The trend of giving birth at home, is it really safe or not?

Lately, we have been presented with various views on the trend of childbirth. Not only normal and caesarean delivery, there are also gentle birth , water birth , until lotus birth . Each method of childbirth has its own pros and cons, so of course it comes back to the decision of each pregnant woman. In addition, not a few pregnant women prefer to give birth at home rather than in the hospital. So, is this method of delivery safe? Come on, find out through the following reviews.

Choosing to give birth at home, is it safe or not?

Home birth is one of the methods of childbirth that is being loved by pregnant women today. Simply put, home birth is the process of giving birth at home which is done by the decision of the pregnant mother herself. Water birth also included in this, because it is usually done at home.

This method of childbirth is claimed to make pregnant women calmer and more comfortable during childbirth. The calmer the feeling of the pregnant woman, the he said this can also reduce pain during childbirth. However, the next question is, is it safe to give birth at home?

Actually, the process of giving birth at home can run safely and smoothly as long as pregnant women do not experience certain complications. However, after all, the process of giving birth that is done at home is still more risky than giving birth in a hospital or birthing clinic.

This was conveyed by Dr. Budihardja Singgih, DTM & H, MPH, as Senior Government Advisor from USAID Jalin, when met by the Hello Sehat team in Kuningan, South Jakarta on Tuesday (18/12). workshop fronted by USAID Jalin. The doctor, who once served as Director General of Community Health at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, emphasized that the home birth process carries more risks.

"Every delivery has a risk of complications. If done at home, then of course it will be difficult to get help if at any time there are complications. So, it's better if it's safer at the nearest hospital or Puskesmas, "continued Dr. Budihardja.

The benefits and risks of giving birth at home

To date, home birth still triggers pros and cons with the benefits and risks it offers. The following are the benefits that pregnant women can get if they give birth at home:

1. Increase the intimacy of mother and baby. By giving birth at home, mothers can breastfeed their babies immediately. This can even prevent bleeding as well as provide more antibodies to the baby's body through breast milk.
2. Give birth in a comfortable way. Giving birth at home will take you away from the scary and painful impression of a hospital.
3. Close to the hospital. If complications occur, the mother can be immediately taken to the hospital.
4. Save cost. Of course, the cost of a home delivery will be much lower than that of a hospital delivery.

Risks of having a home birth

Although the benefits may seem tantalizing, giving birth at home also has risks that you need to be aware of.

As you already know, conditions in the house itself and in the hospital are certainly different. The hospital has more complete medical facilities and equipment than at home.

If later there will be complications or obstacle to childbirth, the doctor can take action to save the mother and the fetus. Meanwhile, if the delivery is done at home, this is certainly difficult to do. As a result, the safety of the mother and fetus is threatened.

That is why, even if the mother decides to give birth at home, she still needs assistance from a doctor, midwife, or doula. In addition, medical equipment such as oxygen cylinders, intravenous lines, or other medicines should also be prepared in case of a medical emergency.

The hope is that the delivery process can run smoothly so that the mother and baby are in good health and safety.

Consider this first before giving birth at home

Actually, every pregnant woman has the right to choose whatever delivery process she wants. However, this is of course also adjusted to the health conditions of the mother and fetus.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, you can only give birth at home with the following conditions:

• The mother is in good health and is not at risk of complications
• Want to reduce or even avoid episiotomy, epidurals, or other interventions
• Never had a cesarean delivery or preterm labor before
• Want to be able to give birth in the most comfortable position
• Feel more comfortable and calm if you give birth at home

This means that this method of childbirth should not be used for those of you who have diabetes, preeclampsia, or other high-risk medical conditions. Again, make sure you have permission from your obstetrician before deciding to have a home birth.

"According to the policy of the Ministry of Health (Ministry of Health), all deliveries must be done in a hospital or at least a first level health facility, namely the Puskesmas. So if there are complications, you can immediately be referred to the hospital. As long as there are more complete health facilities, it's best if you give birth in a hospital, "concluded Dr. Budihardja at the end of the interview.

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