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unassisted home birth
Hello i was looking up videos online about home births because thats what ive always wanted to do and then i came across these ladys that have unassisted births at home with no midwife or medical help. It looks like an incredible experience. Was anyome else thinking of taking this route? And if so how do you begin to prepare for this?
Unassisted birth is not at all illegal. Women have a right to give birth anywhere and with anyone they wish.
I had both of my children unassisted. It's not a good option for someone who doesn't know anything about childbirth, but if you are very well educated and very well prepared, it's a good option for many women.
There are a lot of myths surrounding unassisted childbirth:
Myth: Women having unassisted childbirth know only as much about childbirth as the person inquiring.
Truth: Most women who plan unassisted births are extremely well educated, most often seeking years of training and research before undergoing something like a UC. While any group can have its handful of extremists, most UC moms are incredibly well-trained for what they are doing.
Myth: Women who do UC do not get prenatal care.
Fact: Women who do UC usually get the same prenatal care as women preparing for hospital birth. In many cases, UC moms seek higher levels of prenatal care than just seeing a doctor.
Myth: Women doing UC don't understand the dangers.
Fact: Women who do UC are well aware of the risks of childbirth. UCers don't choose UC because they adore pain. Women who choose UC come to the decision for safety reasons. They believe that, in their specific case, a UC would be safer than a hospital birth or birth with a midwife. Women who UC choose UC specificially for safety reasons.
Myth: Women who UC have a UC no matter what.
Truth: Women who choose UC are seeking a higher level of safety and will not have a UC no matter what. Women who develop any type of complication will seek medical help. If a woman becomes high-risk during pregnancy, she will transfer care to an OB. If, for any reason at all, her pregnancy and/or birth are not progressing normally, she will seek outside care. The whole point of UC is to have the baby at home only if the mother feels that that is the safer option. If hospital becomes a safer option at any point, the mother transfers to the hospital. This is widely-done in UC births and some UCs do turn hospital-transfers.
Myth: UCers believe that UC is the safest way to give birth and that all women should have UCs.
Fact: UC is not right for all women. Women who are high-risk or who require or even just want an attendant or a hospital birth should choose hospital or attended birth. UC isn't for everyone or every situation.
Also, a lot of information passed around about childbirth is incorrect. Most of the data that people refer to is based on data collected on women in third-world countries who are unhealthy and malnourished or based on religious groups which choose no medical care which does not at all reflect the practices of UC moms who do seek not only medical care but prenatal care as well and do not risk a dangerous birth situation because of their beliefs.
UC may or may not be right for you. There are plenty of UC groups online that you can join. A good one is over on mothering.com. It is a moderated forum, so only those who are actually interested in unassisted birth can join.
Good luck, whatever birth you decide to have. :) If you're planning on going UC, get started with your research now! 9 months of pregnancy is usually not nearly enough time to learn all you need to know. I researched birth for 12 years, but that's a bit more than most moms are able to commit to.
I had both of my children unassisted. It's not a good option for someone who doesn't know anything about childbirth, but if you are very well educated and very well prepared, it's a good option for many women.
There are a lot of myths surrounding unassisted childbirth:
Myth: Women having unassisted childbirth know only as much about childbirth as the person inquiring.
Truth: Most women who plan unassisted births are extremely well educated, most often seeking years of training and research before undergoing something like a UC. While any group can have its handful of extremists, most UC moms are incredibly well-trained for what they are doing.
Myth: Women who do UC do not get prenatal care.
Fact: Women who do UC usually get the same prenatal care as women preparing for hospital birth. In many cases, UC moms seek higher levels of prenatal care than just seeing a doctor.
Myth: Women doing UC don't understand the dangers.
Fact: Women who do UC are well aware of the risks of childbirth. UCers don't choose UC because they adore pain. Women who choose UC come to the decision for safety reasons. They believe that, in their specific case, a UC would be safer than a hospital birth or birth with a midwife. Women who UC choose UC specificially for safety reasons.
Myth: Women who UC have a UC no matter what.
Truth: Women who choose UC are seeking a higher level of safety and will not have a UC no matter what. Women who develop any type of complication will seek medical help. If a woman becomes high-risk during pregnancy, she will transfer care to an OB. If, for any reason at all, her pregnancy and/or birth are not progressing normally, she will seek outside care. The whole point of UC is to have the baby at home only if the mother feels that that is the safer option. If hospital becomes a safer option at any point, the mother transfers to the hospital. This is widely-done in UC births and some UCs do turn hospital-transfers.
Myth: UCers believe that UC is the safest way to give birth and that all women should have UCs.
Fact: UC is not right for all women. Women who are high-risk or who require or even just want an attendant or a hospital birth should choose hospital or attended birth. UC isn't for everyone or every situation.
Also, a lot of information passed around about childbirth is incorrect. Most of the data that people refer to is based on data collected on women in third-world countries who are unhealthy and malnourished or based on religious groups which choose no medical care which does not at all reflect the practices of UC moms who do seek not only medical care but prenatal care as well and do not risk a dangerous birth situation because of their beliefs.
UC may or may not be right for you. There are plenty of UC groups online that you can join. A good one is over on mothering.com. It is a moderated forum, so only those who are actually interested in unassisted birth can join.
Good luck, whatever birth you decide to have. :) If you're planning on going UC, get started with your research now! 9 months of pregnancy is usually not nearly enough time to learn all you need to know. I researched birth for 12 years, but that's a bit more than most moms are able to commit to.
I believe unassisted homebirths are illegal. You have to have some sort of medical help at home because of all the possible complications and infections that occur.
sorenr had a good point about the 'extra hands'. My midwife kept me form tearing too. I had no tearing at all.
I had a home birth 2wks ago, I had midwives there to deliver my son though. I tore badly with my first child and besides other potential complications, I needed an experienced pair of hands to ensure I didmt tear badly again. If you or anyone else wants any info on it, feel free to message me :)
I'm personal opinion: I believe prenatal care is very important during pregnancy for your and your baby's health. After there are a few test that are necessary like preclampsia , group b test.
If home birth is what your going for please have someone like a midwife standing by in case of an emergency.
I didn't go that route I had a natural unmedicated birth at a hospital.
If home birth is what your going for please have someone like a midwife standing by in case of an emergency.
I didn't go that route I had a natural unmedicated birth at a hospital.
Also...there is a birth plan community on here. You might get more of the information you are looking for on that board. Just trying to help!
You know, I thought about it but I decided I don't know enough to be responsible with something like that. I have assisted in births and I'm a childbirth educator and yet I still don't think I could do it. I have seen things turn on a dime and I'm always amazed at how quickly the midwives react and take care of business. But, how would I do that If I was the one in labor? That is where I get stumped. I'm not saying it's impossible or a bad idea...it's just not for me. I will be going for a homebirth this time but with a trained midwife, her assistant and a doula. I like a team. My first birth was great. I used a midwife and I was in a midwife run birthing center.... but I did need oxygen in the end and my baby's heart rate dropped while I was pushing. I don't know how I could monitor that while I was pushing? Midwives are trained for that but I'm sure not.
Hell no! Thats pure stupidity. By chance if u or ur baby are in trouble u only have minutes to respond, why do u think so many women used to die in childbirth.
I am terrified of hospitals and everything that goes with it. I am now 33 weeks and have not seen my doctor since the anatomy scan that told me everything was fine no issues what so ever and I've felt fine and feel my baby move everyday with no complications pain ect. I've looked it up too just in case lol I live about 3 mins from the hospital that would be delivering my baby. I have thought about it but not too seriously idk if my husband could handle it lol
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