How To Prepare for a Home Birth
Written by Jana Angeles
Preparing for a home birth is not as easy as it sounds. You may have seen it happen on a TV series or movie you’ve been watching. Home births actually take a lot of time to prepare if this is your preferred method of giving birth to your baby. There are things to consider such as choosing a team of medical professionals to assist you during the birth, the safety implications in your household and understanding the risks and complications that could arise from a home birth. Though there are so many things you need to prepare for, it’s good to take the time to start on the essentials during the term of your pregnancy. Here are some tips below to help you on your journey for a home birth:
Read about the advantages of a home birth
There are advantages to a home birth including:
- Being surrounded by a familiar environment
- Having labour progress naturally, instead of having rushed medical interventions
- Your healthcare providers are there to attend to your need at your home
- Family and friends can be present while the birth takes place
The advantages above are just some things to consider just incase you were still weighing up on the appeal of home birth. You should also talk about how it could affect your insurance policies with your healthcare providers.
Understand the complications of a home birth
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve planned for a home birth, something unexpected could happen which means you’ll need a hospital team to attend to your needs. Be prepared for complications should they arise. This means booking the local hospital just incase something goes wrong with labour and you end up needing a caesarean. It’s good to have a Plan B in this case because even the best plans need a backup. It can be overwhelming experiencing complications of a home birth, but that’s essentially the risk you take.
Find a doctor, midwife or obstetrician to support you during the labour and birthing process
Finding a supportive team of healthcare providers can be all you need to have a successful home birth. Showing support during the term of your pregnancy as well as after could help you feel genuinely cared for. It can be stressful trying to plan for a home birth and making sure you fit all the requirements to have one. Feeling constantly supported by your healthcare providers means positive feelings for your home birth and less time dreading it!
See if your local hospital provides a home birth service
It’s important to research if your local hospital provides a home birth service. It’s key to know this information well in advance so you can start planning when choosing a team of healthcare providers that suit what you need during the birthing process. Don’t be afraid to ring ahead and ask to book appointments and to learn more information on how it works. Ask all the questions you need answering now rather than later. The more you know, the better.
Consider the safety of your home
Safety comes first above all. You first have to consider the risks involved when giving birth at home. Will it be a comfortable process? Does it offer enough privacy? Is there appropriate space to give a home birth? Asking these questions now will help you make the decision on whether a home birth is the right option for you. You have to consider the safety implications and the impact of your decision if you do decide to move forward with a home birth during the term of your pregnancy. You need to follow your gut and be realistic when it comes to this, as your safety and the baby’s is of high importance.
Preparing for a home birth can be stressful and you have to keep in mind the complications which may arise during it. While it may feel overwhelming, just remember that you are sharing an intimate moment with your loved ones at the comfort of your own home. It can be a special memory that will live on for the rest of your life if everything goes according to plan and no feeling can match that!