How safe are home births and can you recommend what steps to follow.?

Answer 1

Hello There. I will be having a homebirth soon. I am due in 8 weeks. I believe totally that home births are very safe. My midwife has never lost a baby or a mommy and she has done over 500 births. It is always good to have a back up doctor if it would make you feel more safe. Think about history :) Women have been having babies at home since the beginning. It has only been in the last hundred years or so that the "hospitol" came into play. I actually feel more safe giving birth in my own home than at a hospitol. Doctors are so quick these days to give an episiotimy, drugs, cesarean, ext. What a natural way to bring a child in the world at home where they belong :) The first step is to find a good independent midwife in you area. Not a certified nurse mid-wife. They tend to be more "medically" inclined. Some amish communities have midwifes that wll open up their services depending on where you live. If you are a Georgia or Missouri resident I can help you find a great mid-wife. After you find the right woman she will walk you through the rest of the steps like you diet, exersize, vitamins, .... Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I researched them for a friend and found that statistically speaking they are pretty safe. However I opted for a hospital birth and it was a good thing because I ended bleeding alot right after my daughter came out and they had to do a couple of procedures on me. My doctor told me that I could have dies if I had had a home birth. Last week my friend had a home birth and her son ended up aspirating on meconium. The midwives used a syringe bulb but you need to have the meconium taken out of their lungs with a tube that midwoves do not have, and so her son is having some respitory issues. Her son's pediatrician made her feel really bad about the home birth because her son may have permanent complications since the immediate actions could not be taken. Personally, I'd stick to a hospital birth just in case.

Answer 3

They are very safe if you have a good midwife. Can save you lots of money over a hospital birth. Interview 2 or 3 midwives and pick the one you are most comfortable with, you will be very intimate with this person and you will want to like them!

Answer 4

You and your child have the same chance of dying in childbirth whether you are at home or in the hospital. This is a proven fact.

You and your child are MORE likely to be injured or become ill during childbirth if you are in a hospital rather than at home. This is a proven fact.

If anyone wants to read the study done by the British Medical Journal, the link to the American study (over 5,000 women) is here:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7505/1416?ehom.

Here is a summary of other studies done in many countries:

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/homebirth6.htm

Home births, for low risk women with a qualified and experienced care provider, are safer than hospital births. This is a proven fact.

How you go about organising a home birth for yourself depends entirely upon where you live. If you are in the UK, the first step is to ask your midwife. Check out the following UK based links:

http://www.homebirth.org.uk
http://www.homebirth.net/

and for advice go to the Homebirth board on Babycentre, full of mums who have been there and done it, and are there and planning it.....

http://boards.babycentre.co.uk/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=bcUKHomebirth&_requestid=492513

If you are in another country, here is a link to the American Babycenter homebirth board:

http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=bcus1143639&ccRelLink=&url=%2Frefcap%2Fpregnancy%2Fchildbirth%2F1372273.html&xTopic=birthplan&bus=content


Try not to listen to scare stories such as some of those above. Of course many doctors are not fans of homebirth, it puts them out of business after all.

I personally delivered my first baby at home - one week overdue - with meconium - and the cord round her neck. Perfectly healthy baby girl. There are very few things that cannot be handled just as safely at home. Do your research, and you'll be fine.

I hope you get your homebirth and wish you good luck! I hope this helps you.

Answer 5

My sister had a home birth with her second baby and she said she would never go back to the hospital to have a baby

Answer 6

I understand very safe and easier than the traditional hospital birth.
check out amuchbetterway,com

Answer 7

get a midwife and a doula.

Both certified, insured, and whatever other credentials they have possible access to. They have all the information needed for your state's laws, and local hospital procedures.
http://www.midwife.org/find.cfm
http://www.acnm.org/
http://cfmidwifery.org/find/index.aspx

Answer 8

I wouldn't recommend it. In delivery unexpected things can happen. If it does then time is wasted trying to get you to the hospital. I think most hospitals now have birthing rooms if you want the natural, but have the medical available in case of emergency.

Answer 9

i wouldnt recommend them i had a son with cardiac probs thats y

Answer 10

if you have a your baby at home, you should have it in the water. It is very relaxing!