Active Labor at Home? Why You Might Consider It + Dos and Don’ts.
I get asked about laboring at home all the time. Today we’re discussing why you might want to, and when you absolutely should not.
Best friend, I may be biased (y’all know I had two on-purpose home births with my girls, June and Maggie), but going to the hospital in labor is low-key probably the worst part of having a baby. Not the hospital itself… but the logistics of getting there…The drive, going through triage, getting settled in your room… timing all of this just right is… hard. Especially when being sent home if you’re not far enough along is an option.
In today’s episode, I’m discussing:
The benefits of laboring at home throughout active labor
Reasons why you should absolutely not labor at home
Things to consider plus dos and don’ts for laboring at home
When to head to the hospital if you want an epidural, and if you don’t (you’ll want to stay home longer if you’re planning to skip the epidural)
This episode is for you if you’re pregnant and working on your birth vision… how would you like your birthing day to unfold, in an ideal world? Does it include laboring at home?
Here’s a glance at this episode…
[4:22] Average length of labor for first time parents.
[5:10] What does “laboring at home” mean?
[6:35] When not to labor at home.
[11:50] Benefits of laboring at home.
[15:25] When to head to the hospital.
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Research mentioned in this episode:
Reduced use of epidurals, oxytocin, and increased maternal satisfaction
Reduced risk of cesarean delivery
