Birth and Babies

Advantages & Disadvantages to having baby at home

 

Studies have shown that homebirth is safe for low risk pregnant women and their unborn babies.  There are many reasons couples choose to have their babies at home.  These days, homebirth is becoming increasingly popular!  Midwives are trained to handle many complications, but they are also trained to detect problems before they become serious so they can transport or call for help if needed.

 

Advantages for Baby

• Baby is more likely to be born vaginally, without breathing difficulties often cause my cesarean birth or anesthesia.
• Less likelihood of infection.
  • Why? Fewer, if any, vaginal exams and intervention involving the vagina are performed on mom, which can introduce bacteria and cause an infection.   As well, babies are kept with them other after birth and not transported to a nursery, where illness can also be spread.
• Baby’s experience at birth can be recognized and made as gentle as possible. 
  • Low lighting, low voices, birth happening slowly and naturally without force, etc.
  • Routine procedures such as deep suctioning, Vitamin K shot, scrubbing the baby, etc. can be avoided.
• The mother-infant bond is allowed to occur naturally as the baby never leaves mom, can nurse immediately and can have constant skin-to-skin contact with mom as long as needed.
  
  

Advantages for Mom

• Mom is not subject to routine procedures such as electronic fetal monitoring, IV’s, bed or food restrictions.
• Mom can eat, walk freely and give birth physiologically – her body works with nature.  She can birth in a position she feels is best – not on her back unless she chooses, which is a traditional hospital birthing position.
• Mom will have continuity of care with her attendants, increasing safety.
• Mom and labor will be evaluated on an individual basis.  She won’t be sacrificed to protocols or be forced to labor on a time limit.
• Mom is much more likely to birth naturally, without medication, episiotomy, instrumental or cesarean delivery.
• Mom will be more comfortable in her own surroundings.
• There is less chance for infection.
• No traveling to/from a hospital while in labor or recovering from birth.
• Mom won’t be woken up while sleeping for the routine checks done after delivery, and the frequent removal of her infant for weighing and temperature taking, etc.
• Postpartum depression is less common  since there is no seperation.

 

Advantages for the family

• Husbands are in their own home and can participate as fully as they want.  Many times, the husband is encouraged to catch his baby!
• Other children can be present.
• Other family and friends can be present during labor and birth if requested.
• Life can go on as usual, as much as possible, during labor.  Meals can be prepared for everyone, the family is in their own surrounding and knows the location of anything they may need, and can move from room to room, or alternate between indoor and outdoor settings as they please.

 

Disadvantages

• A homebirth requires a higher level of responsibility and effort from the family
• Homebirth is not often supported by society or doctors
• Homebirth is not often covered by insurance, requiring the family to pay out of pocket or in some cases barter services
• Access to some emergency equipment can be delayed and require transport.

 

Minimizing the risk

Birth at home, as in a hospital, carries some degree of risk.  These risks can be minimized by the following ways:

 

·         Following good nutrition with a quality vitamin designed for pregnant women.

·         Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs.

·         Get good prenatal care

·         Find a good midwife who is skilled, confident and experienced with birth at home.

·         Inform yourself about pregnancy, birth and postpartum through reading, childbirth and new parent classes, videos, and asking questions.

·         Make sure you have all the supplies you will need at home well before your estimated delivery date.

·         Make sure you don’t have any problems or complications that could put you at risk during a homebirth. 

·         Make sure your baby is in a favorable position (head down, unless your midwife is very experienced with breech births)

·         Have adequate support during labor, birth, and postpartum.

·         Have an emergency back up, with numbers and clear directions posted by the phone and/or in easily found areas such as your refrigerator or family message board.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 7:38 am and is filed under Babies, Birth, Pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.