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The advantages of giving birth at home include: being in familiar surroundings where you may feel more relaxed and able to cope you may not have to interrupt your labour to go into hospital you will not need to leave your other children, if you have any you will not have to be separated from your partner after the birth you are more likely to be looked after by a midwife or doctor who you have got to know during your pregnancy Coronavirus COVID and having your baby With the recent outbreak of coronavirus COVID , you might be considering changing your plans to have a home birth instead of having your baby in a birthing centre or hospital.
Planning a home birth If you are considering a home birth, it is important to have a midwife, doctor or obstetrician who is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency AHPRA to care for you in labour and birth. It is also important to: check with your local hospital to see if they provide home birth as an option be prepared to be transferred to hospital if your midwife, doctor or obstetrician considers it necessary book into your local hospital as a backup option in case your birth does not go to plan and make sure the person looking after you during the birth has a plan to get you to hospital as quickly and safely as possible if anything goes wrong have regular antenatal care by a midwife or doctor during your pregnancy and have care after pregnancy postnatal care by a midwife or doctor have your newborn baby checked by a doctor in the first week after birth ensure your midwife or doctor offers tests for the baby after the birth see Your baby after birth , or refers you to a service that does them be sure your baby is offered vitamin K , hepatitis B vaccination and other treatments as required after birth What questions should I ask?
Here are some questions you might want to ask: How long would it take if I need to be transferred to hospital?
Which hospital would I be transferred to? Would a midwife be with me all the time? How do I prepare my home for the birth? See the CDC's latest recommendations on face coverings. If you are not fully vaccinated, wearing a cloth face covering or mask in public is very important. It is especially important in places where you may not be able to stay 6 feet away from other people, like a grocery store or pharmacy.
But you should still try to stay at least 6 feet away from others whenever you leave home. If you have COVID or think you may have it, you should wear a mask while you are around other people.
You do not need to wear a surgical mask or medical-grade mask N95 mask. It is important to keep your prenatal and postpartum care visits. Call your ob-gyn or other health care professional to ask how your visits may be changed. Some women may have fewer or more spaced out in-person visits.
You also may talk more with your health care team over the phone or through an online video call. This is called telemedicine or telehealth. It is a good way for you to get the care you need while preventing the spread of disease.
They may tell you about telemedicine or make sure you do not have symptoms of COVID if you are going in to the office. You also can call them before your visits if you do not hear from them. Yes, it is important to continue getting the health care you need to stay healthy, even while COVID is spreading. Most pregnant and recently pregnant women who are due for screenings, tests, vaccines, or other care from any health care professionals can go ahead with these appointments, with appropriate safety measures in place at the health care office.
You should call the office before your appointment to ask what precautions they are taking, including mask and support-person policies. You also can ask if telehealth is an option for your appointment. If you have an in-person visit, it is important to wear a cloth face covering or mask, stay at least 6 feet away from other people when possible, and keep your hands clean. Talk with your ob-gyn if you have questions about how to stay safe. Pregnant women can stay healthy by following the usual recommendations during pregnancy, including.
Some pregnant and postpartum women may be feeling fear, uncertainty, stress, or anxiety because of COVID Reaching out to friends and family during this time may help. Phone calls, texts, and online chats are safe ways to stay connected.
There also are treatment and support resources you can access over the phone or online. If you are in crisis or feel like you want to harm yourself or others, call right away. See the Resources section for other support options, including helplines you can text or call and online support groups for pregnant and postpartum women.
Physical activity also may help your mental health. And it may be useful to focus on your breathing each day, especially if you are feeling anxious. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat three times. Times of crisis can be very hard for people in abusive relationships. Abuse at home is known as intimate partner violence or domestic violence. Abuse can get worse during pregnancy.
The CDC is updating travel recommendations often. Other travel recommendations may be in place globally or locally as the virus continues to spread. Check with your local or state health department for information about travel in your area. If you think you may have been exposed to the coronavirus and have a fever or cough, call your ob-gyn or other health care professional for advice.
If you have emergency warning signs, call or go to the hospital right away. Emergency warning signs include the following:. Having a hard time breathing or shortness of breath more than what has been normal for you during pregnancy.
If you go to the hospital, try to call ahead to let them know you are coming so they can prepare. If you have other symptoms that worry you, call your ob-gyn or Speak with your health care team over the phone before going to their office. Talk with your ob-gyn or other health care professional about your birth plan. In most cases, the timing and method of delivery vaginal birth or cesarean birth do not need to be changed. Women who are sick probably do not need a cesarean birth.
ACOG believes that the safest place for you to give birth is a hospital, hospital-based birth center, or accredited freestanding birth center. Your hospital or birth center may be adjusting their policies. For example, there may be changes to the number of visitors allowed and how long you will stay in the hospital.
Check with your hospital and ob-gyn or other health care professional about your birth plan. Be sure to mention if you are planning to have a doula with you during childbirth.
Check with your hospital or birth center. The number of visitors you can have may depend on local and state recommendations and how quickly COVID is spreading in your area. Some hospitals and birth centers may consider doulas to be visitors. Check the hospital or birth center policy if you are planning to have a doula with you. ACOG believes that the safest place for you to give birth is still a hospital, hospital-based birth center, or accredited freestanding birth center.
COVID has not changed this recommendation. Even the healthiest pregnancies can have problems arise with little or no warning during labor and delivery. If problems happen, a hospital setting can give you and your baby the best care in a hurry. Keep in mind that hospitals, hospital-based birth centers, and accredited freestanding birth centers follow strict procedures to clean and control infection.
But when you are pushing during labor, wearing a mask may be difficult. For this reason, your health care team should wear masks or other protective breathing equipment. They also may take other steps to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, including wearing goggles or face shields.
There are many benefits to having your baby stay in the same room as you after delivery, even if you have COVID For example, rooming together may help you bond with your baby and help you start breastfeeding if desired.
You also may choose for your baby to stay separated from you, such as in the hospital nursery. Some facilities use clear plastic cribs that are enclosed and keep an even temperature. Staying in a separate room may be encouraged if you are very sick or your baby is at a high risk of getting very sick. If you choose to be separated and you plan to breastfeed, you can ask for a breast pump and use it to express pump milk.
This will allow someone who is not sick to bottle-feed breast milk to your baby. Pumping also may help you maintain your milk supply for when you begin breastfeeding. Talk with your health care team about the options at your hospital or birth center well before your due date. Together you can discuss what you think is right for you and your baby. Be sure to talk about the best ways to. Among women who originally intend to give birth in a hospital or those who make no provisions for professional care during childbirth, home births are associated with high rates of perinatal and neonatal mortality.
The relative risk versus benefit of a planned home birth, however, remains the subject of debate. By Nicole Harris Updated October 13, Save Pin FB More. Fewer maternal infections Lowered risk of third-degree or fourth-degree vaginal or perineal tears Ability to be surrounded by family and friends Freedom to do almost anything you want, including walk around, take a shower, cook food, watch TV, etc. More control over birth decisions Lower cost Increased bonding with the baby More privacy.
Here are some common reasons home birth patients end up at the hospital:. Fetal distress Labor isn't progressing Need for epidural or pain medication Maternal high blood pressure Maternal bleeding Breech presentation or other improper birthing position. Comments 1. Sort by: Newest.
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