UNTUK SHARING

Home Birth

During a planned home birth you’ll give birth in your home instead of in a hospital or birth center. You’ll need to be assisted during labor and delivery by a knowledgeable midwife or, in some cases, a doctor to help ensure the health of you and your baby.

During your prenatal care your health care provider will review a list of conditions during pregnancy and labor that would require treatment by a doctor and compromise the safety of a planned home birth. Your health care provider will also review the challenges that can accur during childbirth, how he or she-in comparison with a hospital would handle them, and the possible health risks for you and your baby.

Women might choose a planned home birth for many reasons, including:

·         A desire to give birth in a familiar, relaxing environment surrounded by people of your choise.

·         A desire to wear your own clothes, take a shower or bath, eat, drink and move around freely during labor.

·         A desire to control your labor position or other aspects of the birthing process

·         A desire to give birth without medical interventon, such as pain medication

·         Cultural or religious norms or conserns

·         A history of fast labor

·         Lower cost

There are some situations when a planned home birth isn’t recommended.

A planned home birth isn’t right for everyone. Your health care provider might caution against a planned home birth if you:

·         Have diabetes, chronic hypertension, a seizure disorder or any chronic medical condition

·         Previously had a C-section

·         Develop a pregnancy complication, such as preeclampsia

·         Are pregnant with multiples or your baby doesn’t settle into a position that allows for a headfirst delivery

·         Are less than 37 weeks or more than 41 weeks pregnant

What happens if I need to go to hospital in labor?

Transfers from home to hospital during labour or just after birth are very common, so don’t worry. One reason why home birth is as safe as it is in the UK is because women are transferred to hospital when they need extra help.

A large study of home birth of england found that for low risk pregnancies, about 20 per cent (one in five) of mums-to be were transferred to hospital.

The two most commen reaseon for transfer to hospital, whether you’ve had a baby before or not, are if:

·         Your labour is taking a long time

·         Your baby may be distressed, such as if there is meconium in your waters, or heartbeat changes are picked up by intermittent monitoring.

Another common reason to be transferred in during labour if you’re a first time mum is if you need an epidural.

Your midwife will monitor you and your baby during labour. If she suspects a problem is developing, she’ll recommend that you transfer into hospital in good time.

Arrangements will be made by your midwife for your transfers by ambulance, so have your hospital bag ready. Put the things you’ll need in one place, in a box or plastic container. You can still use them at home, but they’ll be ready to put in a bag if need be. This would be a good job for your birth partner, if you have one.

The equipment you’ll need to have to hand

You won’t need much. A few weeks before your due date, your midwife will bring round a birth pack containing all the bits and pieces she will need for the birth. You could put this in a box along with the things you’ll need to have to hand.

Your probably already have most of these dotted around your home:

·         Plastic sheeting to protect your floor, bed or sofa.

·         Old towels or sheets to cover the plastic sheeting

·         A couple of containers, in case you’re sick during labour.

·         A warm blanket or throw, in case you get cold.

·         Bin liners for dirty linen and rubbish.

·         Newspapers and old sheets or towels can create a covered path between where you labour and give birth and the toilet.

·         A desk light, so your midwife can check your vagina for tears or to check your baby after the birth.

·         Clean warm towels, a baby balnket and perhaps a portable heater to keep your baby warm after she’s born.

Otherwise. You need the same things that you would pack for a hospital birth. These will probably be clean, comfortable clothes for you and your baby, toileteries and home comfort. At home, you can have candles, too! In fact, in your own home you can go all out to create your perfect environment for giving birth.

If you’d like to use a birth pool you’ll need to borrow, hire or buy one. Ask your midwife for if there is one available to hire from your maternity unit

Home birth can be an option for you if :

·         You are having a healthy, low-risk pregnancy

·         You want to avoid an episiotomy, cesarean section, epidural and other similar interventions

·         You want to share the experience with family and friends

·         You want to be free to move around, change positions, take a shower, and eat or drink freely during  labor

·         You want to enjoy the comforts of your home and familiar surroundings

Most midwives will bring the following with them the day of delivery:

·         Oxygen for the baby if needed

·         IV’s for mom if she becomes dehydrated or needs additional nutrients

·         Sterile gloves, gauze pads, cotton hat for the baby, drop cloths, waterproof covers for the bed, a thermometer, a pan for sitz baths after birth

·         Fetoscopes or ultrasonic stethoscopes

·         Medications to slow or stop a hemorrhage

·         Special herbal preparations, homeopathic remedies, massage supplies/techniques and perhaps even acupuncture needles

·         Items for suturing tears

The following are some of the reasons women are transferred :

·         The mother feels exhausted and does not want to continue

·         Premature rupture of membranes

·         High blood pressure

·         No progress with labor

·         Fetal distress

·         Cord prolapse

·         Hemorrhage