Unassisted Home Births First Child
Summary:

There is a growing movement to move away from hospital births or home births with a midwife to unassisted home births.  It is a shocking concept to many, especially when people choose to have an unassisted home birth, especially with the first child.


 Parents, siblings and friends will all tell you you are crazy, what if something goes wrong?  Home births are safe and if something does go wrong, there is always 911.  The one thing I would suggest that parents add to their birthing plan, is for the dad and or grandparents to take a class in infant CPR just in case it should be necessary.

 More than 98% of the people now on this earth were born at home.  I have 40 first cousins and all of us but two were born at home without benefit of a physician or midwife unless you can count our grandmother who was present at all but one of those home births.

 Midwifes are bound by the rules and laws governing her profession.  Also some tend to take over at the birth and essentially exclude the dad.  They also come with their own philosophy about the birthing process.

 Women who choose unassisted home births do so because they want their baby to be born into a welcoming world instead of a hospital where the baby is just one among many.  most home birth mothers subscribe to the philosophy “I believe I want only those I am truly intimate with at my birth.”  Lynn Griesemer is a leading proponent and author of the unassisted home birth movement.

 Some women see an obstetrician for monitoring but still opt for a home birth with only a chosen few in attendance.  With an unassisted home birth dad doesn’t pace a waiting room or stand there and hold mom’s hand.  He gets to catch the baby and cut the cord.  He is the first person to put a hand on his child.  How awesome that must be!

 Many folks believe it is irresponsible to have a home birth while proponents believe there are more risks in a hospital birth such as baby affected by maternal drugs and truly feel that a hospital birth is more irresponsible.

The major advantages of unassisted home births, UAHB for short, according to those who have it are:

  • You are not a patient and are in charge.
  • There can be as many or as few people as you choose present when the baby appears.
  • You control the atmosphere, music of your choice.
  • Father is a participant not a bystander.
  • You can avoid medical interventions such as anesthesia, forceps, and electronic monitoring.
  • Less chance of infection.
  • The baby is not groggy and doesn’t have depressed respirations due to mom’s anesthesia.
  • You choose where and how you handle labor.
  • You are not lying on a stretcher with your legs in the air, you can sit, lay down or squat, whatever position you choose.
  • Your own bed, the bathtub or wherever you choose to give birth.
  • There is, despite what anti UAHB people say, less risk of infection.

 You may be wondering what you need to do to prepare for your home birth.  There really isn’t much preparation needed.  You will want sterile scissors to cut the cord, clean string to tie it off, and someone with a cell phone just in case of an emergency.

 People will tell you that hospitals are more sanitary than your home.  However, what if the doctor or nurse coughs into his or her hand and forgets to wash their hands when they handle your baby in the nursery.

 At home you don’t have to worry about getting a drug designed to speed up labor.  As long as your labor is progressing you don’t have to deal with that.

 One other complaint you may hear is that you need prenatal care to have a healthy baby.  However you can pretty much do your own prenatal care.

Eat the right foods: vitamin rich vegetables, whole grains, iron rich foods like

  • spinach and liver.
  • Avoid caffeine.
  • Limit alcohol.
  • Don’t smoke.
  • Monitor your weight.
  • Remember you don’t have to eat for two.
  • Get exercise - walking is one of the best exercises for you.
  • Avoid stress.
  • Stay away from toxic people.
  • Decide where in your home you want to give birth
  • Spend some time alone with your husband or significant other.
  • Have basic baby supplies on hand before the big day.

 Most important ignore the naysayer.  This is your baby, your lie and your decision to make with your spouse.  This is probably the best advice of all.  Don’t let these people get you down.  Home births occur several times every day all over the world and most produce healthy babies.

 Our hats are off to you brave women who are willing to buck the system and have your babies at home without the help of a doctor, midwife or doula.  Relax, get plenty of rest and let us know what your unassisted home birth, first child was like.