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Just to clarify
I felt that I came off too harsh on homebirths. I feel strongly that homebirth is a beautiful thing when it works out well and the vast majority of the time, I'm sure if there is a CNW present with a low risk mom it works out well. I do think that I am way too biased to ever not feel uncomfortable with it. since I have seen so many births that were not supposed to be high risk, have complications. Of course, then you could say "well you work in a hospital, maybe the interventions caused the problems" etc. which may be true as well.
I think about my mom who went over 42 weeks with both of us, no one knew what her amniotic fluid levels were, she was never induced, she had natural childbirth with both of us (in a hospital) and it went fine. I had all this testing, got induced and wound up with a c-section. Maybe if my baby had been allowed to sit tight for another day or two that would not have happened, but we'll never know. I read the Ina May book and was brought to tears by those lovely stories, and experiences.
I don't know where the truth lies. I also believe in the power of positive thinking, and maybe the people who believe it is going to work, have some influence over the event by their thought process.
Personally, I could not do it, I think it is a little riskier, but, probably not a ton riskier. I also strongly disagree about people coming from home getting emergency c-sections faster than those in house. I have seen moms wheeled into an OR and the baby out within minutes. So fast in fact that I couldn't get ready to take the baby fast enough when they were yelling "PEDS!!!!!:". Ugh, not my favorite moments in life. So YES I am biased and probably somewhat terrified for myself but NO I am not judgy.
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Re: Just to clarify
I think I'm the only one who said that I thought it was irresponsible-and I totally stand by my opinion, but it is just that, my opinion. In the scheme of things, my opinion matters very little
. It only affects the decisions that I make for my family.
I appreciate everyone's comments and insights and Amy-I totally don't think you came off as judgy. You shared medical data and your own experience to support your own reasoning.
I responded in the OP, but I quoted you only to quote the study and give my opinions on the actual mathematical data presented by the study. I didn't quote you to be critical or your opinion or call you judgey. And "irresponsible" was a word used within the post by someone (I didn't mean to imply YOU said it) that totally bothered me b/c it was no longer a post about "I would..." or "I wouldn't..." (like the nail polish post, for example) but a post that became critical of other people's choices for their families. I thought our whole nail polish discussion the other day was that we should all share what WE would do and not be critical of other people's choices since they are just that - other people's choices. At least one poster on this board that I can think of off the top of my head actually chose a homebirth, and I very greatly considered it (and still think about it often and may opt for it for my 2nd birth, depending on how this one goes). So yeah, I resent the use of the word "irresponsible" to describe a deeply personal and well researched choice a woman might make that carries a 99.87% chance of positive outcome. But, I didn't mean to imply you said it, Amy.
But see...all of this - my dissenting opinion on the board, the fact it started a new post and caused you to wish you hadn't posted it, etc - is why I wish I would've just shut up and not given my opinion on the study. I'd rather just get car seat advice and offer support to friends than argue with people about why MY choices for MY family are totally researched, thought out, and responsible.
The reason that you get there faster coming from home is that the midwife doesn't wait until the baby is crashing to get you there. How often do you see a baby totally fine and happy on a monitor and then crash out of nowhere? It happens, but it's pretty rare. Usually in the L&R there's a lot of watch and wait, even in the pushing stage. At home, there is very little. The last transfer I was at, the midwifery team made the decision to transfer based on dips over the span of just a few minutes. When we got to the hospital, baby was fine and mom delivered vaginally about 3 hours later.
I only know one homebirth midwife who has ever lost a baby, and it happened in the hospital (granted I only know 4 socially, so it's a small pool). I don't know the details other than the mom was transferred out of the midwife's care due to high risk, so there was never even an attempt to deliver her at home.
We have a CNM on the board, perhaps she'll weigh in.
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Harmony Doula
This makes me sad. FWIW I thought both you and Amy were both very respectful in the way you stated your opinions and I enjoyed reading both sides.
I'm not entirely sure but I think the only person who called homebirth "irresponsible" was the OP. Although admittedly I, along with a few other people, did say I think think unassisted/freebirth homebirths are irresponsible. I didn't really see anyone arguing with that though.
I totally did not mean my opinion to be judgey buy I guess I can see how you would take it that way. In essence, I think all opinions are based on judgment, aren't they? Would it be better if I said I thought it was irresponsible for myself? I don't think anyone tried to argue with you regarding your opinion. I totally respect it.
I was simply trying to start a conversation about something that would allow people to share their opinions/beliefs/experiences regarding a topic that I know people have very different beliefs about. I'm sorry if my opinion offended you, it certainly was not my intent at all.
FWIW, I don't think that you were harsh, Amy. Your experiences have shaped your opinion on this topic. That is very valid. You do bring a different perspective to the table due to your profession and I am grateful that you share that perspective. I appreciated that you posted an actual study. You backed your opinion up with data that supported it. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
Stef, I'm glad you responded with how you interpreted the study. You truly processed the information. I think it is helpful for someone out there who is reading but not responding. You probably said what some lurker was thinking. I didn't see it as argumentative in any way shape or form.
I know that I am a relative newbie, but I enjoyed the back and forth. I think that as far as internet discussions go it was very pleasant and respectful.
Not that anyone asked me but I didn't see Amy as being judgey and I didn't see Stef as attacking. I just saw two differing opinions that were communicated clearly. I'm glad to have read both well-thought out opinions.
OK, so I saw that Stef quoted me and I assumed it was being inferred that I was judging it, but then I noticed the post to which Stef was referring. Sorry for jumping off the deep end. I see your point too Celyn, that he CNM's that you deal with transfer very early if there is any question, which is great.
I am sure everyone wants a healthy baby to be the outcome of every birth. I also suspect that the bad outcomes I am thinking of are very rare, and to be super duper honest I'm not sure all the babies that *live* due to extreme intervention are better off.
And yes, I also think it would be a hugely messy process Donna!