Born Before Arrival: What Should You Do?

A small number of babies each year (less than one percent) are “born before arrival.” For planned hospital births, this means the baby is born before arrival at the hospital. For home births, it means the baby arrives before the midwife.

It is very unlikely that this will happen to you, but there’s no harm in being prepared just in case. Bad weather, bad traffic and a short labour are all reasons why some babies are born before arrival. If unexpected circumstances mean your baby is going to be born before arrival, here’s what you need to do:

1. Stay calm – ok, easier said than done. This may not be happening in accordance with your carefully researched birth plan, but it is happening. It’s important to stay calm during labour, so concentrate on your breathing and try not to panic.

2. Call your healthcare provider and tell him or her what’s happening. Once you’re off the phone, call 911 and they will probably send some paramedics to your location. The operator will stay on the phone and will talk you, or whoever is with you, through what to do next.

3. If you are at home, leave the door unlocked so the paramedics can let themselves in.

4. To try and delay labour, you can try kneeling on all fours with your bottom in the air and your head pillowed on your forearms on the floor. However, this doesn’t always work. Follow your instincts, your body should tell you when to push and slow down. Try to stay calm and follow any urges to push.

5. You will be able to tell when the baby’s head is out. Feel down and gently check to see if the cord is wrapped around your baby’s neck. If it is, gently pull the cord over baby’s head. However, if the cord feels tight, leave it and you can deal with it once the baby has been born. Once the head is out, you will probably meet your baby after the next contraction.

6. Pull your baby straight to your chest and allow skin contact to warm the baby up. If you have one to hand, use a clean towel to dry the baby, this should stimulate your baby’s breathing. Keep your baby close and place a blanket over you both for warmth. Leave the cord intact and wait for the paramedics to arrive.

7. If the paramedics have not arrived when your third stage contractions start, you may need to deliver the placenta too. Follow your natural urges to push during contractions, and leave the cord intact once the placenta is delivered.

8. If you haven’t yet, and are planning to, try to feed your baby. By holding your baby to your chest for skin to skin, you may find that your baby latches on by himself.

An unplanned delivery can be a shock, but try to stay calm and remember, you can do this. The paramedics will arrive soon to help, but in the meantime you can do this.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Five Reasons to Consider a Home Birth

Less than one percent of women in the US give birth at home. It’s not an option for everyone; only women having low risk pregnancies will be given the go ahead to have a home birth. Some women hate the thought of giving birth at home, but if you are curious about this option, here are five reasons to consider a home birth:

You’ll feel completely at home – this may sound obvious, but it’s important to be relaxed and calm during pregnancy. Some women find the car journey to the hospital stressful, and feel out of their comfort zone when confronted with the bright lights on the busy delivery ward. Of course, some women feel much more at ease in a hospital setting than they would at home. If you think staying at home would help to keep you relaxed and focused during the birth, you may want to consider a homebirth.
It’s not a medical setting – if you’re worried about interventions such as episiotomies, cesarean sections and forceps, you might find that taking yourself out of a medical setting puts you at ease. Of course, birth is unpredictable and some women do get transferred into hospital during a planned home birth because they require medical assistance. However, research has found that women who have home births are less likely to have interventions.
You can share the experience – most delivery wards will have a limit on the number of people you can have present at the birth. At your own home, you get to lay down the law about visitors. If you would like to have your existing children present to welcome their new sibling, or your parents as well as your partner, you may prefer to give birth at home. That way, you’ll have room to accommodate everyone.
You have more room to stay active – if you want to stay active during labour, and try a few different positions to help the baby move down the birth canal, you may prefer birthing at home. You’ll have the room to move about, as well as furniture to use to help you into position. You can hire birthing pools, jump in the bath, lean from doors, and squat over beds. You can take a walk round the garden, walk sideways up and downstairs, and try bellydancing to help your baby get into position.
You’ll be home when it’s over – once it’s all over, you can immerse yourself in a lovely warm bath in the comfort of your own home. Then it’s just a few short steps and you’ll be snuggled up in your own bed. No hospital gowns, IVs or strangers in sight.

If you would like to have a home birth, speak to your healthcare provider at your next appointment. Not all women are suitable candidates to give birth at home, but your healthcare provider is best placed to advise you on this.

Are you considering a home birth?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.