There's No Place Like Home: 4 Steps to Prepare for a Home Birth
Pregnancy can be both beautiful and stressful. One of the stressful parts is trying to decide where to deliver your baby at. While many women prefer to deliver their babies in the protected environment of a hospital, others prefer the more natural setting that a home birth can provide. If you've decided to deliver your baby at home, you'll need to get prepared. While your midwife will do most of the work for you—besides laboring and pushing the baby out—there are still some things you'll need to do to get ready for the birth. Here are four steps you should take to prepare for a home delivery.
Attend Birth Classes
If this is your first pregnancy, you'll need to take a birth class. Since you're going to be having a home delivery, it's best to enroll in a class that provides instruction for this type of delivery. Your birth class will help you prepare for the birth experience. If possible, your partner or birth coach should attend classes with you. This will help them prepare for their role in the delivery. It's important to note that birth classes are a good idea even if this isn't your first pregnancy. Refresher courses can help you remember important information. It will also help if you've never had a home delivery before.
Prepare Your House
The next thing you'll need to do is prepare your house. The most important area of the house will be the room where you plan on delivering. Prior to delivery, be sure that the room is clean. Take the sheets off the bed and wash them in hot water. This will make sure that they're clean and ready for the big day. Place a plastic sheet on the bed to make cleanup easier after the delivery. It's also a good idea to remove as much of the clutter as possible. This will ensure that you have a relaxing atmosphere to deliver your baby in.
Get the Kids Ready
If you're going to have your other children present to witness the birth of their sibling, you'll need to get them ready for the experience. If your children are old enough, sit down and watch some home birth videos. This will help them prepare for what they're about to witness. It's also important to familiarize them with some of the noises you might make during labor. That way, if you scream or moan, your kids won't be worried. Be prepared for a backup plan in case your kids decide at the last minute that they don't want to be there.
Be Willing to Listen to Your Midwife
You want everything to go smoothly so that you can have a home delivery. Unfortunately, emergencies can come up. If you're going to be laboring at home with a midwife, be willing to listen. This is particularly important if your midwife recommends that you move to the hospital. Your midwife is trained in all types of deliveries, which means if they're recommending the hospital, there's a good reason for it.
If you're planning a home delivery, these tips provided here will help you prepare for the big day. Be sure to talk to your midwife about other recommendations they might have for your preparation. To learn more, contact resources like George L Stankevych, MD.
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