One of the most commonly asked questions while prepping for a home birth is “what do you need”. Here is a list of all the things that we think you might need while prepping up for childbirth at home. First and foremost is to avoid the last minute rush for medicinal supplies for this you should probably talk to a physician and get a list of all the medicinal stuff that might come in handy. You can start off by preparing the birth space where you would like to deliver your babies always opt for clearing out some space even if you cannot afford an entirely free room. You should also narrow down your family members of whether you want them at the time when you deliver or not.
What is a Home Birth?
Home birth is to give birth to babies at home, instead of a clinic or a hospital. The woman is generally assisted by a trained mid-wife or even a close family member who has experience in managing deliveries. Home Birth might sound a little risky for many of us, but back in those days, when medicinal facilities were not available, it was the only option for women.
Is Home Birth Safe?
The answer to this question depends on how straightforward your pregnancy was. If you had a seamless pregnancy period with no complications, home birth may be a safe option. However, women who have gone through rough pregnancy periods, with either diabetes, hypertension or any other complications, are advised not to try home births. Also, a women who might otherwise be healthy throughout, may fall into certain complications with the baby’s position and may have to rushed to the hospital. This could be extremely risky.
Early preps also include watching videos on delivery and how to withstand the pain of contractions. Also for early delivery you should have your mid wife ready. Many home birth mid wives do home visits for prenatal care or have various offices that have built in birth facilities.
Home Birth Tips:
Read these 8 home birth advices for smooth delivery of your child:
1. Research Your Options:
Chances are your ob-gyn won’t most certainly be your birth attendant. Besides, by training they’re taught to check for complications. Sometimes, naturopathic physicians do give a lot of home birth assistance, but a midwife is probably your most suitable candidate. Most often, home births are usually carried out by midwives, so taking your pick should be easy if you know one.
See More: Positions For Pregnancy
2. Pick A Practitioner With Solid Experience:
Interview your practitioner and do make sure to ask how many birthing she has attended, where she was in charge, or if she was an assistant. You’d probably want someone with an experience at both. Make sure the midwife you hire has an assistant.
3. Plan For Emergencies:
Do ask from beforehand if the person you hire is comfortable with emergency situations. That way, it should be easy to deal with the necessary medications as and when needed.
4. Have An Emergency Plan:
You never know what emergencies might crop up. So keep a backup plan alongside in case everything does not go as planned. Ideally, it should be your midwife who needs to consult a physician and help you out, so plan accordingly and have a doctor on your speed dial throughout.
See More: Woman Giving Birth To Twins
5. Plan The Particulars:
Make your midwife aware of all the issues and medical particulars, so she can act in particular as and when needed. Just in case you go to labor and need assistance, place the details and names of people you want to be present.
6. Check What Your Insurance Will Cover:
Sometimes, insurance schemes do not entertain home births, so do make sure to check if the costs are covered by your prenatal scheme or not.
7. Understand There Is Risk:
Irrespective of how safe you feel at home, the risk of death of a newborn at home is higher. You should plan ahead only if you know the risks and emergencies that may arise.
8. Search Online:
You can always take your search for a friendly midwife online. In a world of technology, there is guarantee that you will dig up something relevant without trying too hard.
See More: Make A Birth Plan
How To Prepare For a Home Birth?
To ensure a safe and successful delivery, preparing for home birth well in advance is recommended:
- The first and the foremost step to prepare yourself for a home birth is having confidence. You need to stay positive and firmly believe in your decision.
- It is crucial to select a trained midwife, who has expertise in home births.
- If you are planning for a water birth, you need to ensure that the pool is ready with warm water.
- Wear something comfortable like a maternity gown or even a soft bra, if you don’t want to be naked
- Keep in store some old towels and pillows to offer padding
- Listening to good music helps in diverting your mind from the pain
- Some plastic bags should be kept handy to collect the placenta
- A sharp thread, clamp and sanitised scissors to cut the umbilical cord
- Make sure all the items related to post-birth are kept ready. Baby wraps, diapers, maternity gowns and pads must be purchased well in advance.
Pros and Cons Of Home Birth:
Before making the crucial decision of choosing between a home birth and hospital birth, check out the pros and cons of the former:
Pros Of Home Birth:
- Privacy is the biggest advantage in home birth
- You are in your natural setting and at your best comfort
- Home birth offers you better control of your experience
- You can be surrounded by your close family and friends
- It is less expensive than a hospital birth.
Cons of Home Birth:
- Home birth can be extremely risky for women with health complications
- Lack of immediate medical care can pose both the baby and the mother to high risk
- Excessive bleeding or haemorrhages may be fatal
- You will not have the convenience of an epidural
- In case of any issues, insurance will not be covered for home births
While home births may be a comfortable and cost-effective option, do keep in mind that deliveries are associated with certain amount of risks. A lot of times, the mid wife may not prove very effective in dealing with unexpected issues, posing the mother and baby to risk of life. Only when you had at least one natural delivery previously, you can try a home birth. Women who had a caesarean in the previous issue are advised against trying this option. Modern hospitals have all the facilities to deal with any impending risks. Safety of the mother and child must be assessed before taking any decision.
