Am I Low Risk? Is home birth really safe for me?
Curious what makes a woman low-risk? Anxious about whether you are a good candidate for home birth? Complete the short self-assessment below to find out.
1. I am under the age of 44*.
2. I am not currently managing insulin dependent diabetes, epilepsy, or on dialysis.
3. My baseline health is within normal limits. Chronic conditions such as hypothyroidism are under control.
4. I want to be an active participant in my health care.
If you answered yes to all of these questions you are a good candidate for home birth. Health conditions can change at any point and occasionally a woman begins her pregnancy low-risk and becomes higher risk over the course of care. Such a change may require transfer of care to a hospital based setting. If you answered no to any of these questions, you may still be able to have a natural birth in the hospital. Please contact us for information on doula services.
*While certain risks do increase for women over the age of 35 (such as delivering a child with Down's Syndrome), the development of such issues can be identified through routine screening. As a result, women over 35 are still excellent candidates for home birth.
2. I am not currently managing insulin dependent diabetes, epilepsy, or on dialysis.
3. My baseline health is within normal limits. Chronic conditions such as hypothyroidism are under control.
4. I want to be an active participant in my health care.
If you answered yes to all of these questions you are a good candidate for home birth. Health conditions can change at any point and occasionally a woman begins her pregnancy low-risk and becomes higher risk over the course of care. Such a change may require transfer of care to a hospital based setting. If you answered no to any of these questions, you may still be able to have a natural birth in the hospital. Please contact us for information on doula services.
*While certain risks do increase for women over the age of 35 (such as delivering a child with Down's Syndrome), the development of such issues can be identified through routine screening. As a result, women over 35 are still excellent candidates for home birth.
