If you plan on having a home birth for your child, then it is wise to work with an experienced midwife so you can safely make it through labor with a healthy baby. You should know that studies indicate that the vast majority of home births are successful with only about 5.2% of mothers who need to undergo a cesarean. Also, only around 1% of children need to be transferred to the hospital after a home birth. However, your midwife will be prepared for a variety of situations and complications. Keep reading to learn about a few of these complications and also find out what your midwife will do. This will help you to make sure that you are also prepared if a serious situation arises.
Breech Baby
If you have trouble bearing down and pushing while you are in active labor, then your midwife will likely look to see if the head or the buttocks are visible from the birth canal. If the buttocks or feet are visible, then you will be going through a breech birth. This is considered a complication because the head may become trapped near the pelvis with the umbilical cord pressing against the face. This is called cord compression. Additionally, the placenta may start to detach and contractions may become more forceful to help force the rest of your child out of the uterus. This can place pressure against your child's head.
If your midwife notices that your child is breech, then he or she will most likely assist with delivery to help reduce complication risks. Partial assistance is usually provided by maneuvering the arms and legs into a better position as you push normally. Once your child is delivered, your midwife will check to see if resuscitation is required due to cord compression. If so, the professional will clear the airway and then use a bag and mask to help your child start breathing. This is usually enough to stimulate your child's first breath. However, if stimulation is difficult, oxygen can be provided and your midwife will call for an ambulance. This is often a precautionary measure in case your child needs to be intubated. This may be required in rare cases if your child is too weak to breathe on their own.
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Postpartum hemorrhage is another complication that your midwife will prepare for. However, your bleeding risks will be low because the induction of labor, the completion of a cesarean, and the manipulation of the child during birth are all things that increase bleeding risks. All of these things are much more likely to happen in a hospital setting and not necessarily in your home. However, your midwife will monitor your vital signs and look for signs of bleeding after you give birth. If you are having a bleeding incident, then your midwife will be able to provide you with medication that can stop the bleeding. This medication, which is the same that the hospital will provide, is called a uterotonic drug. This drug causes the uterine muscles to contract to stop the bleeding.
If the uterotonic drugs do not work as well as they should, then fluids will be provided. Pressure may be placed on the uterus to help slow blood loss and help with clotting. If blood pressure drops or if you lose consciousness, then an ambulance will be called immediately to take you to the local hospital. Surgery may be required at this point and your midwife will be unable to complete any complicated medical procedures.
If you want a home birth, then it is extremely likely that the birth will be successful as long as your work with a dedicated midwife. The professional will prepare for complications like breech births and postpartum hemorrhaging to make sure that you are as safe as possible delivering in your own home. Visit websites like http://www.whallc.com for more information.
