Yes! The majority of the time, home birth is very safe. Many states license midwives ensuring that they have a certain amount of training and allowing them to carry emergency equipment such as an oxygen tank and medications to stop bleeding.

Licensed midwives are also very highly trained in how to handle complications during birth, very few of which are real emergencies. In the case of a true emergency, it is handled like any other time one has an emergency: you call 911.

The best way to make sure your birth is going to be a safe one is to interview a few midwives. Make sure she has gone through some sort of formal midwifery training and has enough experience that makes you comfortable.

Many women are intrigued or drawn to having a waterbirth either because of what they have heard or because intuitively they know that it is a gentle way of bringing a baby into the world. The use of water (hydrotherapy) for relieving pain and rejuvenating the body has been utilized since the days of Greeks and Romans. It only makes sense that hydrotherapy can be helpful during pregnancy and childbirth as well.

In the 1960's, water in labor and delivery was introduced in the former Soviet Union. In the 1980's, Michel O'Dent began the movement toward waterbirth in France and eventually all over Europe. Waterbirth has also gained popularity in the US with the majority of my clients choosing a waterbirth.

Contractions are usually less painful in the water. It is easier to relax because of the buoyoncy and warmth that the water provides. In labor, you can get into whatever position is comfortable for you; kneeling, leaning over the side, semi-reclining, or squatting. You can also still get in the tub if your membranes (bag of waters) have broken as the chance of infection is no greater than if your membranes were still intact. Sometimes it helps if your partner gets into the tub with you so you can lean against them. When it is time for the baby to come, you can choose to get out of the tub or choose to stay in and birth your baby in the water. After your baby is born, she/he is brought out of the water and onto your chest.

Most women rent a special birth tub for their birth. A regular size bathtub is generally not large enough to accommodate you and your belly. To get full benefit, the water needs to come over the top of your belly. A large whirlpool tub works great. Some women even use a horse trough. You can rent a birth tub online at www.aquadoula.com. Rented tubs come with a heater on the bottom that maintains the temperature between 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Birth Acupressure Guide
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Help with the common complaints of pregnancy
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Baby Sign Language
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