Having a baby is a joyous occasion for the expectant parents. While many families choose to experience the moment in a hospital setting, more and more people are choosing to opt for a home birth. One reason for making the choice to give birth at home is to avoid any unnecessary medical interventions that have become common in many hospital births. The act of giving birth is a natural occurrence and unless problems arise there is not usually a reason for medical intervention. Others feel that hospital births take away from the joy of the experience, as soon after the birth, the child is taken away from his or her mother for long periods of time.

The Role of the Midwife

While a return to home births has increasingly become the choice of many expectant parents in the United States, in many countries all over the world, hospital births have never been commonplace. In many countries midwives are primarily responsible for delivering babies. A midwife often develops a special connection with the expectant mother, and in addition to her professional expertise, the midwife may offer spiritual support during the process. A well planned home birth with a registered midwife can be a safe option for a low-risk pregnancy.

Giving birth at home isn’t for everyone

A mother must be a good candidate for home birth before she should consider it as an option. High-risk mothers are not idea candidates for home births. Some factors that would place an expectant mother in a high-risk category include:

Mothers with preexisting conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes
Pre or post mature births
Older Mothers
Pre-Detected breech births
No hospital within a reasonably close distance

Women in any of these categories should not opt for a home birth. Therefore good a candidates for a home birth is a low-risk mother who lives in a reasonably short distance from a hospital, in case of complications.

Maria is a writer and womens activist. Her organization Saving Angel helps women detect early signs of pregnancy and assists with the transition into motherhood.