Home Birth: Is it an Option for You? - Parents & Kids (parentsandkids.com)
HOME BIRTH: IS IT AN OPTION FOR YOU?
Posted by Parents & Kids Guest Writer | Apr 4, 2023
While most pregnant women plan to give birth in a hospital with an obstetrician, Midwives and doulas give alternative options for expectant moms in uncomplicated situations.
“Midwives participate in low-risk births,” explained Toni Hill, a direct entry midwife at Blooming Moon Midwifery Services in Tupelo. “We manage smaller patient sets, so we are able to spend more time with clients to provide counseling and support.” Hill said she will only take on so many patients in a certain area at a time, to make sure she is available for the needs of them all. These are one of the benefits of choosing this alternative birthing situation.
According to the Oregon Health & Science University, midwifery has has grown in its reach. In 1980 midwives attended only one-percent of births, and by 2020, they attended 12-percent of births. School-based training began in 1925, laying the groundwork for highly-skilled midwives to provide obstetric and gynecologic services. Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) have completed nursing school and have a graduate degree in midwifery. Direct entry midwives received training as a midwife without prior medical training. Certified midwives have a master’s degree in midwifery, and an undergraduate degree in a field other than nursing. Certified nurse midwives work in hospital settings alongside obstetricians, in homes and in the community.
Doulas work as professional labor assistants, providing physical and emotional support for pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2020, less than one percent of births in Mississippi are intended home births, but interest is growing; there was a 19-percent increase in home births in 2019.
Home births with a midwife allow the presence of a healthcare provider during the delivery process, to intervene and offer support on mom’s terms while monitoring the health of mom and baby throughout. Midwives do not offer pain relievers, but will use pools and deep breathing to help mom use the pain to navigate the birthing process. In addition to other potential positives, home births allow moms to move around the home freely, and be in a space that is more familiar and more comfortable during the birthing process. Home births also allow for any number of persons to be present for the labor and delivery, whereas this might be limited in a hospital setting.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) maintains that births in hospitals and birth centers are safest because home births have a higher risk of neonatal seizures and newborn death; however, these are rare overall. According to the ACOG, “each woman has the right to make a medically-informed decision about delivery.” They suggest various factors should be considered in deciding who is most likely to have a favorable outcome with a home birth. ACOG considers a mom to be the best candidate for a home birth if a certified midwife will be present and if the woman is: pregnant with a single baby only; has immediate access to a hospital, if an emergency arises; does not have high blood pressure or diabetes; and is free of prior delivery complications or prior c-section. Situations where the baby is in the head-down position are obviously considered the best candidates for a home birth. Midwives are trained to identify possible complications and need for intervention, and can see to it that the woman is transferred to a facility before an emergency arises.
With proper planning home birth might possibly be an option, to have the birth experience you most prefer. Discuss your thoughts regarding your birth plan with your doctor, and consult a midwife such as Toni Hill.
Since birth plans are personal, Hill recommends everyone should “do your research.”
Alicia Stevens, a resident of Pearl River County, is a freelance writer, wife and mother of two who enjoys traveling with her family and friends.