Who can do home birth and other common questions

Home birth is one that occurs at home, usually chosen by women who seek a more welcoming and intimate environment to have their baby. However, it is essential that this type of delivery is done with excellent prenatal planning and with the monitoring of a medical team, to ensure the health care of the mother and baby.

In addition, it should be remembered that childbirth at home is not recommended for all women, as there are situations that contraindicate it, such as diabetic, hypertensive or twin pregnancy women, as they are at higher risk of complications during childbirth.

It is also important to remember that, despite the convenience and comfort of home, some studies show that home birth increases the risk of death for the baby, since it is a less prepared place to offer care in case of any type of complication. Labor and the birth of the baby can be unpredictable. For this reason, most doctors are against home birth, especially those without medical assistance.

Let's clarify some of the main doubts on this topic:

1. Can any pregnant woman deliver at home?

No. Home birth can only be done by healthy pregnant women, who have had full prenatal care and who have gone into labor naturally. As a way to protect the health of the baby and the woman, home birth is not recommended if the pregnant woman presents the following situations:

• High blood pressure, pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes or any other condition that causes a high-risk pregnancy due to diseases such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney, hematological or neurological diseases; Having had a previous cesarean section or other types of surgery in the uterus; pregnancy of twins; baby in a sitting position; any type of infection or sexually transmitted disease; suspected malformation or congenital disease of the baby; anatomical changes in the pelvis, such as narrowing.

These situations increase the risk of complications during childbirth, and it is not safe to do this outside the hospital environment.

2. How is the delivery team composed?

The delivery team at home should be composed of an obstetrician, nurse and a pediatrician. Some women choose to deliver only with doulas or obstetric nurses, however, it should be understood that, if there is any complication during delivery, there will be a longer delay in receiving first medical care, and time is crucial during a emergency.

3. How much does home delivery cost? Is there free?

Home birth is not covered by SUS, therefore, women who wish to do so need to hire a team specialized in this type of delivery.

To hire a home delivery team, the cost can be, on average, between 15 and 20 thousand reais, which varies according to the location and the amount charged by the professionals involved.

4. Is it safe to deliver at home?

It is true that, in most cases, normal birth happens naturally and without any type of intervention. However, it is important to remember that any delivery, even in healthy women, can evolve with some type of complication, such as difficulties in contraction and uterine dilation, true knot in the umbilical cord, changes in the placenta, fetal distress, uterine rupture or uterine hemorrhage.

Thus, being at home during childbirth, if there are any of these complications, will delay the start of care that could save the life of the mother or baby, or prevent the baby from being born with sequelae, such as cerebral palsy.

5. How does home birth happen?

Home birth is similar to normal hospital delivery, however, the mother will be in her bed or in a special bathtub. Labor usually lasts between 8 and 12 hours, and during this period the pregnant woman must eat light foods, such as whole foods, cooked fruits and vegetables.

During the procedure, it is necessary to have clean material, such as disposable sheets or garbage bags, in addition to a clean and heated environment to receive the baby.

6. Is it possible to receive anesthesia?

Anesthesia is not performed during childbirth at home, as this is a type of procedure that must be done in a hospital environment.

7. What is done if there are any complications during delivery?

It is important that the medical team responsible for home birth has materials available to be used in case of any type of complication, such as bleeding or delay in leaving the baby. Thus, there should be suture threads, local anesthetic, forceps or resuscitation material for the baby, if necessary.

However, if there is a more serious complication, such as hemorrhage or fetal distress, it is necessary that the pregnant woman and the baby be transferred immediately to the hospital.

8. Is it possible to have a humanized delivery without being at home?

Yes. Nowadays many hospitals have humanized delivery programs, in a very welcoming environment for the mother and baby, with a team specialized in this type of delivery.