Planned home births are slowly becoming a trend because they’re safe and intervention-free. Since the pandemic, approximately 28% of women all across the world have given birth in their homes. Most of these births have been under the guidance of a certified midwife.
Usually, women choose this option because they want to give birth without manually inducing labor or using pain medication. In some cases, they might prefer home births when they are dissatisfied with hospital care or have had a negative experience.
Are you considering giving birth at home? Then, there are a few crucial things you should look into. For instance, you must be prepared with proper tools, sign up for birthing classes, etc.
This post explores three tips you should remember when giving birth at home.
1. Be Prepared for the Home Birth
First, you need to prepare certain things before the due date. For example, look at possible birth locations all over the house, like the bathtub, the living room, the bedroom, etc.
Secondly, you need to buy lots of paper towels and cotton cloths. Other items include herbal bath essentials, ice cubes, water pillows, birthing balls, olive oil, large trash bags, and plastic sheets.
During labor, your midwife or loved one will prepare your birth pool with a soothing herbal bath. But before getting into the water, you should use the birthing ball to dilate your cervix to 6 to 10 cm. Moreover, you can munch on the ice cubes when the contractions happen.
The room you’re giving birth in must have dimmed lights and scented candles. You can also ask your loved ones to play soothing music.
Throughout the labor, you should remain well-nourished and hydrated. Remember to eat fruits and sandwiches or take electrolyte-rich drinks. In some cases, you might need a bowl for vomiting.
You also need to get a hold of some baby supplies. These newborn essentials include a warm blanket, diapers, and cotton wipes. First, your midwife or loved ones will use olive oil and cotton wipes to clean the baby’s body once they are born. After that, they will put on a diaper and wrap your infant in a blanket to keep them toasty and warm.
2. Join Birthing Classes
Birthing or antenatal classes are crucial, especially for women who have chosen planned home births. It will help you learn the ups and downs of the birthing process from trained professionals.
According to Let’s Talk Birth & Baby, mothers can access structured and evidence-based online antenatal classes from the comfort of their homes. The best part about online classes is that you can choose your favorite birthing coach, even if they are from a different country.
These classes will help prepare you for an emotional and physical journey towards motherhood. You learn about natural labor, which is crucial for home births. It will help you prepare for the early signs of labor and have a complication-free delivery.
Eventually, you can create a customized birth plan suited to your needs. You will also learn how to perform vaginal examinations and deliver your baby in birthing pools. But remember to hire a certified midwife, even if you’re confident about doing it alone.
3. Manage the Labor Pain
You probably don’t want to take pain medications like Tylenol or Advil because of their harmful side effects. These include headaches, stomach pains, heartburn, constipation, kidney issues, etc. That’s when cannabidiol (CBD) oils can help with labor pains.
Women in various countries can inhale CBD oils only when labor pains become excruciating. As long as you aren’t ingesting the product, it’s safe to inhale the scent or massage painful areas with CBD oil during labor.
You must find a trusted distributor that sources its products from a reputed CBD manufacturer to get your hands on the best. This way, you’ll use a safe product with regulated and legal THC levels.
According to KND Labs, producers of CBD products should derive their ingredients using distillation, extraction, isolation, and crystallization processes. Moreover, pharmaceutical companies should partner with their country’s best-in-class and certified CBD manufacturers.
CBD oils with regulated THC levels may reduce inflammation and chronic pain by targeting the endocannabinoid receptors. It interacts with your neurotransmitters to relax and calm your mind.
But you must remember to check what THC concentrations in CBD oils are legal in your country. For instance, in Bulgaria, less than 0.2% of THC levels are legal, while in Norway, it should be 0%. Moreover, less than 1% of THC is legal in Switzerland, whereas CBD is illegal in Belarus.
If you cannot get your hands on CBD oils, you can instead use echinacea essential oil for the pain. You can also get a massage, perform yoga, or meditate to reduce labor pains.
In conclusion, you will feel safe and supported if you choose home birth. While this option gives you post-birth home comforts and no separation after birth, it comes with some unfortunate complications.
Indeed, most women don’t face any issues while giving birth at home. However, a U.S.-based study stated that planned home births have led to infants developing seizures or having nervous system disorders.
That’s why it’s crucial to get tested and cleared by a healthcare professional to avoid possible complications. As a rule of thumb, you should only rely on home birth if it’s your second or third baby. Overall, you get to experience birthing in a comfortable environment, which positively impacts your mental health.