Why It’s Important to Give Birth in a Health Facility

Pregnancy is definitely not easy. Growing a baby in your body takes a toll on every woman’s health and body. The risk is the greatest, of course, during delivery. Unforeseen circumstances might arise which is why it is crucial to give birth at a health facility with skilled health professionals, like doctors, nurses, midwives, present to ensure the safety of the mother and the baby.

Here are some advantages of giving birth at a health facility are:

• You are sure that you will be giving birth in a clean delivery area.
• It will prevent you and your baby from having infections since you are sure that the instruments used are sterilized.
• Skilled health professionals will be able to perform essential interventions, start treatment, and manage basic complications.
• Skilled health professionals will also know when it’s time to be referred to comprehensive emergency care in case the complication gets serious.
• Skilled health professionals will be able to recognize and manage if upon delivery your baby shows signs of complications like difficulty in breathing.
• It is very important for protecting your newborn baby’s health since the majority of infant deaths occur during delivery or in the first 48 hours of life. Having skilled professionals present will ensure that your baby can be monitored and taken care of.
• In a health facility, skilled health professionals will also be able to teach and assist you on how to take care of your baby, and how to properly breastfeed them.
  You would be able to seek assistance on what family planning method you should use.

A lot of possible scenarios could happen when you give birth. It might go off smoothly, but a lot of complications might also arise, some of them are:

• Labor that does not progress. If labor is not progressing, a skilled health professional may give the woman medications to increase contractions and speed up labor, or the can perform a cesarean delivery if necessary.
• Postpartum Hemorrhage or heavy bleeding after giving birth.
• Perinatal Asphyxia or when the fetus does not get enough oxygen during labor, delivery, or after birth.
• Problems with the umbilical cord. It may get caught on an arm or leg as the infant travels through the birth canal.
• Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. High blood pressure can be dangerous for both the mother and baby, it can cause serious complications during pregnancy and delivery.

With all these complications which can possibly happen, it is not advisable to give birth at home. In order to be prepared for every possible scenario and to receive the quality maternal and baby care that you and your baby deserve, it is definitely a must for you to give birth in a health facility where skilled health professionals are present. It will not only reduce the chances of maternal mortality, you and your baby will also be more comfortable and well taken care of.

If you need maternal care (prenatal, delivery, postnatal), you can search for doctors, birthing homes and hospitals near you by using our HEALTH FACILITY LOCATOR. Simply input your location, then select “Maternal Care Services”  and click on the search button. The results will show the maternal care clinics within a 10 kilometer radius from your location.