Transcript
As nurse midwives report increasing interest in home births, pediatricians are releasing new guidelines.
Recent studies have found pregnant women do not have a higher risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19.
Despite that, many expectant mothers are concerned about coming in contact with sick people inside a hospital.
So the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for planned home births.
The guidelines say pregnant women are considered eligible for home births if they had no pre-existing disease.
That includes diabetes or high blood pressure.
The AAP also recommends that the best home birth candidates are carrying only one fetus and are at least 37 weeks pregnant.
On the positive side of home births, women are less likely to have C-sections and often have shorter labor.
But there can be increased risks for the baby.
If there’s an emergency, response times can be longer because of the pandemic.
Some doctors argue it’s safer now to have a baby in a hospital because of COVID-19.
But the updated guidelines are an indicator planned home births may become more common.
Posted – 4.21.20