What happens during a home birth, is it safe and can you have your baby at home on the NHS?
According to the NHS around one in 50 babies in England and Wales are born at home
WHILE some babies still pop out in unexpected locations the majority are either born in hospital, in a birthing centre or at home.
In England and Wales just over one in 50 women choose to have a baby at home - but what exactly does this entail?
What happens during a home birth?
Pregnant women can choose a home birth, even for their first baby, but can always change their mind and go to hospital if they choose.
Most women decide to have their first in hospital, as a home birth slightly increases the chances of death or serious injury from five in 1,000 in a ward to nine in 1,000 at home.
For any subsequent children, a home birth is as safe as a hospital birth, but may still be recommended if having twins or a baby is in the breech position, or you have a condition such as pre-eclampsia.
By the time your due date comes you will have got to know your midwife, who will join you in your home once you go into labour.
Choosing a home birth means setting up a space to have the baby, which can usually mean an old shower curtain or tarpaulin for the floor and old towels.
Antiseptic hand wash, a hot water bottle for pain, a mirror to see baby’s head and a torch for the midwife are essentials to have on hand.
Hot water is a great pain reliever, so you can have a bath at home or set up a paddling pool for a water birth.
But there is less traditional pain relief at home, which is usually limited to gas and air while in hospital they have epidurals.
Midwifes are trained professionals and will bring equipment and drugs which may be required, and can arrange for an ambulance if needed.
Even if opting for a home birth, at some stage the midwife may make the call and you could still need to go to hospital, so pack a bag just in case.
If all goes well your midwife will be with you throughout labour, and once you’re close to the birth they will usually call a second midwife to assist.
They are trained to give stitches if needs be, and after baby’s born will help you bathe and will stay for a few hours to make sure everything is ok and baby is feeding properly.
The midwives will pack up and clean up and ensure everything is fine with mum and baby.
Some of the benefits to giving birth at home is you’re less likely to have interventions such as forceps, but the downside is you will be further away from specialist care if you need it.
Can you have your baby at home on the NHS?
As with all births, you can give birth at home on the NHS.
You can receive scans, ultrasounds and all the care leading up to the birth in hospital on the NHS, and if you opt for a homebirth the midwife will come to your house.
It’s free through the NHS, but if you want to go private it would cost around £3,000.
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