Is Home Birth Right For You?

Having a baby today offers a mother-to-be several choices when it comes to delivery. Home delivery used to be the only place to give birth in the past, and it is still a popular choice today.

Many women choose to give birth at home for several reasons such as allowing friends and family to be there. The mother can feel comfortable in her own home and the baby gets to stay with her the entire time. A woman can also customize her birthing surroundings to make baby’s entrance into the world the most enjoyable one.

In order to be able to choose a home birth you must have a low risk pregnancy. Your pregnancy must be free or almost free of any complications. If you develop diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy you may not be able to choose a home birth.

When giving birth at home, someone must be there with you at all times. A midwife can be there to help coach you and deliver your baby in your home. A midwife is trained to provide labor, delivery and newborn care to you and your baby in your home. 

You will visit a midwife clinic or private practice throughout your entire pregnancy so she will be familiar with your history and know what to expect when the time comes. Women who choose home birth also know that there are little to no pain medications used. They use relaxation techniques to deal with the pain of labor.

You can walk around if you choose to, take a shower or eat and drink as you desire. You can also try different birth positions to help you delivery more comfortably.

On a rare occasion, a complication will arise that will alert the midwife to take you to the hospital. Sometimes things happen that we have no control over and your health and the baby’s health is the most important thing to consider. In the end when you are holding your baby in your arms it won’t matter where you are.

How to Prepare for a Home Birth

There are several things that you can do to prepare for the birth of your baby at home.

You know that you are going to have people coming and going as you are in labor. Call and request help from everyone you are inviting to your delivery about one week before your due date. Everyone can help you prepare for the new arrival by cleaning the house and finishing the nursery and your delivery room.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You need to save your strength for the delivery. You also need to plan your menu for the month so you don’t have to worry about running out of food and supplies while you are recovering from your birth. Remember that people will be in and out of your house anticipating the birth, so if desired you will need to have easy to prepare food in the house like sandwiches.

Gather a list from your midwife on what supplies she requires you to have on hand for the birth. Go over the list with her and make sure you understand everything. You are the only one that can prepare for this big moment. At least with a home birth you won’t need to pack a suitcase!

Choosing the location of your baby's birth is a luxury. If a home birth is what makes you happy then talk with your doctor about that possibility.