Problem: Article: The first step in planning a safe and successful home birth is to select a qualified healthcare professional to work with. Normally this is a midwife; however, it can also be a family doctor. It is important that whomever you choose as your healthcare professional for the home birth has hospital privileges at a hospital nearby, or connections with physicians who can help should an emergency occur. It is also key that you and the midwife or family physician that you choose have compatible views on how you see the birth proceeding, the type and quantity of prenatal care that will be received, and how any emergency situations will be handled. Most people will choose a location in their home; the one caveat is that the location should ideally be within 15 minutes of a hospital that has 24-hour maternity care. This is because, in the small chance that an emergency should occur requiring additional hospital care, it is important to be able to get there promptly and also for the care to be accessible at any time of the day or night. Assuming that you are having the birth at home, choose a room that feels like a good fit for you. Consider whether or not you want a water birth, and discuss the pros and cons of this with your midwife or physician. Ask your midwife or doula (a professional labor assistant) to bring sheets or towels to cover the bed or floor where you are having the birth. You should also make sure you have immediate access to reliable transportation. It is important to think about who you want to have present for your baby, in addition to the healthcare professional (normally the midwife). Think about the role you want the father or your partner (if you have one) to play, and which other family members or friends, if any, you want to have present. If you want additional support during the labor process, you can consider hiring a doula. A doula is a professional labor assistant who can be there to support you throughout the entire process. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends having at least one person present who is trained to assess the health and wellbeing of your newborn upon birth. You should also book a follow-up appointment with a pediatrician (a medical specialist) a few days following the birth in order for your baby to receive a complete medical check-up. Having a child can be a painful experience, yet women have a variety of opinions and personal preferences as to how they would ideally like to handle the pain. Think about your own personal views and beliefs, and talk to your midwife or doctor about the type of pain control strategies you would like to use during your home birth. Some women opt for no pain control. Women have been birthing naturally for decades, so it is possible to do it without medication; however, it is recommended to discuss a back-up plan with your physician, in case the pain becomes too much to handle. Some examples of pain medications you can consider include Entonox (nitrous oxide, or "laughing gas"), and pethidine (Demerol). Note that epidurals are not available in the home setting. An epidural is a commonly used method of pain control in the hospital setting (where anesthesia is administered directly into the spinal cord); however, the procedure must be performed by a licensed anesthesiologist (a medical specialist), so women birthing at home do not have access to it. Strategies for pain control without using medications include hypnotherapy, warm water, choosing comfortable positions, practicing relaxation strategies, using a birth ball, distracting yourself, receiving a massage, trying aromatherapy, or using heat on your tummy or back. It is important to be well-prepared and to know what to expect going into a home birth. The midwife (or physician) serving as your healthcare provider will regularly measure your temperature, your heart rate, and your blood pressure, as well as your baby's heart rate, as a means to monitor how the birth is progressing. Make sure you have covered all the details of how you hope the birth will proceed well before you go into labor. This includes confirming the location of the birth, who you want present as your support team, strategies to handle the pain, expected time frames and details about each stage of labor, and how any complications will be handled should they arrive (including knowing the location of the nearest hospital with 24 hour maternity care).
Summary: Select a midwife or other qualified individual to guide you through the home birth. Select a location for the birth. Choose your support team. Decide how you want to manage your pain. Create a birth plan.

Problem: Article: Keep your hips steady instead of rocking them forward. Imagine you're sitting back on an invisible chair as you land. Your bent legs will continue to absorb the shock of your landing, saving your joints from injury. You always want the balls of your feet to hit the ground first. Your heels will come down after the balls of your feet land. Lean forward and touch the ground in front of you with your palms splayed. Your arms will take some of the shock of the landing, and put you in position for your next move.
Summary: Keep your hips back. Bend your legs 90 degrees. Come down feet first. Put your arms out in front of you, with open palms.

Problem: Article: Exposing the wine to air before serving is one of the primary purposes of a decanter. A wide neck decanter will give your wine more exposure and bring out more flavors within your wine. Because you'll be able to taste more, wide neck decanters are great for making young wines taste complex. Wide neck decanters are also better for cheap wines, as aeration will make the wine taste richer. Generally, wide neck decanters are easier to clean. Because a narrow neck lets less air in, thin neck decanters are not as good at aerating wine. They are, however, much better at sifting out sediment. For expensive, aged wines, thin neck decanters offer a cleaner flavor. Thin necked decanters often come with a special brush for cleaning. Decanters in odd shapes can make it challenging to pour without dripping. You don't want to stain any counters or waste expensive wine. Decanters with mouths wider than their neck will make for mess-free pouring. Decanters with wide middles give the wines room to aerate before serving. After a wine has been stored in a bottle for several years, it takes time to aerate. In decanters with a narrow surface area, the wine will take much longer to react with air and bring out its flavors. Decanters with the most surface area in the middle will need around an hour to achieve its ideal aroma and taste. To speed up the decanting process, swirl the wine around so it receives more air.
Summary: Choose a wide neck decanter for ideal aeration. Buy a thin neck decanter to separate the sediment out of the wine. Pick a wine decanter with a wide mouth for easy pouring. Select a decanter with a broad middle to speed up aeration.

Problem: Article: You're going to be changing the appearance of your wood with a solution of warm water and baking soda. After the solution is mixed, you'll apply it to your wood with a paintbrush, allow it to dry, and then you can stain the wood if you desire. All things considered, for this project you'll need: A container (for your weathering solution) A paintbrush Baking soda Wood Wood staining (recommended; optional) Since you've only applied a single coat to your wood, it shouldn't take too long for it to dry. In most climates, 10 minutes should be enough for your wood to be ready for staining, though in humid regions this may take longer. If your wood is taking longer to dry than you'd like, you can use a hair dryer to dry it more quickly. Observe your wood closely at this point. If it is not as weathered as you wanted, you should apply another coat of your weathering solution and allow it to dry again.
Summary:
Collect your weathering supplies. Allow the wood to dry.