Many women consider giving birth at home because they want to avoid the atmosphere of modern technology and hospital intervention. You are a good candidate for childbirth at home if you are in good health and have an uncomplicated pregnancy.
Contemporary home births can be safe and effective, especially when future mothers have excellent support and carefully prepare for birth with preparation courses.
Indeed, midwives say that planned births at home are just as safe for low-risk women with adequate prenatal care and a qualified companion as giving birth in a hospital.
For future mothers who are afraid of hospital protocols and staff, the reason is easy to see; there is no better place than a home for a comfortable, cozy, and quiet delivery.
The arrival of the child is announced by family members and friends who may not be admitted in the hospital room.
What Do You Need to Do Before Planning a Home Delivery?
Childbirth at home is not for everyone, but it is an option for low-risk women who:
- want to avoid medical procedures
- want to play an active role during childbirth
- do not want to be separated from their child within a few hours after the birth, and
- want to be in a familiar environment surrounded by loved ones
Here are some tips to keep in mind when considering a home birth:
Your Pregnancy is at Low Risk
This means that you have not had any signs of hypertension, diabetes, or other chronic diseases. Pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia have also not developed, and there is no risk of premature delivery.
Similarly, you shouldn’t have a history of the previous caesarean section because there is a high risk of uterine rupture with VBAC (vaginal delivery after caesarean section); this makes delivery in a hospital or birth center safer in that situation.
With this in mind, complications are more likely to occur this time if complications have occurred in previous pregnancies, so a hospital or delivery center is the safest option.
| See also: Risk Factors Associated with Pregnancy |
Choose a Practitioner with Extensive Experience
During the interview, ask the number of births the practitioner attended, both as an assistant and as a primary. You want someone who has attended at least 100 births.
Make sure your midwife works with your assistant (most do). If you choose a midwife, you should have a consultant on call, preferably one who saw you during pregnancy and previously worked with the midwife.
Have an Emergency Plan
Ideally, the midwife should have a relationship with a doctor or hospital if home delivery gets complicated. If there is no doctor-on-call to help prepare the baby for arrival, you are basically going to be treated like a regular patient.
The doctor and staff know nothing about your medical history and are likely to be very concerned about you and your child. This often leads to more tests and interventions, exactly what many women want to avoid.
Also, make sure you have transport and you live near a hospital. In this way, it will be relatively easy to reach the hospital when an emergency occurs, and you need advanced medical assistance to protect your child’s life or yours.
| Read also: Birth of a Mother: How to Handle Pregnancy Like a Boss |
You Only Carry a Child
Since epidural anaesthesia is highly recommended (or even required) for mothers with many children, you must go to the hospital. After the birth of your first child, you may need hospital intervention, e.g. vacuum extraction to safely get out the second child.
Decide Where to Give Birth and Who Will Be Present
Depending on the distance from the hospital, you can go to the house of a friend or relative as soon as you go into labour.
This way, you can quickly get to the hospital in an emergency. There are no rules on how many people should be present at the birth.
Also, make sure your hospital bag is packed, or download OhBaby’s baby bag checklist for a complete list of must-haves to make labour more bearable. You can choose to have the children, family members, and friends involved, or you can choose to be just you and your partner (plus of course the obstetrician and her assistant).
You will have the freedom of deciding who will be with you for this magical moment.
About The Author:
Shruti – Ph.D. Research Expert & Blogger in Skincare, Health, Lifestyle.
Author & Blogger for site http://myspacegirlstime.com/
