Following the birth of her second son, Rica Peralejo recently took to social media to explain the reason why she chose home birth over being monitored at the hospital.
On 15 June, the actress published a long post on Instagram saying that she has received a lot of comments of concerns from netizens, who mentioned how dangerous a home birth is and how her post might motivate other mothers to do the same without ample information.
She wrote, “Let’s begin with my goal from the beginning, that which is to have a vaginal birth after caesarean [VBAC]. I am a good candidate as my last birth via CS was five years ago. Did I always plan to do the birth at home? No, but I was very clear to want to labor at home. Why? Because I couldn’t handle the feeling in the hospital. When I last labored there, I felt uncomfortable and had difficulty listening to my body.”
Peralejo stated that she sought an OB/GYN who supported VBAC, and that the latter supported her plan and offered to lend her Doppler to monitor her baby as she gave birth at home. She also found herself a midwife that could monitor her vital statistics while she was in labour.
She continued, “As the pregnancy was progressing, and I was preparing for labor at home, I thought what if I actually give birth at home? But talking to my doula helped clarify my thoughts. That we can have home, hospital, water or dry birth, it really all depends on how
I fare as the due date is nearing. We need to be sure that I was fit and healthy, and no complications like bleeding or low amniotic fluid or any placenta complications to achieve the gentle VBAC I was after.”
Peralejo stressed that she went for her checkups and scans with her doctor as scheduled, and spent a lot of time meditating as well.
Finally, the actress added that while there are risks involved in home births, the same can also be said about delivering in the hospital. (Hive asia)
(Photo Source: Peralejo Bonifacio Instagram)