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<h2 class="p1">Safety First</h2>
<p class="p1"><span style="color: #cc99ff;">“Birth is as safe as life gets.” Many studies have shown home birth to be as safe if not safer than hospital birth.</span></p>
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<h2><strong>Is having a home birth safe?<a href="http://sweetarrivalsmidwifery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-Shot-2015-05-30-at-10.32.16-PM.png"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-2587 alignright" src="http://sweetarrivalsmidwifery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-Shot-2015-05-30-at-10.32.16-PM-200x300.png" alt="Screen Shot 2015-05-30 at 10.32.16 PM" width="200" height="300" /></a></strong></h2>
When fewer interventions are used in birth, the result is fewer complications. There is less chance of infection, intervention, hemorrhage and tearing in a home birth. There is more likely to be a relaxed, peaceful birth leading to bonding and a sense of empowerment and well being. Breastfeeding rates are higher and babies are breastfed longer with the support of a midwife. Overall satisfaction with the birth is greater. For low-risk women, having your baby at home is safe.

We, as midwives, were specifically trained to care for low-risk women during the NATURAL process of birth. We are experts in normal and therefore recognize when mother or newborn fall outside of normal parameters. If at any time, during pregnancy or labor, you are no longer in the category of low-risk, you will be referred to a physician who can care for you.

With Sweet Arrivals Midwifery there are two licensed midwives, allowing for two sets of hands to handle any emergency that may arise. We both stay current at all times in Neonatal Resuscitation and feel confident in that skill. We bring oxygen and resuscitation equipment, anti-hemorrhage medicine, catheters, suturing material and all the equipment needed to handle an emergency situation. If we need to go to the hospital, we will notify the hospital and accompany you there, staying with you until after the baby is born as your support people.

The World Health Organization has said there is no proof that a hospital birth is safer than a home birth with a trained attendant. Most of the research on home births in developed countries shows that with a trained attendant the infant and maternal mortality rates are the same as hospital births, if not better. There is, also, a significant reduced chance of cesarean section, induction of labor and the need for vacuum or forceps.
<h2><strong><a href="http://sweetarrivalsmidwifery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-05-31-at-9.45.13-AM.png"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2608" src="http://sweetarrivalsmidwifery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-05-31-at-9.45.13-AM-199x300.png" alt="Screen Shot 2015-05-31 at 9.45.13 AM" width="199" height="300" /></a>Benefits of giving birth at home</strong></h2>
<ul>
	<li>You are in your own home, with the comforts it provides, no need to drive anywhere. This helps promote further relaxation.</li>
	<li>Your midwives are there only for you, you are not sharing your care provider with others in labor.</li>
	<li>Continuity of care with those you developed a relationship with prenatally, ease of communication and questions or concerns thoroughly addressed.</li>
	<li>You have control of who is at your birth- your caregivers, family, friends or just your partner.</li>
	<li>You have control of your actions, you are not only allowed, but are encouraged to eat, drink, move freely, make noise, shower, bathe, ect.</li>
	<li>Only your germs are present at your home, lowering the risk of infection.</li>
	<li>Reduced risk of cesarean section</li>
	<li>Increase in overall satisfaction in birth- feeling empowered and greater bonding for whole family</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Specific benefits to the baby</strong></h2>
<ul>
	<li>No separation of mother and baby</li>
	<li>Enhanced boding for whole family</li>
	<li>Delayed cord clamping</li>
	<li>Decreased risk of infection</li>
	<li>Reduced chance of birth trauma</li>
	<li>Newborn exam occurs on bed near mother when family is ready</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong><a href="http://sweetarrivalsmidwifery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-05-31-at-9.46.59-AM.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2609" src="http://sweetarrivalsmidwifery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-05-31-at-9.46.59-AM-300x224.png" alt="Screen Shot 2015-05-31 at 9.46.59 AM" width="300" height="224" /></a>Who is a good candidate for a home birth?</strong></h2>
Any woman who is healthy is a good candidate for a home birth. Age, nor having either your first nor tenth baby does not rule you out for having a home birth. A healthy lifestyle, including good nutrition and some exercise are important as well as a positive attitude and belief in your body. Midwifery care helps support and maintains this health during your pregnancy. It can be a great time for growth and transformation as you become a parent.
<h2><strong>Internet resources on safety of home birth:</strong></h2>
<ul>
	<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Home Births Are Safe</span>
<a href="http://www.mothersnaturally.org/resources/CPM2000.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.mothersnaturally.org/resources/CPM2000.pdf</a> (PDF)<a href="http://www.mothersnaturally.org/resources/CPM2000.pdf" target="_blank">
</a><a href="http://cfmidwifery.org/Resources/item.aspx?ID=85" target="_blank">http://cfmidwifery.org/Resources/item.aspx?ID=85</a></li>
	<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a title="Making Normal Birth a Reality" href="http://www.mothersnaturally.org/pdfs/UKNormalBirthDocument.pdf" target="_blank">Making Normal Birth a Reality</a></span> (PDF)</li>
	<li><a title="Home Births in the United States, 1990–2009" href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db84.htm" target="_blank">Home Births in the United States, 1990–2009</a></li>
	<li id="page-title" class="highwire-cite-title"><a title="Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America" href="http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7505/1416.full?ehom" target="_blank">Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America</a></li>
	<li class="headline"><a title="10 facts on midwifery" href="http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/midwifery/en/" target="_blank">10 facts on midwifery</a></li>
</ul>
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