Against the Odds
In an attempt to lower infant mortality rates, the World Health Organisation published in the 60s guidelines to all government asking them to promote birth in hospital. What followed was one of the most successful government marketing programs where home birth was pictured as a dangerous and un-healthy practice. Today, in certain countries, if you even mention the word, people look at you as if you just came out of the Dark Ages.
The result is a health service that is biased against relinquishing any choice to the woman. Home birth is still considered unsafe, water birth is sometimes seen as downright dangerous. As a recently published guideline by the Royal Institute of Midwives shows, public opition is slowly changing the system. However at the coal face, mothers to be are still facing strong bias against home and water births.
The result is a health service that is biased against relinquishing any choice to the woman. Home birth is still considered unsafe, water birth is sometimes seen as downright dangerous. As a recently published guideline by the Royal Institute of Midwives shows, public opition is slowly changing the system. However at the coal face, mothers to be are still facing strong bias against home and water births.
Giving Birth at Home
Birth is an experience, not a medical procedure
Deciding to give birth at home is effectively placing yourself outside "the system", whatever it is. This system sees a birth as a medical procedure, not a life changing experience. The patient is just that, a patient, a number that needs to be "processed" through. Most mothers that decide on a home birth are looking to take back control of the birth experience. They decide who will be there, they decide where it will be, they decide when it will be.
The results?
Research on homebirth has so far only focused on whether home births were more "dangerous" than hospital birth. All the research has been able to establish is that there is no significant increase in the risks to mother and baby when a birth happens at home. All the evidence of the benefits of a home birth is based on the many personal experiences of mothers who had one. The evidence is circumstancial. But...
By feeling more comfortable in their surroundings, the birth has seemed less painful, less stressful. Stress, fear, discomfort will release adrenalin that makes a labour slower and more painful. Oxytocyns and endorphins are produced during labour, to help with both contractions and pain. Adrenalin reduces their impact. That's the medical theory.
In practice, a home birth woman is able to:
- Get better care, as they are effectively receiving one to one attention from their attending midwives;
- Get their partner involved in the birth. Fathers often feel alienated and useless. The only expectation on them is that they feint out of the way.
- Get more privacy after the birth. Once you have given birth, you are not wheeled back to a ward full of strangers. You can rest at home in your own bed.
- Improve the chances of the baby breastfeeding. Contact between mother and baby is immediate, increasing the likelihood that your new born find and get used to your breastmilk.
The results?
Research on homebirth has so far only focused on whether home births were more "dangerous" than hospital birth. All the research has been able to establish is that there is no significant increase in the risks to mother and baby when a birth happens at home. All the evidence of the benefits of a home birth is based on the many personal experiences of mothers who had one. The evidence is circumstancial. But...
By feeling more comfortable in their surroundings, the birth has seemed less painful, less stressful. Stress, fear, discomfort will release adrenalin that makes a labour slower and more painful. Oxytocyns and endorphins are produced during labour, to help with both contractions and pain. Adrenalin reduces their impact. That's the medical theory.
In practice, a home birth woman is able to:
- Get better care, as they are effectively receiving one to one attention from their attending midwives;
- Get their partner involved in the birth. Fathers often feel alienated and useless. The only expectation on them is that they feint out of the way.
- Get more privacy after the birth. Once you have given birth, you are not wheeled back to a ward full of strangers. You can rest at home in your own bed.
- Improve the chances of the baby breastfeeding. Contact between mother and baby is immediate, increasing the likelihood that your new born find and get used to your breastmilk.
Water Birth at Home
Pain Relief during a Home Birth
If you have read so far, you are probably wondering where water comes into it. Well...
One of the downside of giving birth at home is that your choice of pain relief is limited. You will not be able to get an epidural or other injected drugs. Pain relief has to be natural. There are many ways in which the pain of labour can be mitigates:
- Using a tens machine,
- Hypnobirthing techniques,
- Gas and air brought by your midwife,
- ... and water.
Water seems to help in many ways during labour and during the birth. The use of a birthing pool during labour will not reduce the pain, but by allowing you to relax, it will help you to cope better. During the birth, water can help by giving you more freedom of movement and therefore responding better to the needs of your body.
One of the downside of giving birth at home is that your choice of pain relief is limited. You will not be able to get an epidural or other injected drugs. Pain relief has to be natural. There are many ways in which the pain of labour can be mitigates:
- Using a tens machine,
- Hypnobirthing techniques,
- Gas and air brought by your midwife,
- ... and water.
Water seems to help in many ways during labour and during the birth. The use of a birthing pool during labour will not reduce the pain, but by allowing you to relax, it will help you to cope better. During the birth, water can help by giving you more freedom of movement and therefore responding better to the needs of your body.
Not for Everyone!
Contra-indications
A water birth or a home birth are not for everyone. Ultimately you need to listen to the advice of your doctor, midwife or health professional. If your baby is breach, you have placenta previa, your baby is premature or late, have a multiple pregnancy or if you are overweight. Then for you a waterbirth or a home birth might will present higher risks. Risks that you might not want to take.
Most home birth that are transferred to hospital are due not to complications but to specific requests by the mother.
Homebirthing and using a birthing pool are choices that you have as a woman. They are not better, or worse. They are a choice for you to make.
Below are some links to various resources that will help you gather information and make an informed choice and help you find support for that choice. A lot of these links are UK specific... but hey, isn't a birth an international event?
Whatever you chose, have a Great Birth Experience!
Most home birth that are transferred to hospital are due not to complications but to specific requests by the mother.
Homebirthing and using a birthing pool are choices that you have as a woman. They are not better, or worse. They are a choice for you to make.
Below are some links to various resources that will help you gather information and make an informed choice and help you find support for that choice. A lot of these links are UK specific... but hey, isn't a birth an international event?
Whatever you chose, have a Great Birth Experience!
Scientific Evidence
The little there is...
Very little scientific evidence has been collated on both homebirth and water birth. Below are those pieces of research and other sources of scientific information available to you.
- The National Birthday Trust Research on Home Birth
- This is one the only scientific study of home birth in Britain and took place in 1997 and comparing the experience and outcomes of 4,000 home births against 3,300 hospital births. This link is to the original abstract of the research published in Practicing Midwife journal.
- British Journal of Medicine Editorial
- This editorial dating back to November 1996 in the British Medical Journal, specifically addresses home birth.
- Outcomes of planned home births
- This British Medical Journal paper shows the incidence of medical interventions (epidural, forceps, ventouse, etc.) for home birth (after transfer) and hospital birth. It shows that the risk of medical intervention are lower than those for hospital births.
- Water Birth Research
- A summary of research undertaken by the Midwifery & Nurning Council of Britain on the impact of using water for labour.
- Other Birth Related Research
- A list of available research on home birth, water birth and other birth related topics.
Water Birth Information
Below are a number of sites, some commercial providing interesting and valuable information both about home birth and waterbirth.
- Home Birth Information
- From a reseller of birthing pools, The good Birth company have compiled a useful few pages on home birthing.
- Home Birth Reference Site
- In the words of the site's founder, Angela Horn: the aim of this site is not to persuade you to choose home birth. What I would like to do instead is to provide information about home birth, for parents who think that it might be the right choice for them, and for health professionals looking for facts and ideas.
- Midwifery Today Special: Home Birth
- A whole issue of midwifery today was in 1999 dedicated to the theme of home birth. Midwife experiences and benefits of a home birth.
- Waterbirth International
- Information on water birth from the largest site on the subject in the United States.
- Waterbirth Information
- Information about waterbirth from a leading provider of birthing pools.
by JanK
There are many things I am passionate about. Water birth and home birth are just two of them. I live in the UK where unfortunately, the "system" is d... (more)
Explore related pages
Lamaze Video Showcase- The Lamaze Technique is a prepared childbirth technique used as an alternative t...
WATERBIRTH- Today's mothers have a variety of choices on how and where to birth their babies...
Homebirth- Welcome to my page dedicated to home birth. I am a home birth midwife who...
Ask This San Diego Midwife Your Questions- Colors? As many as I can wear. Opinions? I have plenty of loud ones! B...
Pregnancy and Childbirth- If you are pregnant for the first time, or you are an experienced mother-to-be,...
Organic Birth- Organic birth happens when a woman is not interrupted during her labor. Her horm...
