Is a Home Birth Safe?
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Is a Home Birth Safe for Your Labor and Delivery?

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The coronavirus pandemic has propelled certain medical practices into the spotlight and has many expecting mothers wondering if a home birth is safe for their health and that of their babies. In many cases, it can be quite appropriate but making this decision requires the consideration of many factors and takes some extra planning.

Why Do Some Women Prefer Being at Home to a Hospital?

For many women a home birth is perfectly safe, and it provides them with a different experience from that of labor in a hospital. This is true even though your health care provider is monitoring your pulse, blood pressure, temperature and your baby’s heart rate periodically instead of continuously. 

Among the reasons some women prefer it include:

There are, of course, other reasons that many women want to experience a home birth, but those are among the most common.

When is a Home Birth Not Safe?

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there are some situations when it’s not considered safe to plan for a home birth. Hospitals are encouraged in the following circumstances:

Have a Backup Plan in Mind

It’s also recommended that you have a plan in place to head to a hospital even if it was initially deemed safe for you to have a home birth.  Your health care provider may recommend that you head to the hospital in certain circumstances such as: