What You Need to Know About Home Deliveries

In recent times, the number of women choosing to have home deliveries has increased drastically. Some do it for the many benefits and others because they don’t really have a choice. If you are grappling with this decision too, here are some things you need to know about home deliveries.

REASONS FOR HAVING CHOOSING A HOME DELIVERY

Here are some of the reasons why some women had rather give birth at home instead of the hospital:

1. Home deliveries are popular among women who want to give birth without any medical interventions. Natural birth means that they don’t get the anaesthetic epidural injection. While this is still possible at the hospital, most reason out that it is easy to ask for it at the verge of labour when the pain becomes unbearable.
2. Home offers a feeling of security, comfort, and familiarity that is hard to find in the hospital. Family members are around to support you, and you can use anything you want at home such as the toilet and showers without restrictions or risking infection.

• Delivering at home means that you have the freedom to make certain decisions like which position you want to give birth in.

1. Some mothers are simply dissatisfied with hospital service.
2. Home birth makes the labour stage much easier as minimal movement is involved, unlike hospital births where one has to be driven to the hospital amid intense contractions and labour pains.
   
   

WHEN A HOME DELIVERY COULD BE DANGEROUS

Home delivery is fine if you have a normal pregnancy that requires conventional birth procedures. It is, however, recommended that you give birth in the hospital if you are expecting multiples. It is also advisable to avoid a home birth if the baby is not in a head-first position. Also, it would be dangerous to give birth at home if you have had a previous C-section. These situations could pose complications that require the intervention of a doctor.

WHEN TO TRANSFER TO THE HOSPITAL

1. When the labour is not progressing
   
   
2. When you have conditions that come to play during the delivery such as high blood pressure (which is very dangerous especially when you are suffering from pre-eclampsia).
   
   
3. When the baby is showing signs of being in distress
   
   
4. When you are bleeding at an alarming rate. You could be haemorrhaging which is dangerous if left untreated.
   
   
5. When the baby is not in a head-first position.
   
   
6. When you need pain relief.
   
   

PREPARING FOR A HOME BIRTH

The most essential requirement for a successful home birth is a trained health care provider. You should find a well-trained midwife or home delivery doctor before your due date. You must then create a birth plan for factors such as pain relief and where exactly you will give birth. You should also prepare for a hospital transfer should it become necessary.

Conclusively, home births are for the strong-hearted. By this, I mean that you should consider it if you can give birth without any pain relief. Whatever your reasons, however, be prepared to transfer to the hospital if anything goes wrong.