and assist laboring women in hospital and home births. A doula may help identify risk factors and impending difficulties in an unassisted delivery.
The AAP also cites evidence that home-based delivery has doubled or tripled infant mortality in the U.S. Dan Brennan, a Santa Barbara-based board-certified pediatrician, says that although the pandemic has affected some people’s hospital birth plans, safety is still paramount.
“Even with coronavirus, groups like the AAP still believe that hospitals and certified birth centers remain the safest venues for U.S. deliveries,” says Dr. Brennan. “More parents are considering delivery choices amid coronavirus outbreaks. Medical resources may become scarce in certain locations. Consider how long first responders may arrive if a baby is delivered at home and needs rapid medical assistance.”
If you’re not at a hospital or birthing center, aid may not arrive in time if you or your baby need it.
Is Freebirthing Legal In The United States?
In every state, pregnant women may give birth without medical assistance. Unassisted delivery is risky, according to many birth specialists.
After home-birthing stillborn infants, moms have been charged with murder. Most of these incidents are considered government overreach and controlling pregnant people’s bodies. Yet, they nevertheless matter when choosing where to give birth.
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How To Plan For A Safe Home Birth
Despite the concerns, pregnant women may take precautions to make their home birth as safe as possible for both mom and baby. Dr. Brennan states that the AAP or ACOG does not recommend planned home birth. “They acknowledge that women may choose home delivery. The AAP and ACOG recommend that midwives be American Midwifery Certification Board-certified and fulfill the International Confederation of Midwives Global Standards for Midwifery Education.”
Instead of giving birth an hour from a hospital, arranging your delivery close to a hospital so that aid is available if issues emerge is a crucial first step. Preparing for an unassisted delivery should include neonatal resuscitation lessons.
Pregnant women must see a doctor to be safe. Understanding labor’s phases, symptoms, and signs is crucial. Preparing for an unassisted delivery requires understanding how the body operates during labor. Online research and education materials are vital. A nurse-midwife or O.B. may provide prenatal care even with an unassisted delivery.