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Unassisted homebirth and getting your baby’s birth certificate

Date: 2011.02.04 | Category: Unassisted Childbirth | Tags: obtaining birth certificate after unassisted birth,unassisted homebirth birth certificate

Unassisted homebirth is a decision that often requires a lot of preparation and soul searching. Learning about the physiology of normal and healthy childbirth, and about possible complications, are the first things that come to mind. For many families who choose unassisted childbirth, preparations include arming themselves with herbal medications, putting a Plan B into place in case they need a transfer, and even prayer. One aspect of UC that should not be underestimated is the administrative side – this is where complications are likely to crop up, unless you prepare.

Getting your baby’s birth certificate after an unassisted homebirth is more difficult than obtaining a birth certificate after a hospital birth or midwife-attended homebirth, in many cases. The rules and regulations surrounding this vary from country to country, and from state to state if you are in the US. Informing yourself about the procedure, and the documents you will be required to provide, while you are still pregnant (or even better, still trying to conceive!) is advisable. Here is a list of documents and other things I would advise unassisted homebirth families to have handy, but you might require others too.
- Medical proof of pregnancy. Many UC-ers also opt to have an unassisted pregnancy. But obtaining a letter confirming your pregnancy is a small price to pay for being able to get your baby’s birth certificate with no hassle. These can be received from an OB/GYN, a midwife, planned parenthood, or a family practitioner.
- Prenatal records. These are often requested. Whether you do your own prenatal care or see a healthcare practitioner, make sure you keep records.
- Ultrasound pictures can be really useful.
- Take pregnancy pictures throughout your pregnancy so you can show that you were indeed pregnant. Make sure your skin shows, so that you cannot be accused of having put a pillow under your clothes.
- Consider filming your birth, so you can provide the footage as evidence you gave birth.
- Do you have any witnesses that would be willing to confirm you were pregnant and gave birth? They are required in some jurisdictions.

4 Responses to “Unassisted homebirth and getting your baby’s birth certificate”

Issa 11/02/07 02:11

I have many of these things: medical proof of pregnancy, ultrasound picture, my own detailed prenatal records, pregnancy photos, and there will be witnesses. Because I’m a smart-ass person who likes to make political points, though, I plan to show up asking for a birth certificate and balking on whether or not I have these things. If it becomes a problem, I’ll have them, but I’d like to push back a bit at the system that says you have to have a certain kind of evidence to be validated. What would happen to someone who didn’t have medical care and gave birth alone at home? I plan to make the record-keeping powers-that-be in my state answer that question.
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writenow 11/02/07 10:46

In my case, I was made to do a DNA test to confirm that my son was mine and not stolen! Something I had the privilege of footing the bill for. They did not want to look at the evidence I did bring, but did want the DNA test AND a witness statement. And they were so fascinated by the concept of a mother cutting her baby’s umbilical cord, that they put it in the statement I was supposed to sign twice! One of the first sentences was, “I cut my baby’s umbilical cord myself”. Then at the bottom there was, “I used a knife to cut the umbilical cord.”

You’re quite right to have that approach, though. I did too – I had a copy of the constitution on my person to help make the point that I had not done anything illegal. They tried sending me to see an OB/GYN to confirm I had given birth, but I refused.
TinkAe 11/02/07 20:11

Issa, I think it’s good to do that. There are after all, plenty of people who didn’t even know they are pregnant until after they’ve given birth. In the US there is a TV program called, “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant”. It’s on regularly, with story after story.

Olivia, I’m laughing about them being so fascinated by that fact! Did they expect you to call for help?? Seriously, after you’d just given birth ON YOUR OWN, they expect that you wouldn’t be able to stomach cutting the cord??? Hilarious! =)
writenow 11/02/07 20:29

I agree, though I am not sure declaring that you had no idea you were pregnant will make obtaining a birth certificate any easier.

Yes, Tink, apparently cutting the cord requires some special skill only doctors have. It was the very first question after I said I had given birth alone, unassisted. I said I did it with a knife. They also asked my witness, a friend, why I had decided to give birth unassisted, but did not ask me that. It was unpleasant at first, but by the time the DNA test was finished they were all very friendly and asked lots of questions – especially about babywearing! Oh yes, the police was asked to come round to my house to verify that I “had given birth there”. When I pointed out that I had cleaned up afterward :) :), and there was no remaining evidence unless they wanted to do CSI style tests, they backed down pretty quickly.