Take a tour of a midwife’s kitbag
So home birth can be a new, strange concept for many internationals living in the Netherlands, where midwifery is designed around the concept that birth in a natural process and medical intervention is needed only when it is needed! Coming from a more medicalised country, this approach can seem old-fashioned, maybe even unsafe? Having a baby AT HOME?!! Are you crazy?!
Hopefully if you’ve listened to anything we’ve said, you will be able to wax lyrical about why your home has a major part to play in the process of birth, and why home is a very real and safe option for a woman with an uncomplicated pregnancy to birth in. However, there may remain some uncertainty about what we can do if something goes wrong? So in order to reassure you (and your families!), I have filmed a tour of my kitbag to share with you.
Just remember, birth wherever you feel most comfortable, and know that a home birth is every bit as safe as a hospital birth in low risk pregnancies – especially in the Netherlands where our whole system is built on the physiology of birth and midwives are specialised and supported to work this way.
The wonderful midwife researcher Sara Wickham has gathered a number of resources for expectant parents to help with decision making, you can find her resource page for home birth here.
Stay safe and cool in these soaring temperatures!
Elinor
Leave a Reply