Home Birth - The Only Natural Way to Give BirthA home birth for many is the only natural way to give birth. Away from the bright lights and machines of hospitals, many women find they can relax and enjoy the experience of giving birth more from home. Surprisingly, it is thought that as many as 90% of all babies born could be born via home birth deliveries, so it is a wonder why more people do not do it. Many of us live under the misconception that a hospital birth must be safer than a home birth, it stands to reason a hospital is always safe, access to medicine, the latest technology…. Oh and the very latest in super bugs and MRSI. The truth is that so many pregnancies are uncomplicated, that the question of home birth becomes one of resources and perception. The one real difference about a home birth and a hospital birth is that hospitals have access to fetal monitors. These are used to measure a woman’s labor and far gone she is. These machines may make us feel safer or more secure, yet there is no scientific evidence that they have helped decrease or helped to identify complications in pregnancy. Some argue that it is quite the contrary, with the huge growth in C-section deliveries being attributed to the fetal monitors. What about all of the recent news coverage about MRSI and super bugs that are found in hospitals? Whilst you may not be in direct risk, it is hard to be these types of thoughts out of your mind, hardly a reassuring feeling to have before giving birth. To be fair to most hospitals, they do have a separate birthing center in most cases, however you are still at risk based on other people’s hygiene. One of the big reasons for a home birth is that it is a way to help the mother feel relaxed, this is because she is in a loving environment of which she feels comfortable with. This in turn is known to help the bonding process with the baby, as the mother is completely relaxed and at home, so can concentrate on the most important aspect, the baby. Some hospitals are under pressure to churn their patients, this means that the occupied beds are often needed by other patients or expectant mothers. The result of this is that often mother and baby are sent home perhaps sooner than they should have been. The time directly after giving birth is critical in the bonding process, this is when we learn to breast feed our baby and have important one on one time. A home birth allows you to take your time and worry less about how you will be getting home or what time to arrange a lift for. It is also shown to have great benefits for mother and baby, so it is a wonder that more people do not consider a home birth. Perhaps, it is because the thought had not occurred to us, or indeed we’re looking for that feeling of comfort we might get from a hospital. Whatever it is, a home birth is a very real and valid way to give birth. If this sounds like something for you, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Read more of our articles on home birth |