How to give birth at home

“Home birth” occurs when a woman chooses to give birth at home instead of going to the hospital. moving, eating, and washing. The mother also feels comfortable during childbirth when she is surrounded by loved ones in a familiar space. However, giving birth at home can also be difficult. and certain risks.So if you’re contemplating having a home birth, it’s important to understand exactly what can happen before giving birth.To get started, learn Step 1 below:

Table of Contents

Learn about Home birth

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Understand the advantages and disadvantages of home birth. Recently, many births are done at home. However, according to 2009 data, in the US only about 0.72% of all births are home births. ^{[1] X Credible Sources Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to the source} Although in this day and age most other developed countries have similar low numbers as in the United States, some mothers still prefer to give birth at home rather than in hospital. There are countless reasons why mothers choose to give birth at home over going to the hospital. However, it must also be noted that “there have been some scientific studies that suggest a 2-3-fold increased risk of complications with home births”. ^{[2] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source} Even though the increased complication rate is not too high compared to the acceptable level (for every 1000 births, only a few babies are born). complications) but mothers need to understand that a home birth may be more risky than a hospital birth. However, giving birth at home can offer certain benefits that a hospital birth cannot, such as: ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

The mother can freely move, bathe, and eat if it is appropriate
The mother can adjust her own position during childbirth
The mother feels comfortable by the space and familiar faces around
If desired, the mother can give birth without medical assistance (such as the use of pain relievers).
Mothers may exhibit religious or cultural beliefs during childbirth
In some cases, the mother can reduce the cost of childbirth

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Understand when not to give birth at home. In certain cases, childbirth can increase the risk of complications for the mother, the baby, or both. In this case, the health of both mother and baby is more important than any of the small benefits that home birth can bring. Therefore, you should give birth in a hospital where there are experienced doctors and supportive medical equipment. Here are the situations in which expectant mothers “definitely” have to give birth in a hospital: ^{[4] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

When the mother has any chronic illness (such as diabetes, epilepsy, etc.)
When the mother had to have a cesarean section in the previous birth
If prenatal screening detects any health problems for the fetus
If the mother has an increased health condition that affects the pregnancy
If the mother smokes, drinks alcohol or takes drugs during pregnancy
If the mother gives birth to twins, triplets, etc.. or the fetus is not in a forward position at birth
If you were born prematurely or born late. In other words, don’t give birth at home before 37 weeks and after 41 weeks of pregnancy.

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Understand the legality of home birth. In general, most countries do not prohibit home births. Home births are legal in the US, Australia, and Canada, and depending on the situation, the government can financially support the birth. However, the legal situation surrounding midwives in the US is somewhat complicated.

In the United States, all 50 states are allowed to hire certified midwives. ^{[5] X Sources of Research} These midwives often work in hospitals – although they rarely visit homes, it is still legal to hire them to deliver at home. In 27 states, it is legal to hire a freelance or certified professional midwife. ^{[6] X Research Sources} Freelance midwives are people who have a reputation through self-education, vocational training, etc., and do not claim to be a nurse or a doctor. Certified professional midwives are those certified by the North American Midwifery Registry, and do not require insurance and verification.

Planning a Childbirth

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Make an appointment with your doctor or midwife. You should have a midwife or doctor accompany you during your home birth. Plan to have your midwife or doctor come to your home early so they can talk to them about your situation before labor and save their phone number so you can call them right away if your baby is born. You didn’t go as expected.

The Mayo Clinic recommends making sure your doctor or midwife can easily consult with doctors at a nearby hospital if possible. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
You also need to find or hire a midwife who can channel the emotions and energies of your baby’s birth.

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Plan for a baby. Giving birth is an exhausting and emotional experience. The last thing you want to do during labor is decide quickly how to deliver your baby. It’s wiser to plan and check your birth plan well before you go into labor. Try to calculate the steps in giving birth from start to finish. Even if you can’t keep track of your plan accurately, “making” a plan gives you peace of mind. In your plan, try to answer questions like: ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

Who do you want to be present when you give birth other than the doctor/midwife?
Where are you planning to give birth? Note that if the birth takes a long time, you will be able to move around comfortably.
What should you bring to the birth? Talk to your doctor, you’ll usually need plenty of towels, sheets, pillows, blankets, and waterproof sheets for your bed and floor mats.
How will you have to control the pain? Will you use pain relievers, the Lamaze method, or other pain management modalities?

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Prepare transportation to the hospital. Many home births are successful and uncomplicated. However, with each birth there will still be small changes that can threaten the health of the mother or baby. Therefore, it is important to quickly bring pregnant women who are about to give birth to the hospital in an emergency. Prepare a car full of gas and have clean items, blankets, and towels ready. Know the fastest way to the nearest hospital – you should even try driving there first.

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Choose where you will give birth. While you may be able to adjust your position and even be able to walk for the most part during labor, it’s still good to have a place in your home dedicated to giving birth. Choose a safe, comfortable place – many people prefer to give birth in their own bed, but you can also give birth on the sofa or even on the floor. Make sure that when you give birth, any position you choose is clean and has towels, blankets, and pillows available. You may also need a waterproof cover or plastic sheet to prevent blood stains.

In an emergency, a clean and dry shower curtain becomes a water-resistant film to prevent stains.
While your doctor or midwife will most likely have all of that, you’ll still need to have a sterile gauze pad and tie ready nearby to cut your baby’s umbilical cord.

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Wait for signs of labor. Once you’ve prepared all the necessary things, you’ll just have to wait until the birth begins. On average, most pregnancies last about 38 weeks, although a healthy birth can begin a week or two earlier. ^{[9] X Research Sources} If your pregnancy ends before 37 weeks or lasts after 41 weeks, go to the hospital immediately. On the other hand, be prepared for any of the following when labor begins: ^{[10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

Amniotic fluid rupture
Cervical contractions
Blood marks (light pink or brown mucus)
Contractions last 30 to 90 seconds

Birth

Normal birth

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Listen to your doctor or midwife. The medical professionals you choose for a home birth are trained to safely hold your baby and are certified to do so. Always listen to your doctor or midwife’s advice and follow it in the best way. Some of the things they recommend can temporarily increase your pain. But basically, they just want to help you get through labor as quickly and safely as possible. So try to follow their request in the best way.

The rest of the advice is merely small guidelines – always follow the advice of your doctor or midwife.

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Stay calm and focused. It is inevitable that childbirth can be fraught with pain and prolonged stress. However, never be disappointed or discouraged. Allow yourself to relax and be alert. This will help you follow your doctor or midwife’s instructions to the best of your ability, ensuring your labor is as quick and safe as possible. The easiest way to feel relaxed is to relax and take a few deep breaths.

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Watch for signs of complications. As noted above, most home births are not difficult. However, complications during delivery can still occur. Go to the hospital immediately if you see any of the following signs as they could signal serious pregnancy complications that require medical equipment and hospital doctors: ^{[11] X Reliable Source trust Mayo Clinic Go to the source}

Amniotic fluid appears in stools when your water breaks.
Umbilical cord prolapsed before the throne
You have vaginal bleeding without amniotic fluid with blood “or” if the amniotic fluid is abnormally bloody (normal amniotic fluid is pink, brown, or slightly bloody)
You failed to remove the placenta after delivery “or” the placenta was not intact.
The fetus is not in the forward position
Either way, the baby will be hurt
Pregnancy does not progress to parturition

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Have your healthcare provider monitor your cervix for dilation. During the early stages of labor, the cervix dilates, thins, and widens to bring the baby out. It may not be very uncomfortable at first. Then the contractions become stronger and more frequent. You may notice increased pain or heaviness in your lower back or abdomen as your cervix dilates. As your cervix dilates, your doctor will regularly monitor that dilation. Once your cervix is fully dilated to about 10cm wide, you’ll be ready to enter the second stage of childbirth.

You will begin to notice the urge to push your baby out. Your doctor will advise you “not to” do so until your cervix is 10 cm dilated.
It’s usually not too late to take pain medication at this point. ^{[12] X Research Sources} If you can afford pain medication and have it on hand, talk to your doctor or midwife to see if it is right for you.

READ More: How to Treat Baker's Cyst

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Follow the medical staff’s instructions for pushing. During this second stage, the pain will become more frequent and stronger. If your cervix is fully dilated, you may feel the urge to push and it will be fine if you do. Tell your doctor or midwife, tell them about any changes. They will guide you when to push, how to breathe and when to rest. Follow these instructions as you can. This phase can last up to 2 hours for first-time mothers and can be quicker (sometimes as fast as 15 minutes) for those who have had a second child. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Don’t worry about different positions like lying on the floor, kneeling or squatting. Your doctor or midwife will put you in the most comfortable position to push effectively.
When pushing, don’t worry about sudden urination or defecation. This is completely normal and your midwife will wait for that to happen. Just focus on pushing the baby out.

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Push the fetus through the birth canal. The thrust combined with contractions will send your baby from the uterus into the birth canal. At this point, the medical staff can see the baby’s head is called the “cap”. You can use a mirror to see yourself. Don’t feel bad because then the baby’s head will appear. That’s normal. The baby will then slide down the birth canal. You need to push hard to push the baby’s head out. Soon after, the midwife will clean the baby’s nose and mouth from the amniotic fluid and assist you in pushing the rest of the baby’s body out. ^{[14] X Research Source}

A breech delivery (when your baby’s legs come out in front of her head) poses additional risks to your baby and will likely require you to go to the hospital. Most breech births today will require a cesarean section.

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Taking care of the baby after birth. Congratulations – you just had a successful home birth. Your doctor or midwife will clamp and cut your baby’s umbilical cord with a pair of sterile scissors. Wipe your baby clean with a clean towel then wrap him in a clean, warm blanket.

After your baby is born, your midwife may recommend that you start breastfeeding.
Do not bathe your baby right away. You will see your baby after birth has a white coating. That’s normal, that white layer is called a “causing substance” to protect your baby from bacterial infections and to moisturize your baby’s skin.

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Placenta book. After having a baby, even though the worst is over, you’re still not done. In the third and final stage, you have to expel the placenta, which is the organ that nourishes the baby while in the womb. Mild contractions (many mothers don’t actually experience contractions because it’s so mild) ^{[15] X Sources of study} separate the placenta from the uterine wall. Soon after, the placenta is expelled through the birth canal. The process usually takes about 5-20 minutes and compared to giving birth it is a relatively small challenge.

If the placenta has not been expelled or is still left, you must go to the hospital otherwise it can have extremely serious consequences.

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Take your baby to the pediatrician. It is the right thing to do if your baby is in good health after birth. But it’s important to take your baby to the doctor for a checkup within a few days of birth to make sure your baby doesn’t have any underlying health conditions. Plan to take your baby to the doctor for a day or two after birth. Your doctor will examine you and give you instructions about your baby’s health care.

You may also want to check in with yourself – childbirth is a painstaking process and if you feel anything out of place, it’s best to let your doctor check it out to see if there’s anything wrong. .

Giving birth underwater

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Research the advantages and disadvantages of water birth. Water birth is exactly what the name implies – giving birth in the water. This birthing method has become increasingly popular in recent years – some hospitals even build their own swimming pools for births. However, some doctors do not consider such a birth as safe as a normal birth. Although some mothers claim that giving birth in water is more comfortable, relaxing, painless, and “natural” than vaginal birth, this method carries certain risks such as ^{: 16] X Research Source}

Infection due to contaminated water
Baby has complications from drinking water
Although rare, there is still a risk of brain damage or death from lack of oxygen when children are in the water.

Advice

Ask knowledgeable friends or a registered nurse near you.
Never leave your baby alone without a doctor or nurse nearby. Many things can go bad.
If possible, wash the vaginal area before giving birth to keep it clean and hygienic.

Warning

When giving birth to twins, if one fetus is in the forward position, the other is in the breech position, this is a difficult complication to handle (one fetus usually begins to be born while the other is still in the uterus, doctors, nurses or specially trained midwives need to deal with this situation).
Nurses, friends, and even doctors can get a little nervous if you give birth at home. This is not favorable in today’s society. Try to understand, if they act reluctantly or distractedly. You don’t have to be mad at them.
If the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck, etc., or the umbilical cord of the twins is tangled or the twins have any part of their body fused together, a cesarean section is needed. Therefore, it is necessary to give birth with professional support nearby or always available to help.

Steps