Are Home Births Safe? Certain Risk Factors Help You Decide

For those who may be skeptical, a new study actually suggests that giving birth at home could be safer than giving birth in the hospital.

The Dutch study looked at women with low risk complications who had given birth at least once previously. The study showed that as few as 1 in 1,000 home births resulted in severe problems, including admission to an intensive care unit or requiring heavy blood transfusion. However, the rate of such complications for planned hospital births was 2.3 in 1,000 births.  

The study suggests that home births had a lower risk for certain severe complications that may include bleeding after birth or the need to remove the placenta manually. The rate of bleeding or postpartum hemorrhage was 19.6 in 1,000 for a planned home birth when compared with 37.6 in 1,000 for a planned hospital birth, according to background information from the study.

Yet, giving birth at home continues to be a controversial issue as problems that may not be at the surface of a pregnancy can easily complicate and even end the life of a newborn.

First off, let's consider the obvious reasons why a mother-to-be and her family may be contemplating giving birth at home.

-It provides a familiar and relaxing environment.

-There is not pressure to wear, do, eat or position yourself a certain way, unless otherwise instructed by a midwife.

-Home-births can be less expensive. (However, they can also be more expensive.)

-There may be cultural or religious personal reasons for giving birth at home.

-Lastly, women who give birth at home often do not have medications to reduce pain that can slow the delivery. Thus, the process goes faster.

And, if you are in the high-risk category, home-birth is not recommended. However, there are several other things that can go wrong even if you are not, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Check out the following to determine the pros and cons.

-Labor isn't progressing properly.

-Traces of fecal matter are appearing in the amniotic fluid.

-The placenta peels away from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery.

-The umbilical cord drops into the vagina ahead of the baby.

-There is vaginal bleeding not associated with the blood show-a thick plug of mucus that blocks the cervical opening and falls out when the cervix thins and opens.

-The placenta is not delivered or deliver intact.

-The baby shows signs of distress, including abnormal heart rate. 

These are just a few of the risks to consider. It's important to talk with your doctor about all the pros and cons if you are considering a home birth. 

The findings for the study above can be found here.