When Wendy Thompson heard that home births are suspended, she says her blood pressure went over the roof.
“I was having a smooth pregnancy, but now I’m stressed out,” she says. “It's just so much extra pressure that wasn't there even three months ago.”
For Thompson, giving birth at home is the safest and most comfortable option. She says she appreciates that midwives give clear and full explanations of procedures concerning childbirth and are respectful of mothers’ right to consent.
“It's just there's just more time and more space and you're afforded the opportunity to kind of think about things without feeling rushed,” she says.
These conversations are especially important for invasive procedures like cervical sweeps, which is sometimes done when a woman reaches full-term to avoid a prolonged pregnancy and lessen the need for induction. Thompson says a lot of women don’t know they have a choice and follow their doctor’s orders without questioning.
“It's not a slight against the doctor in any means,” she says. “I think sometimes the conversation gets forgotten about.”
Thompson, who is pregnant with her third baby, had to reconsider her plans when the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK Health Centre announced in a statement the suspension of home births until at least April 30.
The statement says the suspension is an effort to “minimize the spread of Covid-19 and keep Nova Scotians safe. The decision also protects small teams, like the midwives and birth attendants so they can continue to provide midwifery services.”
Thompson is now contemplating unassisted childbirth, also called free birthing.
Being a doula, she says she is educated in most aspects of childbirth and pain management. Unlike midwives and obstetricians, doulas don’t have any medical training. Without the support of a midwife, Thompson’s first instinct is to labour at home till the last minute, then head to the hospital.
“But that also puts me in a place of knowing that there is a real possibility that the baby just comes too fast for me to make it to the hospital. So, we’re also kind of planning to be prepared for that.”
Call for more flexibility
CJ Blennerhassett, president of the Association of Nova Scotia Midwives, says lots of people are requesting information about home birthing but with the new restrictions, midwives can’t offer that service.
Blennerhassett says Nova Scotia is the only province that suspended home births.
“In all other jurisdictions in the country, midwives are continuing to provide home birth and community care.”
She says home births with midwife support are safe outside the pandemic, but until restrictions are lifted, she recommends all expecting mothers to give birth at the hospital.
For Amanda Pineiro Woodburn, whose baby is due in 10 weeks, trying to decide between free birthing and going to the hospital fills her with anxiety. Like Thompson, she planned for a home birth.
At the start of the pandemic, she expected the health authority would encourage women to have birth at home.
“I'm thankful for our health-care system in times of need but our pregnancy is low risk and we'd therefore like to keep it that way, away from the hospitals that our health-care system is telling people to avoid.”
Now she’s working with other moms and some doulas to appeal to the Nova Scotia Health Authority to allow more flexibility.
A potential solution she discussed with a midwife is having a designated sterile area in the home to protect midwives’ health.
Doulas unable to work
Expectant mothers are not the only ones affected by the decision.
Kelly Carrington, who is a registered massage therapist and doula, is frustrated because he can’t support his clients.
“I’m currently unemployed for the first time in almost 19 years,” he says. “Having no income but still having bills to be paid is a struggle.”
Carrington says he’s spending his free time with his family or in the garden. He’s also offering advice virtually to his clients for free.
“I can’t do my work within the constraints of physical distancing, but I still have an obligation to provide care for my clients. So, if they have questions, I answer them.”
The Nova Scotia Doula Association called on the health authority in a statement to include doulas as an essential part of the birthing team. The statement goes on to say that the British Columbia Internal Health Authority has allowed doulas meeting specific criteria to accompany a family at birth.
Carrington has mainly been talking to his clients to prepare them for a potential birth without the support of their doula.
The IWK Health Centre has enforced visitor restrictions as of March 18. A woman in labour can only get one support person during active labour.
Thompson says this decision affects mothers greatly. Partners can get nervous and fail to provide the needed support.
Woodburn says women shouldn’t lose hope.
“Educate yourself. Speak to other women. Speak to birthing support people,” she says. “Don't feel defeated by at all.”
Nebal Snan is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
