One important difference is that when labor begins, you can simply stay at home instead of going straight to the hospital. At home, you experience continuum of care, which means you have individual support from your midwife, with whom you have already built a relationship of trust. Many midwives work in teams, so that there are two experienced and specialized hands when needed. Midwives who accompany home births are trained in the art of “doing nothing” when everything is progressing normally, allowing, supporting and monitoring the natural course of labor, while recognizing any deviations in time. They create a safe and protected environment that protects the mother from unnecessary interventions.

In the maternity ward, midwives often work shifts and, due to increased workload, may need to care for many women at the same time. Limited time, system pressures and understaffing often lead to unnecessary or even harmful interventions. However, giving birth in the maternity ward remains the safest option for women who have health problems or conditions that require specialized medical care during labor.

I think it's important to think about how you envision giving birth in the best environment for you. Additionally, it's recommended that you make an appointment with a midwife who will be impartial and unbiased in assessing your values and needs. Discussions with friends and family can often lead to uncertainty or adapting to other people's values and fears.

When deciding where to give birth, women with a healthy “low-risk” pregnancy need to think about how they define safety: by the presence of medical and surgical equipment and skilled personnel, or by continuity of care through a healthy, natural approach in their own space and time.

It is recommended that you contact a midwife who provides home births as soon as you find out you are pregnant. Together we will plan your ongoing prenatal care. You are free to decide whether you want to visit your midwife, your gynecologist or both alternately. Especially in the later stages of pregnancy, it is recommended that you meet more frequently with your midwife to get to know each other better and build a relationship of trust. Throughout a normal pregnancy, the midwife will support you and your partner in preparing for a home birth.

During each prenatal appointment, basic health checks and preventive tests are performed, as well as an overall assessment of your well-being. More specifically, your midwife calculates the exact week of pregnancy, measures your blood pressure, checks your urine and blood, asks about any changes in your body, palpates your uterus, assesses the size and position of the baby, listens to the heartbeat and discusses with you any concerns you may have.

The content and procedures should be similar, whether it is a gynecologist or a midwife, to ensure the best possible quality of care. The main difference is that midwives do not perform ultrasounds and cannot (yet) prescribe tests. Both midwives and gynecologists have a responsibility to monitor and contribute to ensuring a healthy pregnancy. The role of the midwife is to monitor a normal pregnancy and refer to an obstetrician-gynecologist specialist for any suspicious findings. Traditionally, midwives have a more natural approach to pregnancy, while doctors sometimes tend to focus more on potential risks.

In the office, routine tests (e.g. blood pressure, urine and blood tests) are often done by physician assistants, as the time available for each woman is limited. Midwives who provide home births usually work independently, so your prenatal visits are likely to take place in your home. This ensures continuity of care for a planned home birth.

The recommended appointment schedule varies throughout pregnancy and according to each woman's needs. Until the 32nd week of pregnancy, you will usually see your doctor or midwife every four weeks. From the 32nd week until your expected due date, prenatal visits are recommended every two weeks. If your expected due date (EDT) has passed, then appointments are offered every two to three days.

Depending on the case, a home birth with two midwives in Greece costs around 2000–2500 euros. A birth in a Birth Center or a private maternity hospital costs around 1000 euros, including the on-call fee and three home visits to the maternity ward. Please also check the hospital's and The Birth Center's pricing policy. If you are insured in Greece, you are entitled to a refund of 900 euros for a home birth, in addition to the child benefit of 2400–2700 euros. Usually, German/European public health insurance covers the cost of all necessary appointments during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. In addition, there may be additional charges, such as renting a birthing pool, laboratory tests, ultrasounds, etc.

Midwives who support home births bring all the medical equipment you need for the birth. All you need is a warm, safe space where you can rest comfortably after the birth. You will also have a meeting with your midwife and any other person you wish to accompany you to the birth, where you will discuss everything you need to prepare for the big day. This may include a good source of light in case you need to sew, a bowl for the placenta, a plastic cover to protect the sofa, garbage bags, etc.

Some women worry about the neighbors or are afraid that someone will hear them during labor. First of all: it is your right to give birth at home, if you choose! You don't have to tell every neighbor, but it can be helpful to put a note on your door saying that you will be having a home birth that day. As for noise, there is no need to worry. Home births tend to be quieter than those in a hospital. After all, it is as normal as having sex.

Even when planning a home birth, in case transport and hospital care are needed, the nearest clinic should be accessible in less than 30 minutes. Look for data from QUAG, the German company for the quality of out-of-hospital obstetric care, or other authoritative international statistics. On the QUAG website you can find annual reports with the results of births. For example, in 2016 3,41% of all mothers had to be transferred to a hospital after giving birth at home.

In the unlikely event of an emergency during or after a home birth, midwives are trained to provide emergency care, as well as KARPA for the mother and newborn. Midwives who provide home birth care provide first-line emergency care and have oxygen available at every birth and are required to complete regular training seminars in obstetric emergencies, Neonatal Life Support, perineal suturing, etc.

Even when I plan a home birth, when transportation and medical staff are needed, the next clinic should be reachable in no more than 30 minutes. Look up the data from QUAG, the German company for quality in out-of-hospital obstetric care. On this website you can find the annual summaries of birth outcomes. For example, 3.41% of all mothers had to be transferred to a hospital after a home birth in 2016.
In the unlikely event that an emergency occurs during or after a home birth, midwives are trained to provide emergency care as well as advanced life support for the mother and newborn. Midwives working at home deliver emergency medical care and medical oxygen to every birth and are required to complete a significant level of annual training in obstetric emergencies, advanced life support, suturing, etc.

French obstetrician Michel Odent has stated:

“I usually argue that pregnant women shouldn't read books about pregnancy and childbirth. Their time is precious. Instead, they would be better off looking at the moon and singing to their unborn baby.”

Reading books may satisfy the logical part of the brain, but during childbirth, the “unprecedented brain” is activated. Therefore, every woman should seek out books that interest her personally.

During a routine postnatal visit, your midwife will look after the well-being of you, your baby and your family. In particular, she will give you advice on breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, monitor your baby’s weight and growth, check for jaundice in the baby, monitor the uterine prolapse and advise you on your recovery and rehabilitation. Visits are planned based on your needs.