Your friend Min Yan is currently pregnant and attempting to learn about common birth complications and/or whether or not homebirth is a good option for her. She is 25 years old, in good health, and expecting her first child. Help her by first describing two birth complications and then discuss why a home delivery may be a viable option in her case.

As the name says, home birth is one that is performed at home and not in the hospital environment. This type of delivery is risky for the health of the mother and baby, because during the birth process something can go wrong and inside the house you will not have the equipment and medicines needed to control any problems. In addition, the cleanliness of a home may not be as efficient as a hospital one, causing one to expose the mother and baby to infections that can be fatal.

Among the main risks of this type of delivery are: placental retention, hemorrhage, uterine rupture, rupture of the cervix and laceration of fragile parts of the body, for women. On the other hand, babies can suffer from a lack of oxygenation which can trigger cerebral aralysis and other complications. All of these problems can be managed at the hospital.

Home birth is not a recommended practice, however, if the woman wishes to do so, she is healthy and does not have a risky pregnancy, the chances of complications are less.