Statement No. 1681 - Planned Home Deliveries

DATE OF LAST REVISION/PUBLICATION – 2003 
PLANNED REVIEW DATE - 2008

     Labour and delivery, while natural events, present potential hazards to both mother and fetus before and after birth.  Unpredictable complications such as meconium aspiration, shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse, abruption and postpartum hemorrhage require the immediate availability of adequate standards of care which are provided in the hospital setting and cannot be matched in the home situation regardless of the expertise of the attendant.

     Prenatal care and counselling must be given to any patient who intends to deliver at home. This may be given by the physician. The nature of the counselling must be clearly documented and should take into consideration the risks of home delivery for both mother and infant, and issues of postnatal care (e.g. Vitamin K prophylaxis, eye care, metabolic screening).  The patient must be familiarized with emergency services available in the community.

     While physicians must not have planned involvement with the actual home birth, they must encourage appropriate prenatal and postnatal care for the mother and baby.

     Although the College of Midwives allows Midwives to deliver selected patients at home, it should be noted that this is not the position of The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.

 

First Print PMWC/09-88
Revision PMWC/12-96
Revision CPG/01-03