What If My Baby Needs Help to Breathe?
One of the most common questions I hear from families considering home birth is:
“What if something happens and my baby needs help to breathe?”
This is such a valid, loving question. You are already protecting your baby just by asking it.
The truth is: most babies start breathing on their own within the first few seconds after birth. But part of choosing a home birth midwife is making sure you have someone who is trained, equipped, and emotionally steady if your baby needs extra help in those first moments.
At Birthstone Midwifery, safety and preparedness are just as important as gentle, hands-on care. Let me walk you through how home birth midwives get ready for this exact situation.Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Why Some Babies Need a Little Help
Sometimes, even after a healthy pregnancy and normal labor, a baby may:
Take a little longer to start breathing on their own
Need extra stimulation (drying, rubbing, talking to them)
Need brief assistance with breathing support
This can be related to things like:
A fast or very intense birth
Baby needing more time to clear fluid from their lungs
Being a bit “stunned” from the journey out
These moments are usually brief and respond well to simple, trained support. But your midwife is also prepared for more serious situations if they arise.
Training: Neonatal Resuscitation Is Standard for Home Birth Midwives
Home birth midwives do not just “hope for the best.” We train for the what-ifs.
Midwives who attend births at home are typically trained and regularly refreshed in:
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) guidelines
Recognizing when a baby needs help and how quickly to act
Using equipment to support a baby’s breathing, if needed
Knowing when it is time to call for EMS or transfer to the hospital
This means your midwife is not seeing a baby who needs help for the first time; they have prepared, practiced, and planned for exactly this scenario.
Equipment We Bring to Every Home Birth
When I arrive at your home for labor, I don’t just bring my hands and my heart—I also bring emergency equipment specifically for your baby’s safety, including:
Infant-sized resuscitation bag and mask (to gently give breaths if needed)
Oxygen (to support a newborn who needs more help)
Suction devices (to clear the airway if necessary)
Equipment to monitor your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels
You may not see all of this right away because I keep things organized and as unobtrusive as possible—but it is there, close by, and ready.
What I Actually Do If Your Baby Needs Help
If your baby is born and needs extra support, here’s the general flow (in simple terms):
Immediate assessment
I quickly look at your baby’s color, tone, breathing, and heart rate.Gentle stimulation
Many babies just need drying, rubbing, and encouragement to take those first strong breaths.Breathing support if needed
If your baby does not start breathing well on their own, I can use a neonatal resuscitation bag and mask to provide gentle breaths, following current safety guidelines.Calling for additional help if necessary
If your baby’s response isn’t where we want it to be, I will call EMS and begin coordinating higher-level care while continuing to support your baby.
Through all of this, I stay calm, clear, and focused. You deserve a provider who is both emotionally grounded and clinically prepared.
Planning Ahead: Home-to-Hospital Transfer Is Part of Safe Care
A safe home birth plan always includes a hospital transfer plan, just in case baby or parent needs a higher level of care.
Before your birth, we will review:
Which hospital we would go to in an emergency
How transport would be called in
What my role would be if we needed to transfer
If we do need to go in, I don’t just vanish. I stay with you in a support and advocacy role (as long as I am not called to another active birth), helping you understand what’s happening and making sure you feel informed and cared for.
You’re Not Choosing “No Help”—You’re Choosing Prepared, Personal Care
Choosing a home birth midwife does not mean you are choosing to “go without help if something happens.”
You are choosing:
A provider who knows you, your history, and your baby well
Someone trained in newborn resuscitation and emergency response
A birth environment that is calm, respectful, and still prepared for the unexpected
At Birthstone Midwifery, my goal is to blend the heart of home birth with the skills and readiness that help keep you and your baby safe.
Want to Talk About Safety and Home Birth?
If you’re considering home birth in the Temecula, Murrieta, or greater Riverside County/San Diego area and you have questions about safety, newborn care, or what I bring to each birth, I would love to talk with you.
You deserve real answers—not vague reassurance.
Click below to schedule a free meet & greet and ask me anything about home birth, safety, and how I care for you and your baby from bump to birth and beyond.
