However, rural communities remained isolated from modern facilities and midwives took the place by the mother-to-be side at the time to give birth arrived. Today, midwives are professional health care providers, qualified and accredited by medical boards.



This is the result of an every day more common trend: giving birth at home. Whatever the reason many women prefer to stay at home, often attended by a midwife.

There is no place like home, and that saying takes the right place when pregnancy comes to end. The comfort of your home will reduce the tension of labor, thus facilitating delivery if you are a pregnant woman in good health and without previous miscarriages or pregnancy complications.

Hospitals are committed to bringing you the ultimate technology experience, and their services are useful if your gynecologist has determined that you will need medical assistance during the childbirth process, but the cold atmosphere of a hospital room can never be compared with your bedroom.

Any expectant mother has the right to decide where she wants to give birth, and if you decide to try this option, speak to your doctor to find out if it is viable in your particular case. If the answer is "yes", plan childbirth by keeping in mind a few notes.

Firstly, decide who will be your attendant, even though there are gynecologists willing to assist you at home, they are very rare, so it is more likely that you are looking at a nurse or certified midwife, although there are many naturopathic physicians trained for this task as well.

Take some time to check the attendant background and qualifications, then schedule an interview and ask all what you need to know, including number of births attended and the names of a few persons you can talk with for references.

No matter what you gynecologist predicts, consider any eventual complication. Make sure that the person who will attend you is familiar to emergency procedures and has the appropriate equipment in case of postpartum hemorrhage, the need to resuscitate a newborn, or any other unexpected medical event.

Emergencies simply occur, so hiring a practitioner who is in touch with a physician or hospital could be handy, otherwise plan ahead of time with him or her, where you will be taken in case of needed medical assistance.

Having at hand an oxygen tank and oxygen masks, in addition to suturing materials and IV fluids is always important. Probably none of these materials will be used after giving birth, but this equipment will reduce your anxiety especially if this is your first home birthing.

Remember to check your insurance coverage, because many plans will not cover home birthing. If everything goes okay, you can give birth in your own home, that of your parents, your best friend, or in a home close to a hospital or the physician who keeps your medical history records.