10 Commonly Asked Questions Answered About Home Births (Is It the Right Choice for You)

A lot of pregnant women are opting out of hospital births and choosing to give birth to their children at the comfort of their homes. 

Home births are supervised and performed by midwives, who are qualified professionals and they provide both pre and postnatal care to the mother and the child. They spend a lot of one-on-one time with the mother providing pregnancy-related advice as well as emotional support. Most women who choose home births as opposed to a hospital birth performed by an OB-GYN, talk about how much easier it was for them being in a familiar space.

However, home birth is not suitable for all types of pregnancies and a reputed and ethical home birth and midwifery firm would let you know if you should go to a hospital. It’s also critical to know everything there is to know about birthing in general and home births for your wellbeing and your baby’s.

In this post, we provide straightforward and easy-to-understand answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about home births.

Are Home Births Safe?

Home births are usually safe for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Make sure to go to an OB-GYN for a checkup to find out if your pregnancy falls under the low-risk category. This is a critical step because midwives are not qualified to handle complicated birthing emergencies. They also not do not have the luxury of the medical infrastructure available in most hospitals.  

What Are the Benefits of Home Births Over Regular Hospital Births?

The following are a few of the advantages of choosing a home birth over hospital births.

  • Being In a Familiar Space
  • Not Having to Go to the Hospital During Labor
  • Home Births Are Generally More Affordable
  • Less Chance of Being Subjected to Forceps Delivery (Which May Cause Injury to the Baby)
  • You Get You Build a Friendly Relationship with the Midwife/Midwives
  • Your Partner Remains with You 

What Are the Cases Where Home Birth is Not Suitable?

Home births may not be a suitable choice if you or your unborn child is suffering from a health condition. It’s also not the way to go if you are having twins. Home birth may also be discouraged if the baby’s position inside the womb before the labor is considered to be awkward. Midwives may recommend hospital birth if it’s a breech birth (when the baby is born feet first and not head first). 

Are Midwives Qualified to Safely Perform Home Births?

Midwives that come from reputed home birth companies are required to be board certified and they usually have a nursing degree. Ensure you ask for their qualification before appointing a midwife. 

What Happens if There is a Complication During Childbirth?

Midwives are experienced enough to handle minor complications and they administer medications to relieve the pain. However, midwives may need the assistance of a doctor if there is an emergency. In those cases, they quickly transfer the patient to a nearby hospital. Ask the home birth company about their contingency plan in case things go wrong.

What Are the Equipment and Items Needed for a Successful Home Birth?

Most of the monitors are equipment are providing by the home birth agency and the midwives. However, you still need to prep the room for a home birth. Midwives recommend buying shower curtains and plastic covers to protect the furniture or bed where the home birth is going to take place. Midwives may also recommend renting a birthing pool. Other than that, you will need plenty of towels, clean sheets, baby thermometer, clamps, and sterilized scissors. 

Is Home Birth Less Painful Than Hospital Birth?

The physical pain of giving birth is the same as hospital birth, there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. However, the presence of your partner and the constant care provided by midwives allows you to deal with the pain.

What’s the Cost of Home Births and How it Compares to Hospitals?

Home birth cost is generally lower than the cost of hospital births. Regular uncomplicated births at hospitals can cost as much as $10,000 while even the most expensive home births should cost less than $5,000. Most insurance policies do not cover home births, so it may end up costing you less if you choose a hospital birth if you have insurance. 

Is Home Birth Safer for Women Having Their Second Baby?

Home births are definitely safer for women if it’s their second or third pregnancy. During the birth of their second babies, women are generally more relaxed and know what to expect. That’s why a lot of women choose hospital birth for their first child and a midwife supervised birth at home for their subsequent childbirths.

Is It Necessary to Buy a Birthing Pool for Home Births?

A lot of midwives provide the birthing pool or they may even arrange a rental. Ask if the home birth center includes a birthing pool in their package. If not, birthing pools can be rented or bought.