and some of the most common questions asked.
So grab a cup of tea and get ready to be wowed by how empowering and transformative the world of home birth really is! PART 1! (Part 2 will be more about handling birth plans and emergencies.)
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How long have you been a midwife and what got you into midwifery?
I have been doing Midwifery specifically for 1 year and 8 months. My reason though starts with the birth of my first son back in 2013. I was an ER nurse and didn't want to stay “bedside”. Back then I was dealing with having miscarriages and went to an OB because that's what was supposed to happen. While I was receiving standard OB care for the 34 weeks I also started taking a Bradley Method class and it didn't line up. I felt disconnected. So I became a late transfer to home birth at 35 weeks. Labor went nothing by the books and broke all the rules.... (but I would have been pressured for C-section or episiotomy for sure in the hospital) Having my first baby at home was the experience I needed to get to the point of, "This is what I want to do when I grow up!"
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Can you walk me through a typical home birth, from the initial consultation to postpartum follow-up?
First there is a free one hour consultation – to get to know each other. I firmly believe that there is a midwife for everybody and I may not be a fit for all. Personality compatibility is very important as we will be spending a lot of time together. I do go with a standard schedule – every 4 weeks, every 2 every weeks, then every 1 week. We will have one hour long appointments with all the same screenings, blood work and risk alternative discussion. Close to labor -it will either start with bunch of texts (questions) first OR an hurried "you can come now!" by the partner. Ideally I am a no vaginal exams – watch – listen – get a feeling where we are at midwife. I am usually around for about 4-6 hours postpartum. Then I see you again 1 day after, 3 days, 2 weeks and 6 weeks. (not a pediatric care provider, but still see them for the first month.)
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What would you say to someone with a concern or fear about giving birth at home?
Talk about getting to the root of the fears – For the partners it is usually the "what ifs" that we talk about at the consultations. Examples being; What if we transfer, What if there is hemorrhaging, What if it becomes an emergency? When we are talking about the mom's fears its usually just needing to remind her that the body is designed to do it and we help prepare you with how to be successful. Eating right, staying active, listening to your body, seeing a chiropractor.... as you know more you will have less fear. We can trust in the process.
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How do you incorporate evidence-based care into your practice, and what resources do you use to stay current on the latest research?
First I want to debunk the misconception that midwives are uneducated! I have the same training from the same school as the midwives at the hospital. I am a trained professional just a different work environment. Home births are very safe for an uncomplicated healthy woman. Personally, I have followed Aviva Romms MD teachings. In my binder for clients I also provide Evidence-based birth handouts by Rebecca Dekker PHD. I personally stay on top of certifications such as; CPR training, advanced life support, and breech without borders – yes, I have been trained to handle breech births!
I hope you enjoyed learning about the world of home birth and the possibilities it holds. It's a unique and empowering experience that can be a reality with the right support. Don't be afraid to dream big, and trust your gut when making decisions about your birth. And remember, with a home birth, you'll have a midwife who's not only knowledgeable but also fun, making your private birth experience safe and memorable. Come back in the future to hear part 2, talking about more of how this midwife handles the emergencies that may arrive during a birth.
CLICK HERE TO CONNECT WITH Crystal Komp
CLICK HERE TO SEE MY CLIENT REVIEWS FOR BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY IN LA CROSSE, WI
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