More and more women are choosing a home birth experience when it comes time to start, or add to, their families. They say that childbirth is completely natural, that it is not a disease and there is no reason to be in a hospital bed. That their bodies know just what to do; that women have been giving birth at home for much longer than they have been going to hospitals. They say that they are perfectly healthy; maybe they have even given birth before with no complications. And they fear that “interference” from doctors and nurses and machines will mar their birth experience.
Most of this is perfectly true. But here’s something else that’s true. Did you know that the mortality rate is three times higher for babies born at home, compared with babies born in hospitals? The problem is that childbirth is notoriously unpredictable. Even if a woman is healthy and her entire pregnancy has been normal; even if she has already had an uneventful labor and delivery in the past, there is no way to predict some of the circumstances that may arise, or when medical intervention may become necessary.
The birth of your baby is indeed a very special time, and if you can have the experience you really want, that’s great. But remember that you also have a responsibility to keep your baby safe. So, with that in mind, how can you get the birth experience you desire without subjecting your baby to an increased risk of danger?
Choose a Midwife Who Practices in a Hospital Setting
Many women want a midwife to deliver their babies because they believe that midwives offer more personalized attention and try to interfere as little as possible with the natural course of events during labor and delivery. Many midwives practice in hospitals, and this is the ideal setting for birth in case of an emergency – which, again, you cannot predict. Yes, women have been giving birth at home for millennia. But the infant mortality rate is lower now than it ever has been. That’s because most women now give birth in hospitals.
Add a Doula to Your Support Team
A doula is a non-medical support person who can attend to your needs, help make you comfortable, help keep you focused, rub your back, bring you ice chips, and whatever else it is you might need, leaving your coach free to focus on you as well as his or her own experience.
Make the Hospital More Like Home
Get to know your hospital’s maternity floor ahead of time; being familiar with the setting will help you feel more comfortable. And feel free to bring things that are comfortable and homey, like a favorite blanket, pair of pajamas, or mug. After your delivery, you may necessarily be visited by medical personnel who will want to check your vital signs and make sure you and your baby are recovering well – but you can make the most of the times when you, your partner, and your baby are alone together by turning off the TV, dimming the lights, and getting to know each other. Celebrate with a glass of sparkling wine, play cards, decide on a name if you haven’t yet – do whatever you would do at home.
Making some compromises can keep you and your baby safer while still giving you a special birthing experience. Remember that the doctors are not there to get in the way, but to help you, especially if there is an emergency. You can read more about this topic in my book, Inside Information for Women.
– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.