I was reading my local news and stumbled across this article. It basically says that more babies born at home die than babies born in the hospital. Okay, this sounds logical but it also goes against all the "crunchy" moms who say otherwise. What do you think? Would you ever plan a home birth? Have you had a home birth?
I've read countless birth stories, including many many home birth stories....If I honestly thought I could get through the pain of my insides being torn in half (that's what it felt like for my 3.5 hours of labor) I would consider it.. but in my opinion, the epidural was the greatest medical advance EVER...so without being ugly and mean, how do you feel about homebirth and this new study?
**I think I should clarify some things** When I was pregnant with Dawson there was no way in hell I would ever even think that a home birth was a smart idea. I thought it was absolutely stupid. Babies should be born in hospitals b/c "if" something happens. I still feel that the absolute safest place to give birth is in a hospital with a NICU available for complications that may arise. However, I can totally understand why someone would homebirth now. How wonderful to be in a place that you are comfortable without the risk of interventions and medical staff everywhere you look. I'm not saying that hospital births are unpleasant. I feel like I had the best birth experience ever, in a hospital, with an epidural. I don't think birth experiences can get any more wonderful than mine was, but after doing some studying and research I can understand why some women would prefer to be at home. I even can understand why some women would want to have an unassisted birth. I would never ever make the choice to do that, but I also wouldn't homebirth b/c I do feel that a hospital is a safer option.
I guess what is so wonderful about this is that at least there are options!
5 comments:
I think home births are risky, here is why: My mom had planned on having an at home birth with me. But I was almost a month over due and the doctor decided it was just too risk good thing. Because during contractions by heart rate went to nothing and they did an emergency c-section and the cord was wrapped around my neck 3x and had my mom labored at home like she wanted to she would not have known I was in distress during contractions and likely I would have been still born from the lack of oxygen. I think home births are very risky and I think that, that is what modern medicine is for. To help you monitor both the mother and baby during labor. I also believe modern medicine can be too quick to jump with with "interventions" or c-sections which is why I found a doctor that was anti-intervention unless absolutely necessary. Thus my 54 hours of labor without a csection and resulting in a healthy baby.
I wanted to have a home birth but my cousin had a failed attempt at home birth 10 months before me. She wound up transporting to a hospital after 3 days of labor and had a healthy baby boy there. The doctors shamed her and treated her horribly even though she had a competent midwife with her who was monitoring her labor.
Hubby wouldn't have let me do it at home anyway. I don't think he wanted to deal with a laboring woman in pain. I'm not very nice when I'm in pain. :-)
I'm glad we didn't because H wound up going into the Nicu with a breathing issue that cleared up after a couple of days on oxygen but how scary if we had to rush to the ER with a home birthed baby who had breathing problems.
The second was a c-section but everything went fast because I was 3 weeks early.
I do know of sucessful home births and fully support them. I saw a video someone posted on our message board of an UNASSISTED home birth. Um, no thank you. Just you and your hubby and no expert on hand to tell you when it's time to push or when things get sketchy and you should go to the hospital?!? too chancey.
I'm always leary of this subject just because both sides can have very strong points. But I have to say I would never ever have a birth without being in a hospital. My best friend labored for 45 hours with very little monitoring at a very well know birthing center. Her pregnancy was picture perfect, she did everyting right from day one. Everything seemed great right after the birth, her daughter nursed right away but then began having seizures and stopped breathing. After months and months of waiting for a diagnosis it was decided she had Cerebral Palsey- most likely from a birth injury. Could it have been prevented with more monitoring? Could it have been prevented in a hospital setting? We'll never know. Even with the best case scenario pregnancy you just don't know what is going to happen. I for one am not willing to take that risk. Being in a hospital where things can be addressed immediately is soooo important to me- even if I have no reason to believe something bad will happen.
There are risks no matter where you birth. I would have to know MUCH more about this study before I could comment on it because to-date, every study has proven it's just as safe at home as in a hospital. Like they've recently discovered, all the monitoring that's done at hospitals actually leads to more harm than good. Way too many c-sections are performed because of a doctor's misinterpretation of the monitoring. But people also think that because you're at home, you're not monitored. Not the case at all. My friend had a homebirth and the heartrate kept dropping during contractions, so they went straight to the hospital. I won't be doing a homebirth myself, but my stance is that it's every bit as safe and I WISH I had the balls for it. Kudos to women who do! I can't say the same for unassisted childbirth, but that's a whole different topic! :)
I was blessed to have a GREAT hospital birth experience or I might be more likely to try the homebirth avenue this time.
Hi there hun!!! Well...you know how I feel about home birth...its FABULOUS!!!!! I had 2 wonderful hospital births, but my homebirth was by far the most rewarding experience in my life. Lots of studies have been done that show that in low risk pregnancies, homebirth is just as safe as hospital birth. (I actually believe it can be safer to homebirth, since SOOOO many hospital interventions are the reasons for c-sections and complications). But anywhoo...should I ever decide to have another babe...I will definately plan another homebirth.
Post a Comment