Home Labor and Birth

vs Hospital Birth

Home labor and birth or hospital labor and birth, these are among the many choices pregnant moms have today: where to have the baby. Just like deciding between breast and bottle, cloth or disposable diapers, most women have the choice to choose between giving birth at home or at the hospital.

Since the beginning of mankind, women have given birth in many places, at home, in the fields, on a river bank and these days, in vehicles, birthing centers and hospitals. If you are pregnant you do have this choice to make.

Home Labor and Birth

The chances of having a safe home labor and birth are very high today. Advances in medical technology and the training of midwives, direct-entry or CNM (certified nurse midwives) that work closely with an established doctor can better handle emergencies should they arise.

The qualifications for a pregnant mom to have a home birth have broadened. It’s possible to have a home birth even if you've had a previous cesarean, if you are a good candidate for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).
Reasons against having a safe home labor and birth would be:

• High blood pressure (either pregnancy induced or maternal)
• Diabetes
• Ill mother or fetus
• Placenta abruption or placenta previa
• A previous birth complication that could hinder the present birth

Advantages of a home labor and birth:

1. Cost is considerably less than that of a hospital birth.
2. Mother can deliver in any position she wants, including water birth.
3. Mother can eat and drink at will.
4. No medical intervention, such as IV's and constant fetal monitoring that may prolong labor in a hospital.
5. The baby will be with mom immediately after the birth and bonding and breastfeeding will not be delayed.
6. The laboring mom is allowed time and freedom of movement.
7. The midwife will usually be with the laboring mother the entire time, not just show up in time to catch the baby.

Disadvantages of a home labor and birth:

1. Must have an emergency back up plan, i.e. a doctor to take over and a hospital ready should a complication arise.
2. Must meet "low risk" measures to safely have a home birth.
3. No anesthetic pain medicine. Only the use of over-the-counter medicines and herbs can be used.
4. Should a problem arise, there is a big danger to the mother and baby such as
   a. Distressed fetus
   b. Placenta abrupto – tearing away of the placenta from the uterine wall
   c. Prolapsed umbilical cord
   d. Uterine Rupture
   Though these occurrences are rare, if they happen an emergency trip to the hospital is necessary. The extra time in getting to the hospital could be detrimental to either the mother or the baby or both.

Hospital Labor and Delivery

Hospital births are the most popular choice today for pregnant women. Though the trend for home births are on the rise. It's because hospital births have come a long way over the past 100 years. They now make the birthing experience more homey and less sterile and medical. In the past there were separate labor and delivery rooms and dad wasn’t allowed to share in the experience. He had to wait out in the waiting room, pacing the floors.

Now a laboring mom has the luxury of being in the same room through out labor, delivery and post partum. Dad and anyone else she wants can be in there with her. Even if she has a cesarean, she's allowed one person with her the entire time.

 

Advantages of a Hospital Birth

1. A well trained staff to help in case of an emergency. All the necessary equipment needed to provide both mom and baby the best of medical care.
2. In most hospitals there are birthing rooms available for a normal birth. Labor, birth and recovery are all in one room in one bed.
3. Most hospitals encourage rooming in, where the baby stays with the mom the entire time. Normally there's a bed for dad too.
4. The availability of constant fetal monitoring. This can help to ease the mind of the laboring mom to know her baby is doing okay.

 

Disadvantages of a Hospital Birth

1. A set amount of time given to the laboring mom to produce results, otherwise medical intervention is taken such as
   
   a. Augmenting contractions with a Pitocin drip
   b. Breaking the bag of waters
   c. Cesarean is preformed if birth doesn't happen within a set amount of time.
    
2. Cost is considerably more than a home birth.
3. Forbiddance of food and drink during labor.
4. Lack of personal attention by the attending doctor.
5. Medical intervention like an IV drip and fetal monitoring resulting in lack of freedom of movement.

 

Another choice that is in the middle between a hospital and a home birth is a birthing center. These offer the comforts and freedom of home, with a trained staff and assurance of help should an emergency arise. They aren’t found everywhere, usually just in larger cities. Most women that give birth in a birthing center can go home within a few hours of giving birth. The cost is lower than a hospital birth.

It all boils down to your choice, to your state of health and your desire. Many women are just fine to have a home labor and birth. Many others choose a hospital birth. The choice is all up to you.