Are you pregnant and considering a home birth? Or wondering how in the world someone would want to have their baby in their bedroom? This three part series will explain three different options for a birth place and the pros and cons of each.
Part 3 is all about the home birth experience.
Do you dream of having your baby in the comfort of your own home? You want to be in your own personal environment bringing your baby into the world in the peaceful home you have created. Do you want to labor and deliver your own way, without any medical interventions? With a home birth, you can still have a care provider, but you will have more freedom and control of your birthing process in the comfort of your home. Here you will learn the pros and cons of a home birth giving you the information you need to determine if a home birth is for you.
Home births are a great choice for many families. Before modern medicine, this was the norm for birth places and it is once again, becoming more popular in the modern world. Here are the pros of birthing at home.
- You are in the comfort of your own home in a familiar environment with your own personal surroundings. You can relax knowing you do not have to leave your home.
- You have freedom and control of your own birthing process without restrictions of a hospital setting.
- Least amount of medical interventions available if you are wishing for a natural birth.
- The freedom for any cultural or religious practices/concerns that would be restricted in a hospital setting.
- Lowest cost of all birthing settings.
- You can have anyone you would like in the birthing area, even your other children. You are not restricted to a two person rule.
- You are immediately home relaxing with your baby instead of staying in an uncomfortable hospital bed.
A home birth can be an amazing experience, but be sure to review these cons to help decide if it is the best place for you.
- Depending on the area you live, it may be hard to find a provider to attend a home birth. Midwives are becoming more readily available around the country.
- There may be a lot of materials to prep and clean up so be sure you have help for after you have the baby so your skin to skin time is uninterrupted.
- It may be hard to find a provider willing to deliver if baby is breech or if you have multiples.
- ACOG recommends that home births should not be a high risk pregnancy of any kind.
- It may not be covered under insurance.
- Although it is a low percentage, some may have to transfer to a hospital.
If you decide a home birth is right for you, be sure to have an emergency plan in place. Know what hospital you would transfer to and maybe even go meet a back up provider. It would be good to have a home visit with your provider, doula, and any family member participating in your birth. This way, everyone knows their job and the actual day will run as smoothly and stress free as possible.
This was part 3 of 3. In the last weeks, we discussed a hospital birth and birthing centers. Where ever you choose to birth, it is your choice and I, your doula, will support you.
Contact me at apropperpathdoula.com or apropperpathdoula@gmail.com to discuss this further and how a doula can be beneficial to your birth experience.
This is your birth. This is your baby. This is your journey. I will guide you along whichever path you choose to take.
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