Full Circle Midwifery

January 1, 1984  through  December 31,  2024

Total planned home births:                                                                                    1862

Total  transports:                                                                                                   152      [ 8% ]

                        Mothers transported in labor:                       107

                              Cesareans                                       57   [ 3% ]

                              Forceps/Vacuum                               9

                        Mothers transported within 24 hours postpartum:       25

                        Babies transported within 24 hours after home birth:   20

Counties:  Benzie  2      Kent 15    Lake  20    Manistee  54    Mason  216    Mecosta  143   Montcalm  17     Muskegon  420  Oceana   274   Ottawa  135   Newaygo  414   Osceola  81   plus 73 births attended in Allegan, Clare, Eaton, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Ingham, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Midland, Missaukee, Shiawassee, Wayne & Wexford.

Oldest mom     47,         Youngest mom     16

First baby or first vaginal birth:                                                                               393   [ 21 % ]

Grandmultiparas   (more than 7 births):                                                                    164

Twins   (19 sets home born):                                                          25 sets, 24 sets vaginally born

Presentation of baby:

            Vertex    (head down)                                                                             1858

            Breech    (12 home born)                                                                            28

Mom’s position for vaginal birth:  

            Side-lying                                                                                              585

            Semi-sitting                                                                                            580

            Hands and knees                                                                                   341

            Supine   (lying down)                                                                             151

            Upright   (standing, squatting or birth stool)                                      171

Waterbirths:   [around 35% birth in a tub, and most clients labor in the water]                   353

Lacerations with vaginal births: 

            None or superficial only                                                                   1258    [ 70 % ]

            1st degree                                                                                             452

            2nd degree   (into muscle)                                                                   80

            3rd degree      (into rectal sphincter)                                                    3 

                   -stitched                                                                           178

            Episiotomy and stitches   (9 transports; 1 HB)                                    10

Rupture of membranes > 24 hours   (3  maternal infections):                    111

Males:                                                                                                               997

Females:                                                                                                           870

Average baby’s weight  (range of 3# 12 oz. to 12# 5 oz.):                     7# 12 oz.

Males circumsized:                                                                                              248   [ 25% ]   

Births missed by Midwives:                                                                                 82       

VBACS   (vaginal birth after previous csec): [ 88% successful ]                  169   [20 repeat csecs ]

Screened out for home birth:                                                                              72