Pros and Cons of Home Birth - Assignment Example

1. Introduction Home birth for a healthy woman is all about emotions. A woman who delivers at home feels a strong sense of familiarity and support. Delivering a baby at home is something that will be close to heart….always! Not only for the mother but for the father, friends and the relatives….Child birth is an emotional process and there are several reasons, mostly biological that suggests that the process can be improved if the mother is in silent, secure and recognized atmosphere. The growth of fetus and the labor process is a complicated process and can be attended by professionals if complication arises. A low risk women can plan a home birth supported with all the medical care, can be transferred to hospital if needed rather, than planning hospital birth initially. 2. Issues related to the topic: There is less need for pain relief Women find labor very easy to deal; since they feel control over the delivery and they have to use less drugs to cope with pain. They use methods like massage or births pools; moreover, at home she is at ease and can use any positions she likes. (Briefing the Journalists, March 2006) Transfer to hospital For the first time mothers, the need of transferring to hospital is very high compared to the mothers who have had already one delivery. But there is small chance of transferring the mother and baby to hospital after the baby is born; the problem might arise with the delivery of placenta or if the baby has problem in breathing. The most common reason for transfer is a long labor or slow progress, when either the mother or the baby gets tired and further monitoring or assistance is needed. (Briefing the Journalists, March 2006) Midwife Women who desire to have home birth will know their midwife well and if she is attended by community midwives then they team upto eight. She also meets the midwife during pregnancy. Many hospitals provide a list of midwives that can be contacted if the expecting mother requires midwifery help. (Briefing the Journalists, March 2006), (Vedam, 2003). Cost Home birth usually costs less than the hospital birth, since there is no hospital care like the bed, cleaning or 24 hr attendance) and less medical care. (Briefing the Journalists, March 2006) Facilities needed during home birth Women do not need a large home or any special facilities to have a home birth. Emergency access should always be kept in mind, if planning for home birth. Most women who give birth in hospital say that making journey to the hospital have to make a journey to hospital during labor is a matter of routine. Most home births also cause very little mess, a waterproof sheet on the floor is sufficient and moreover, midwives bring supplies of large absorbent pads to protect surfaces and they clear up everything after the birth (Briefing the Journalists, March 2006), (Vedam, 2003). Booking an independent midwife If the women doesn’t find the local community midwife care upto the mark or has difficulty in booking a local midwife, she can book and an independent midwife. Independent midwives are equipped with experience of home births, water birth, breastfeeding support, providing support and information to the woman’s partner and any other children. (Briefing the Journalists, March 2006). Others Promoting and protecting normal birth are not enough. Normal birth must also be supported by childbirth educators, the health care provider, and the place of birth. Supporting normal birth involves providing women with what they need as they labor and give birth. Women need to remain confident, have the freedom to respond to their contractions in any way that works for them, and have continuous emotional and physical support throughout labor. Being surrounded by health care providers who trust birth and have confidence in womens ability to give birth is, of course, the ideal. (Lohian, 2002). 3. Benefits and limitations of having a home birth Benefits: Less medical attention: No vaginal exams, no artificial rupture of the membranes, no episiotomy, no suctioning, no cutting the cord until the placenta had delivered, no medicine applied to the cord, no glucose testing, no elaborate physical assessment by many doctors, and no untidiness. The noticeable absence of these things makes the period during the birth and period after the birth more enjoyable. (Lohian, 2002) Increases confidence and the sense of freedom in women Home birth can be conducted safely; moreover, giving birth at home increases the confidence, freedom, and support they need to give birth. Home birth also protects women from routine checkups and hospital procedure, and fear of misconduct that dominates in the hospital birth. (Lohian, 2002) There is less need for pain relief measures During a home birth, women generally find labor easier to manage; they are more likely to feel in control and are much less likely to use drugs for pain relief. Methods for coping with pain, such as TENS, birth pools and massage are popular and, because the mother is in her own home, she is free to move around and use any positions she likes. (Lohian, 2002). Limitations Decision-making: Giving birth is always advised to the expecting mothers, if she has fewer complications. If at hospital then health care professionals can take decision regarding the labor which is in the best for both mother and the baby. Environment: The physical environment is clean, dist free and will be clinical to give birth. Pain relief: All types of methods for pain removal will be readily available. Medical care: If any problems arise for the mother and the child after labor, specialized facilities will be available to handle the problems. (Louise Longworth, 2001) 4. Analysis and synthesis of the information presented about home births Ninety percent of the British babies were born at home at the start of twentieth century; however the rates drop to less than 1% by the 1980s. Today, the rate is a little higher at just over 2% (Briefing the Journalists, March 2006). The Cochrane Library’s systematic review of planned home birth was done in 1998 and updated in 2004. The meta-analysis found support for the safety of home birth. It also suggests that the homebirth involves less medical attention and less medical interference. The review suggested that hoe birth can be safely planned for the women who possess fewer risks in the child bearing. (O Olsen, 2007) Current clinical practice varies a lot in both internationally and regionally. In the Netherlands the government promotes home birth for women with low-risk pregnancies. In UK, as a result of a Government Committee recommendation the rule was imposes that women should have a complete choice whether she wants home birth or hospital child birth. The UK home birth rate is been steadily increasing from less than 1% in 1987 and is now reaching to 2%. In Denmark, home birth is part of the public healthcare system. It is not promoted resulting in approximately 1% of all births being home births at the national level, even though the rate is 90% on one island. (O Olsen, 2007). 5. Summary and conclusion Giving birth at home means preserving the right and the independence through which the women has faith in life itself and has relied on the nature. Women who opted for home birth had faith in their own capability, and the support they received from their people and they had the ability to be at home. The experience of giving birth at home seems to differ from the experience of giving birth in a hospital. All women should have the possibility to give birth on their own terms in a supportive and calm environment, surrounded by people who are their own. In the end, being a mother at home is like being mother from heart! 6. Sources. March 2006). Briefing the Journalists. National Childbirth Trust. Lohian, J. A. (2002). Promoting, Protecting and Supporting Normal Birth. Journal of Perinatal Education , 9-10. Louise Longworth, J. R. (2001). Investigating women’s preferences for intrapartum care:. Health and Social Care in the Community , 404-413. O Olsen, M. J. (2007). Home versus hospital birth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , Wiley Interscience. Vedam, S. (2003). Home Birth versus Hospital Birth: Questioning the. Birth , 57-63. Read More