WHERE TO HAVE YOUR BABY

WHERE TO HAVE YOUR BABY

One of the first decisions you will need to make is where to have your baby. It is worth knowing what your options are and the advantages of each, so you can think everything through before you have to make up your mind. What matters most is having your baby where you will feel happiest and most secure. Where you choose to have your baby will depend on your own needs and preferences. It is also important to remain flexible; if a medical problem crops up during pregnancy, it may well alter your views on where you want to have your baby.

Hospital birth

Almost all babies are born in the hospital, and many parents are reassured by having access to specialist facilities and a wide range of pain relief option. If you need medical intervention such as a forceps delivery or a cesarean section, then there’s readily available nursing care tool. Many women like having a nurse on hand to help with feeding and looking after the baby, and enjoy the company of other new mothers. If you have other children, you may find a few days of resting and getting to know this newest baby invaluable before going home to resume the routine of family life.

Home birth

While some experts are against home birth, others support it and many women feel sure it is the right place for them to give birth. It avoids many of the interventions that are almost routine is some hospitals, like electronic fetal monitoring, and it is far easier to remain active and mobile in your own home than in a small hospital room. Your choices for pain relief are more limited. But women

laboring at home tend to need less pain relief. The statistics for home birth are impressive: women need less pain relief, have far fewer interventions and their babies are likely to do well. These figures take into account those mothers who had wanted a home birth but had to be admitted into the hospital during labor.

                If you choose a home birth be sure to use an experienced and qualified midwife. She will need to follow your pregnancy closely liking for any medical complications, such as hypertension, diabetes, abnormal placenta position of the baby, which would also be prepared for transfer to the hospital should an emergency arise during labor.

Other schemes

Use of birthing centers for delivery is popular with mothers and it is unfortunate that these centers are not available in some areas of the country. Birthing centers are staffed by midwives. The midwife follows you throughout your pregnancy. When your labor begins she meets you at the birthing center where the delivery takes place. You come home with your baby between four and twelve hours after delivery.

                The advantage of this system is that birth centers have a physician on call should a medical emergency arise requiring special care. If, however, your delivery is uncomplicated it can take place in the more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of the birthing center. It also allows mothers who have no desire to stay in the hospital any longer than absolutely necessary to go home within hours.

CHOOSING WHERE TO HAVE YOUR BABY

Asking yourself these questions may help you decide where to have your baby:

·         Is being cared for by the same person or team throughout pregnancy and labor important to you?

·         Do you feel confident in your midwife and/or doctor?

·         Do you feel more secure knowing that monitors, epidurals and the back-up of a hospital are there if you need them?

·         How much responsibility do you want to take? Would you like to be consulted about decisions, or would you prefer others to decide for you?

·         What type of pain relief would you like to have available? Remember, epidurals are only on offer in hospital, but you are less likely to need external forms of pain relief if you decide to have your baby in your own home.

·         How confident do you feel about having your baby at home? If you are concerned and tense about the idea, then you are unlikely to relax during the birth and that could slow down labor.

·         How much supports can you really on after the birth? You will need to rest and have time to get to know your baby, and won’t be ready to rush up and down stairs, do the washing or make the meals for a few days at least. Will your partner be able to take time off, or can a relation help?

·         Do you like the idea of labor taking place in your own bed?

·         If you already have children, will you feel able to rest with them around you?

·         What would you do if you or the baby developed medical problems?