3 Tips To Prepare For A Potential Emergency When Having An At-Home Birth
Posted on: 6 December 2015
Hiring a midwife and having an at-home birth can be a wonderful decision for many pregnant women. The idea of giving birth in your home -- while surrounded by family members, other loved ones and all of the comforts and familiarity of home -- can be a wonderful thing. However, it is important to prepare for a potential emergency. Although you shouldn't have anything to worry about if you aren't experiencing serious pregnancy complications and if you have chosen a good midwife, it's still important to be prepared for anything. These are a few ways to do so.
1. Talk to Your Doctor
First of all, you should talk to your obstetrician about your decision to have an at-home birth. He or she can talk to you about any potential risks and can help you ensure that you are making a safe decision for yourself and your pregnancy. For example, your doctor can talk to you about any pregnancy complications that you might be having that could affect the safety of having an at-home birth, such as if the doctor suspects that your child could be born prematurely or that you may need a C-section.
2. Pack Your Bags
In an emergency situation, you may need to leave the house very quickly to head to the hospital. Make sure that you have a bag packed with essentials and that your car is ready to go in the event of an emergency, such as by ensuring that your car is fueled up.
3. Choose a Hospital -- Just in Case
In case you do need additional medical care that you cannot receive at home, you will need to have a backup plan in mind. Decide which hospital you will head to if something goes wrong, and make sure that the hospital's phone number, address and other information are kept in a safe place. You do not want to find yourself confused and unsure of where to go in the event that you need to go to the hospital anytime throughout the process.
Having an at-home birth can be a wonderful thing, and it can be perfectly safe if your delivery goes well and if you have the right midwife. However, it is important to be prepared for any emergency that might occur, so following these three steps is important. Then, you'll know what to do in the event that something goes wrong. Doctors like George L Stankevych MD can provide more information about home births and the necessary preparations.
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