If you’re looking for information on how to have an unassisted home birth, you should know that there are technically two ways that you can have an unassisted home birth: by deliberately planning to give birth at home without any assistance, or by accidentally giving birth at home without assistance.
More from Mom.com: What to Know About Having a Home Birth
What is an unassisted home birth?
Should you have an unassisted home birth?
The official stance of ACOG is that hospitals and accredited birth centers are the safest settings for birth, so they do not support unassisted home birth. However, the organization notes that “each woman has the right to make a medically informed decision about delivery” for herself.
If you do choose a home birth, ACOG also encourages women to be informed of the leading ways that birth outcomes can be improved. They recommend that when choosing a home birth, women and their birthing teams adhere to the following strategies:
- Make sure they are an appropriate candidate for a home birth (this means that your baby is in the correct, head-down position, that you are not having twins or multiples, and that you have not had any prior C-sections)
- Use a certified nurse-midwife or midwife who meets the licensure requirements set forth by the International Confederation of Midwives’ Global Standards for Midwifery Education
- Have availability to work with an OB-GYN willing to give fast consultation, if and when necessary
- Ensure quick and available transport to a hospital in the event of an emergency
Choosing to have an unassisted home birth is something that you should carefully consider. Be sure to weigh the potential benefits and risks to both you and your baby. While some women are able to have unassisted home births safely, there are serious risks to be considered before choosing if this option is right for you. If you do choose to have an unassisted home birth, you should still be sure to have a birth partner who is aware of your choice and will help you in the event of an emergency.
