- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- pregnancy today articles
- pregnancy today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Having Your Baby at Home
6 Steps Toward the Homebirth of Your Dreams
By Shel Franco
No matter how well you prepare for childbirth, you can't plan it. Sometimes events surface that necessitate the baby being born in a hospital. "The transport rate for homebirth is very low, but the possibility must be considered in your preparations," Brethauer says. "It is very important to have emergency phone numbers posted by your phone."
When it comes to finding a back-up hospital or obstetrician, some women get weak in the knees. "Finding a back-up is tricky because of politics," Kohls says. "Even doctors supportive of homebirth are often forbidden from providing hospital back-up care because of their HMO rules, insurance rules, partners opinions, etc." Kohls suggests that you find your back-up through midwife or childbirth educator referrals.
You will also need to find a doctor to examine the baby after the birth. "You should plan to take the baby in sometime in the first three days of life," Brethauer says.
Your midwife will provide you with a list of supplies that will be your responsibility to assemble. Brethauer asks that her clients obtain everything from clean fitted sheets to a slow-cooker Crock Pot.
While you organize the materials for your homebirth, don't forget to organize your thoughts. Birth, no matter where it takes place, is a life-altering event. "As an ongoing project I prepared myself emotionally for the birth," Kohls says.
Your preparation might include reading, attending general childbirth classes, meditation, yoga, journaling or anything else that makes you feel comfortable with the woman you are and the mother you are about to become.
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
