I recently sat down for coffee with local Cape Town Midwife Lydia Du Toit who is a “no fuss-no frills” down to earth midwife who loves attending homebirths.
When did you first start offering homebirths?
9 years ago – after attending as the back-up midwife at a homebirth ….It’s such a stark contrast to hospital births – I even chose to birth my own to daughters at home with a midwife!
What is it about homebirths that you enjoy?
Labour and birth at home is so simple, no unnecessary interventions, the mothers seem more relaxed in their own environment and that make them better able to manage their labour having loved ones around to support them and a skilled midwife to attend them.
What would you say to women who are thinking of having a homebirth?
Granted, it’s not for everyone but do your research! The evidence is definitely in favour of homebirth as a safe option for mothers with low-risk pregnancies.
Are there any changes you’d like to see in the current practices around homebirth?
I would like to see more hospitals and doctors providing obstetric back-up for homebirths. I would also encourage obstetricians to come and attend/observe a birth at home –I’m sure it will change a lot of misconception that exists around homebirth out there.
You can reach Lydia at her Consulting rooms on 021 696 8571 or on her cellphone at 083 457 5270 or email her on lydiadutoit@webmail.co.za
Thanks Lydia!
Lana
August 9, 2015
weeks, first hospital VBAC at 37wks, natrual & drug free, 2nd hospital VBAC (couldnt find a home birth midwife) at 41.4 weeks, natrual & drug free, one midwife assisted home birth at 36 weeks, on planned free birth at 40 weeks.I started training as a birth educator following my first VBAC, wishing to help others to birth natrually amd safely afrer caesareans, but the Org I trained with deconstructed due to lack of funding. I started training as a breastfeeding counsellor, with ABA (then Nursing Mothers), but gave it up when family structure changed and I again became a sole parent.After deciding I didn’t wish to train as a midwife because the system and I would clash too constantly, I decided to train as a doula, so that I might help others to be confident in their ability to birth. After my final free birth , this desire to educate women as to the benefits of birthing alone made me rethink that position, but I came back to the idea that a doula can be instrumental in a free birth!However, I also considered that HAD I trained as a midwife, the experience and knowledge gleened from working within the system could have been very useful in educating women towards considering home birthing, and I could have used that in practice as an independent. Too much thinking, not enough doing, and suddenly it felt like it was too late!So back to Doula training!! BUT My confidence to work as a doula took a beating following the highly intervened birth experience of my daughter’s first birthing in a Sydney hospital. She birthed identical twins, hitherto identified as fraternal, at 33 weeks, with every intervention and constant, and I mean constant, harassment over 24 hours of labour, she was not permitted to sleep until I became less doula and more hysterical mother and in the end a horrific Caesar with the epidural almost completely worn off, ensued. I felt I’d let her down, and failed to navigate her safely through the system. I think I had given up a bit.Reading your latest post led me back to re-reading previous posts in your blog, and while I now feel it may be too late to train in midwifery (I’m 43) I might still serve as a voice and support to women (especially young and single women) if I am a qualified doula. Thank you for the inspiration and motivation. You are doing such a marvelous job women have been conditioned for so long to believe they do not have the right to take responsibility for their bodies and their babies, yet it is not only our right but our DUTY as parents to do so. Education is the best means for re-empowering women, and you are really fulfilling this need in many ways. You deserve formal, narional recognition for this most valuable and selfless work, and I hope one day you will receive it. In the meantime, I give you my thanks!
September 14, 2015
Thank you so much for sharing your powerful story here and for your words of support here.
There are many of us who are midwives at heart, and that means being with women in whatever way serves them best.
Good luck with everything.