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Home births are on the rise during the pandemic — here's what the process is like

Yasmina Hatem,Lisa Desai,Taimy Alvarez,Richard Bardsley   

Home births are on the rise during the pandemic — here's what the process is like
Jessica Nixon and her husband Clive Vermaak are among the rising number of Americans giving birth at home rather than in a hospital.Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today
  • More and more Americans are opting to give birth at home instead of in a hospital.
  • Many soon-to-be parents prefer having family around during the delivery process — something hospitals aren't always allowing because of COVID-19 health guidelines.
  • We followed one Florida couple that chose to give birth at home and said they found the experience rewarding.

Giving birth at home felt like the only option for this couple back in May.

Giving birth at home felt like the only option for this couple back in May.
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

Before the coronavirus hit the US, Jessica Nixon and her husband Clive never considered having a midwife deliver their first child instead of a doctor. "At first we were very skeptical," Clive said.

Before the coronavirus hit the US, Jessica Nixon and her husband Clive never considered having a midwife deliver their first child instead of a doctor. "At first we were very skeptical," Clive said.
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

They're part of a growing number of Americans opting for home births.

They
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

"Prior to COVID, I would say I was receiving maybe a half a dozen calls a week, depending on the week," midwife Christa West said. "And when COVID hit, I was receiving that in one day. So it was a huge increase."

"Prior to COVID, I would say I was receiving maybe a half a dozen calls a week, depending on the week," midwife Christa West said. "And when COVID hit, I was receiving that in one day. So it was a huge increase."
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

It's 9 a.m., and Jessica's contractions have started. Their midwife, Gelena Hinkley, is here, helping them get prepared.

It
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

Hinkley and a birth assistant carry oxygen, resuscitation equipment, IV fluids, antibiotics, suture equipment, standard birth supplies, and herbs and homeopathic treatments.

Hinkley and a birth assistant carry oxygen, resuscitation equipment, IV fluids, antibiotics, suture equipment, standard birth supplies, and herbs and homeopathic treatments.
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

At home, Jessica can also have both her husband and her mom around — something many hospitals are no longer allowing because of the pandemic. "Having her there was a very important thing for me, and I wouldn't want to deprive her of that experience either," Jessica said.

At home, Jessica can also have both her husband and her mom around — something many hospitals are no longer allowing because of the pandemic. "Having her there was a very important thing for me, and I wouldn
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

The ability to have family present is one reason Hinkley said her birthing center, Peaceful Pregnancy Pathways, has received triple the inquiries it did at the same time last year. "They have genuine fears of that," she said.

The ability to have family present is one reason Hinkley said her birthing center, Peaceful Pregnancy Pathways, has received triple the inquiries it did at the same time last year. "They have genuine fears of that," she said.
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

But there are risks that come with home births. The death rates among babies born at home is twice the rate of those in hospitals. Between 23% and 37% of women attempting a home birth for the first time end up transferring to a hospital, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

But there are risks that come with home births. The death rates among babies born at home is twice the rate of those in hospitals. Between 23% and 37% of women attempting a home birth for the first time end up transferring to a hospital, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

"Ninety-nine percent of the time during a normal pregnancy and labor, everything goes just fine," obstetrics and gynecology specialist Nigel Spier said. "But in the instance where things are not going well, or you have an emergency that you have to deal with, time is really of the essence. And you don't really have a lot of wiggle room there to make quick decisions that need to be made to ensure that the safety and the health and the well-being of the mom and the baby."

"Ninety-nine percent of the time during a normal pregnancy and labor, everything goes just fine," obstetrics and gynecology specialist Nigel Spier said. "But in the instance where things are not going well, or you have an emergency that you have to deal with, time is really of the essence. And you don
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

Fifteen hours have passed since Jessica's contractions first started. Hinkley fills up the birthing pool that should help ease the pain.

Fifteen hours have passed since Jessica
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

"She's wanting a very natural process, and she wanted that from the beginning," Hinkley said. "That's kind of our philosophy as midwives, is really allowing the natural birth process to go and only stepping in when we see that it would help benefit mom or baby."

"She
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

"I want people to really understand how safe and normal it is to have a baby when you're a low-risk woman, and how trained a midwife is," Hinkley said. "I don't want it to have such a stigma on home births and only in an emergency. We're like the last resort — it shouldn't be that way."

"I want people to really understand how safe and normal it is to have a baby when you
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

By hour 30, Jessica's contractions indicated the baby was about to arrive.

By hour 30, Jessica
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

And at hour 36, he finally did.

And at hour 36, he finally did.
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

Baby Grayson is born without any complications.

Baby Grayson is born without any complications.
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

Hinkley takes his measurements and his weight and makes sure everything is just right. She'll continue to assess both mom and newborn for several hours after the birth.

Hinkley takes his measurements and his weight and makes sure everything is just right. She
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

"It's an emotional experience," Jessica said. "It's painful. It's, you know, a lot of a rush of emotions."

"It
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

But "nothing hurt" once the baby was born, she said. "All the pain went away immediately. Thirty-six hours of contractions every two to five minutes that lasts about a minute and a half — you know, all that out the window."

But "nothing hurt" once the baby was born, she said. "All the pain went away immediately. Thirty-six hours of contractions every two to five minutes that lasts about a minute and a half — you know, all that out the window."
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

"My takeaway from this experience was that it was it was amazing. And we got this little guy."

"My takeaway from this experience was that it was it was amazing. And we got this little guy."
Taimy Alvarez for Business Insider Today

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