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How to book a home birth
If you and your partner decide that you want to deliver your baby at home. There are various things you need to consider.
Firstly you need to discuss your decision with your midwife or health care consultant as they need to make a decision based on your medical history and general health to decide if a home birth would be suitable for you.
Once the midwife confirms that you can go ahead with a home birth, there is still lots to consider.
What do I need to consider when planning a home birth?
- Who is going to be your birthing partner? It is usually recommended that you have 2 or more people at the birth. One could either be your partner or friend. Plus an extra person who may be needed to get to hospital and pick up more supplies of gas and air. Make extra cups of tea and keep the midwife fed and watered!
- Do you have other children at home? If you have other children at home this is when the extra person also comes in handy. If you need to go to hospital urgently, then you have someone already available to care for your other children. Bear in mind this all could happen at 3 o clock in the morning!
- Think about your pain relief? I had two successful home births but when I felt I no longer could go on and requested gas and air, my midwife had just come from a home birth and all the gas and air had been used! It’s never too early to think about acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, breathing, hiring a tens machine, hiring a birthing pool, plus just general natural labour self help remedies. Read up on all of them and talk to friends and family. Get some advice and find out what is best for you.
- Make sure you have a birthing plan and your carers are familiar with you birthing plan too.
- Think about where at home you plan on giving birth. In your bedroom, living room or bathroom. Bear in mind the midwife will have lots of equipment with her and will need plenty of room.
- What happens if you call the hospital only to be told that there are no midwife’s available. Depending on how you feel and if you have had a pregnancy before you may know how long you can hold on until a midwife becomes available. If not then you may need to consider going into hospital.
What to pack for a home birth
If you are having your baby at home then it’s usually suggested to start packing your hospital baby 4 weeks before the birth. When you are planning a home birth you need to make sure you have everything ready at least 6 weeks before the baby is due. In a nut shell you should pack both. A home birth and hospital bag.
Home birth essentials
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