Deciding where and how to deliver your baby is one of the most important choices an expectant mother can make. In fact, studies have found that choice and control are two of the most critical factors for how women recall their birth experience.
Today, many expectant mothers have a desire to avoid invasive hospital methods and instead favor a more natural birth in a home setting.
If you’re considering an out-of-hospital birth with a midwife, you may have many questions. Here are some of the most important things you need to know in order to make an informed decision.
Healthy women with low-risk pregnancies are typically the best candidates for an out-of-hospital birth. Delivering your baby in the comfort of your home or in a birthing center allows you to invite a greater number of family members and friends to attend. It also gives you more control over your birth experience.
Out-of-hospital birth is also preferred by many women who want a completely natural birth experience. It allows you to avoid interventions like epidurals, episiotomies, and cesarean sections.
In some circumstances, planning for a hospital birth may be a better option. This applies to mothers who have the following conditions:
If your partner is not on board with a home birth, it’s suggested that you work towards a mutual decision as you develop your birth plan.
It’s also important to understand that even low-risk pregnancies come with a chance of complications. There are times when the lack of immediate access to hospital equipment can be catastrophic.
Pristine OBGYN offers an integrated birthing center that provides quality medical care with a home-birth feel. This practice offers natural and minimally invasive birthing methods.
The health team at Pristine OBGYN combines the experience of highly-trained certified nurse midwives with the expertise of a board-certified OBGYN.
Once you’ve decided that an out-of-hospital birth is right for you, there are some steps you need to take to prepare yourself.
Sit in a quiet area and write down your thoughts about your ideal birthing experience. This will help you determine your priorities. Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, you will be better equipped to choose a team of people to help make it a reality.
Having the right midwife to assist you is absolutely critical for a comfortable out-of-hospital birth. When interviewing potential candidates, find out how much experience they have, what their qualifications are, and whether they have an OBGYN as a backup.
Once you have chosen your birthing team, they can help you develop a simple one-page written birth plan. This is an outline of your preferences for the birthing experience. It’s best to create your plan well in advance of your due date and make sure all parties involved have a copy to reference.
Despite the best-laid plans, your birth may not go exactly as expected. It’s important to be flexible and remember that the number one priority is the safety of you and your child.
When considering an out-of-hospital birth, knowledge is power. It’s important to fully understand your options and feel completely comfortable with the choice you’ve made.
Contact Pristine OBGYN for a consultation and a tour of our new birthing facility opening in November.We will do our best to answer any questions you may have and help you decide if our birthing solution is right for you.
