That women have the right to choose how and where they want to give birth is not discussed. But the truth is that if you want to have a home birth instead of going to a hospital, you have to face the expenses on your own. Therefore, to defend the right to choose and guarantee equity, the Federation of Midwifery Associations of Spain (FAME) asks that public health finance home delivery.
They believe that women should be offered the possibility of having a childbirth at their own home, if they wish, and that the care be publicly funded, as they sent in a statement to the National Health System.
The model of other countries
Home birth is no longer seen as an extravagance in our country (or so I hope), but as an option that not all women have access for economic reasons, or for whatever reason, discard because they prefer to give birth in a hospital. Perhaps, if it were subsidized and there was more information about this type of birth, more women would be encouraged.
In other European countries, such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria or Denmark it is a fairly widespread practice and out-of-hospital delivery attended by health professionals is covered by Public Health.
Giving birth at home is safe
The main repair to hear about childbirth at home is the fear that something goes wrong, since any complication is more easily solvable in the hospital than at home. But the intimate and relaxed environment favors the development of labor, so in a pregnancy without risks, childbirth should occur without problems.
According to the investigations carried out, in the home delivery the unnecessary intervention rate is reduced, there is less trauma for the mother and the baby, the Apgar test score is higher, the use of analgesia is reduced, there is a lower incidence of postpartum depression, a better breastfeeding establishment and a better recovery for mother and baby.
Midwives base their request that giving birth at home is safe if accompanied by a competent professional and argue:
We support the desire of some women to give birth at home and, as endorsed by the research available in the field, we consider it an absolutely valid and safe option provided that they are attended by qualified midwives and the necessary conditions referenced in the Guidelines are met. and backed by scientific evidence
Home birth, increasingly valued
The truth is that in recent years this type of births has spread, in our blog we have talked and published videos of many of them. Home birth has increased by about 20% in recent years (Home birth has increased 20 percent in four years). More and more women decide to do it at home to avoid certain obstetric procedures such as induction or excessive instrumentalization.
Following the request of a group of people claiming the option of having a home birth supported by the Spanish Social Security, four years ago we have launched a survey on Babies and more to get to know your opinion about it. The result of the survey was that 73 percent of our readers believe that Social Security should cover home births.
The cost of home birth
Of course, the first thing we ask is if we are going to pay all home deliveries through the National Health System, is it more expensive to give birth at home than to give birth in the hospital?
Midwives say that financing "does not increase health spending" since its economic cost should not be higher than hospital birth, which if there are no complications usually have a cost of about 1,812 euros.
If a woman decides to give birth at home and pay privately for her home delivery, it is an expense she is not making in public health, to which she is entitled.
It would be great news that one day public health will finance home deliveries allowing the woman to choose how, where and with whom she wants to give birth to her baby. I would undoubtedly value it. What do you think?
)
