Home Delivery

"The hospital birth was fantastic, and the home birth experience was fantastic," said Keely.

Three year old Finn was born in a Twin Cities hospital. Keely didn't want any pain medication or unnecessary interventions, and her doctor fully supported that decision.

"We wanted a natural experience, and we got that in a hospital," she said.

But when the family moved to Duluth a year later, Keely and Mickey started looking into home births. They enjoyed the hospital experience, but learned at home, they could have even fewer interventions and restrictions.

Keely and Mickey also knew there were risks involved, if mom or baby required more care than a midwife could provide at home.

"It is in some ways a leap of faith to step away from what the medical community tells you," said Mickey.

In fact, the American College of Obstreticians and Gynceology have an official opposition statement, noting "complications can arise with little or no warning."

"Everyone needs to make their own decision," said Keely.

Keely also loved the idea of giving birth in a tub of water.

"We felt it was a really calm entry into the world," she said.

So in 2007, when the couple got pregnant again, they decided to deliver at home.

"I trusted my body knew what to do, and my baby knew what to do," said Keely.

Keely called Katie Sandell, a Duluth midwife who's worked in the area for over a decade. She is a registered nurse, and has a master's degree in midwifery. To date, she's delivered 78 babies.

"I have not had an emergency transfer yet," said Katie. "Only because something has gotten off track with the labor and the pushing."

Fortunately, no problems arose with Keely's labor. And with Katie's helping hand, baby Leif was born in a tub of water in the family's dining room.

When reflecting on their home birth experience, the Pearson's say their relationship with Katie was a big plus. They preferred that one-on-one attention.

"We really liked the midwife model of care," said Keely. "Our appointments lasted an hour."

The couple also enjoyed the physical freedom of a home birth.

"Here at home, we walked through the neighborhood, crawling on all fours, physically getting the baby and her body ready," said Mickey.

Katie met with the Pearsons thoughout Keely's pregnancy, and was responsible for all of her medical care and prenatal needs.

"For sure once the woman is in active, or 'rip-roaring labor' as I like to call it, I want to be sure I'm there at that point," said Katie.

Katie occassionally checked the baby's heartbeat with an external monitor, but otherwise let the labor progress naturally, as Keely wanted.

"[Keely] found her way to the end as far as pushing," said Katie, "She was so calm, so confident and so strong. It went really well."

After five hours of labor, Odin Samuel was welcomed into the world.

Katie, who's also trained in newborn care, made sure Odin was healthy. She then took care of mom.

Knowing the risks involved in any delivery, Keely and Mickey felt comfortable with how Katie would handle an emergency.

"I feel very confident in her ability to detect if something is wrong," said Keely. "She's not going to push me to stay at home. She's going to push me to the hospital."

Fortunately, both of Keely's home births did not require that. Their experiences were both positive, and, the couple says, right for them.

"It was amazing," said Keely. "Not pain-free by any stretch of the imagination...but I'm extremely happy."

And now, Mickey and Keely are ready for the next phase of their lives: raising three happy, healthy boys.