10 Simple Steps for Emergency Home Birth Preparedness

10 Simple Steps for Emergency Home Birth Preparedness - Mention the words helping to deliver a baby at home and a version of this famous quote from "Gone With the Wind" is likely to spring up. "I don't know nothin 'bout birthin' no babies!" The thought can cause the bravest of us to tremble in fear. The most important thing to remember is birth is a very natural process and it happens all the time. The following ten steps will help you be prepared should you need to assist with an emergency home birth.

1. Call 911 and unlock the doors.

2. Remain calm and reassure Mom.

3. Prepare a place for delivery using clean towels, sheets, blankets or even clean newspapers.

4. Position Mom on her side or propped on pillows and take off pants and underwear.

5. The time immediately prior to delivery is known as the transitional phase of labor and it is normal for Mom to feel panicky, anxious and overwhelmed. It is important for you to assist Mom to stay calm and focused.

6. Wash your hands with soap and water and put on gloves if available. Guide baby out as gently as possible. Never pull on the baby or the umbilical cord! If the cord is around the baby's neck loosen and slip over the baby's head or loosen enough for the rest of the baby to slip through. Do not cut or tie off the cord.

7. Dry the baby and if the cord is long enough place the baby on Mom's tummy next to the breast and cover both with a blanket. Ease the mucus or amniotic fluid from baby's nostrils by gently running your fingers down the sides of baby's nose. If within 30 seconds baby has not cried spontaneously, rub baby's back with a towel or flick baby's heels gently. If baby is not breathing do mouth to mouth by GENTLY blowing into the baby's mouth.

8. Try to get the baby to begin nursing as this will release oxytocin (a hormone which causes the uterus to contract) which will help the placenta to release and control bleeding. If baby won't nurse then manually stimulating Mom's nipples will also cause the release of oxytocin.

9. After the delivery of the placenta, every 15 minutes rub Mom's belly right below the navel to keep the uterus contracted. Make sure to keep the placenta, touching it as little as possible.

10. Congratulations you were just an active participant in the miracle of birth.

Remember this is only to help you prepare for an emergency unassisted delivery at home, this is not intended to take the place of proper medical care. Birth is hard to control and can happen at the most unusual times so be ready, calm, and optimistic.