New life: Couple plans home birth due to coronavirus pandemic

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Brittany Young is 37 weeks pregnant with her second child. She has long been interested in giving birth at home but didn’t plan to seriously explore it until her third pregnancy.

The COVID-19 pandemic sped up her decision process.

“When everything started coming out with the coronavirus, we had a doula with our daughter, and I knew right away there was some chance she wouldn’t be able to attend with us (due to hospital restrictions with the pandemic), and there was a threat that (spouse) Cody wouldn’t be able to be there, so I said, ‘You know what? Let’s just do this at home,’” Brittany said.

The Youngs’ due date is April 28. Although Brittany sees an obstetrician and gave birth at a hospital to her daughter Evelyn, she has had a passion for holistic living and has done extensive research on home births.

“A handful of our friends have done home births, so it’s not a foreign concept for me,” she said. “We’ve seen the success and beauty of it and it was always on our radar. We just thought maybe it would be with our third.”

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From left, Cody, Evelyn and Brittany Young announce the pregnancy.

When the Youngs decided on a home birth, Brittany was 34 weeks pregnant. They contacted Marisol Holman with Sol Midwifery Services. Her doula is Brandie Stoneking.

“We’ve met with (Marisol Holman) every week since with two-hour appointments to get caught up,” Brittany said. “We had to order a birth kit, which includes pads and certain things for the newborn, tub liners since we are hoping to do a water birth, and we rent the tub from her. The big kit arrived (April 3), and we had to order it right way since a lot of people are deciding to do home births.”

When Brittany goes into labor, Cody will be tasked with preparing the tub. 

“It’s definitely been a roller coaster, and when we first switched, I was going off adrenaline and was so excited. I’m still really excited,” Brittany said. “I’ve truly always wanted to experience home birth, and our families have been so supportive and understanding, and we haven’t met any obstacles.”

Brittany said she is grieving the fact she won’t have the same post-partum experience she did with Evelun, such as visitors coming to see the new baby.

“Mentally, I’ve been a bit emotional thinking how different the post-partum will be, but I have no fear in home birth,” Brittany said. “I trust the care I’m under and we’ve done so much prep work. I actually feel excited about the birth part. Yeah, I’m definitely nervous. I just know (the baby) is due when they are projecting the peak of all this (COVID-19 pandemic), and I really feel like we made the right decision for our family.”

Cody agrees.

“I’m most comfortable with whatever she’s most comfortable with,” Cody said. “She’s the one giving birth to our son, and I want her to feel as safe and comfortable as possible, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to support her in whatever that environment is.”

If more medical attention is necessary, the Youngs said they will go to a hospital.

Cody is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and an assistant coach with the Westfield High School baseball team, and Brittany is taking online classes to become a health coach and works part-time with as a Beautycounter consultant.

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The Youngs purchased a birthing kit to assist in their home birth. (Submitted photo)

Price differences

Brittany and Cody Young said with their first child, they believe they paid around $6,000 after insurance.

For the midwife services, the estimate is between $3,000 and $6,000, plus materials for the home birth.

“I think we will be saving $1,500, at least. We are definitely not doing it to save money, but it’s a perk,” Brittany said. “Home is where I feel the safest and most at peace, and I felt led in that direction.”


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