monitoring at homebirth:
not much different. I listen to the heartbeat generally about every hour to
make sure baby is still happy...more frequently as we get close to pushing.
Babies RARELY go from happy to really angry...they usually get grumpy
first...and it's part of my job to notice a grumpy baby and take appropriate
actions so that baby doesn't get really mad. (oversimplification, sure...but
you get the point)
nuchal cords:
over 1/3 of all babies are born with the cord around the neck. Rarely is it
ever an issue. When you get a cord wrapped 3, 4, 5 times around the neck it
can become a problem...not one of strangulation, but one that the baby can't
tuck their chin down to the chest (think "fat turtleneck") and that can make it
harder to birth them...
but again, a cord around the neck rarely presents a problem - and if it's
going to present a problem in labor it is our job to see that before it's an
issue.
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