Interesting article regarding home births...

Re: Interesting article regarding home births...

• lewispm member

  October 2014

  I think home births are awesome and dandy, but this article seemed a lot bit biased to me. I had a hospital birth with my first and ended up with a C-section (which I am still bummed about). I know hospitals are known to push C-sections and I actually DO think that is true. However, mine was much needed and I feel like I would have been one of those rare cases where a home birth could have been very unsafe for myself and the baby. So although there is a part of me that envies those who did a home birth, or even those who had a vaginal birth, I know home birth (unless very quick access to a hospital) would not have been the best decision for me.

  And this article seems, IMO, to be quite biased. I had my (planned on)  OB check on me and encourage me multiple times throughout my labor. My nurses were amazing and cared. I never felt abused or uncared for and my entire experience was wonderful with the exception being that I ultimately needed a C-section. Even after labor, my recovery nurses (well, all but 1) were kind and helpful and went out of their way to make sure baby and I , and even MH, were comfortable.

  So it sounds like the author of this article had a horrible hospital experience, but based solely on people I know that have birthed in a hospital, I think her experience was pretty rare.

  

  

                                                                

   

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• bumpuser10258960 member

  October 2014

  You make really good points. It definitely sounds like, based on your experience, the hospital is where you needed to be. Thanks for sharing your story. 

  

  
  

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• igl08 member

  October 2014

  Yeah I only got to about halfway through the article (because I'm at work) and it does sound biased. I'm choosing an out of hospital birth but I didn't choose that based on articles like this. Look more into it and make an informed decision.

  

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• kella0708 member

  October 2014

  I am not against home births but this article was just ridiculous. I stopped reading after this gem... "because they want their baby to come into the world surrounded by love and kindness, not bright lights and anxiety."
  
  Really, Jennifer Margulis? Fuck off. I had a hospital birth and it certainly was not big, bad "bright lights and anxiety!" I can assure you my son was brought into this world with just as much love and kindness as any child birthed at home.

  
   

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• transplantedhawkeye member

  October 2014

  Must admit, didn't read the article.

  
  

  I would love to have a home birth this time around, DH is not on board for it.  It is very difficult for me to find a provider because I am a VBAC.

  
  

  I don't want to go to a hospital because I am all too familiar with the interventions and time tables that are used that would push me into a second section (which I do NOT want, unless there is a prolapse, or an acreta or previa or footling breech or TRUE fetal distress or actual rupture or abruption).  

  
  

  I am also too familiar with the interventions that are routine in the hospital in the labor and delivery room that lead to breastfeeding difficulties once baby is born, and many women are not aware of this cause and effect from their labor.

  
  

  I feel that a home birth for me would be generally safer than a hospital birth, not only with a lack of unneeded interventions but mentally safer for me.

  
  

  I realize it is not a choice that everyone can or should make.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

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• galenkahlyl member

  October 2014

  I did not read it either, but I wanted to say that I had a wonderful home birth with my first in 2012 and am planning another with this next one.

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• surpriseoldlady member

  October 2014

  I do not have anything thing against home birth, but after being a labor & delivery nurse for 15 years, I know it is something that I would never even consider. I believe every woman should educate themselves on the pros and cons, and make their decision based on the risks they are willing to take. I'm aware that bad outcomes can occur at any place of delivery- sometimes bad shit just happens. However, after having patients with cord prolapse and spontaneous uterine rupture, I know that I will feel more comfortable in a hospital setting....with an operating room right down the hall! Again, just the decision I feel is best for me and my baby.

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• kella0708 member

  October 2014

  @MamaBear904‌ have you ever seen "The Business of Being Born" ? It's a documentary and should be available on Netflix. Also on the bias side of home birthing, but very interesting.

  
   

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• starfishlovesyou member

  October 2014

  I didn't read the article, but thought I'd chime in with my two cents.  I had a really great hospital experience the first time around, but I would love to have a home birth this time. Unfortunately, my insurance won't cover them, and my little apartment just isn't suitable for it. I am perfectly comfortable with birthing in the same hospital as last time, though. Especially since they recently got birth pools, so I can try a water birth this time. Hospitals aren't all bad. Some are super natural birth friendly, if that's what your concerns are. You just have to do some research to find one that suits your preferences. 

     It also can vary greatly from state to state. For example, here in Oregon, breech babies are automatic c-sections no matter what. I also know midwives are illegal in some states. It's a good idea to check to see what your options are in your state before making a decision. 

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• selena61307 member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  Having a horrid hospital birth is not rare. Lots of women have been permanently injured and traumatized. Is that a reason to pick homebirth no. Is that the reason some women simply can not face a hospital birth, yes. To say it is rare is simply not true.
  
  I hate when fear becomes the reason to birth anywhere. You must weigh your risks and options. Find the best and safest choice for you. If you decide that home is a safe option for you than embrace it. Find a qualified midwife and back up care. If you want to ask questions feel free to pm me.

  

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• Stargirlb member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  Love homebirth! There is a recent canadian study that affirms the success of the midwife model of care-- homebirth with a midwife is actually the safest place to give birth (outcome wise,) for low risk women! Shortly followed by hospital birth with a midwife, and then physician attended birth.
  
  Before anyone asks, it was an extremely well done study and women were matched up in a rigorous way to ensure that only women with equal factors (including socioeconomic status,) were being compared.
  
  https://m.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/home-birth-a-labour-of-love-few-canadian-parents-are-taking/article16050641/?service=mobile
  
  As a result of this study and similar others, the midwife model of care will hopefully be expanding so that more women have access to this option If they want it. (In our healthcare system you have a choice of a doctor or a midwife, but midwives are in very short supply.)
  
  My first birth, I didn't decide I wanted a homebirth until I was over halfway through my pregnancy, and it was too late to find a midwife at that point. You have to call right away.

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• salmphil member

  October 2014

  @selena61307‌

  selena61307 said:

  
  I hate when fear becomes the reason to birth anywhere. You must weigh your risks and options. Find the best and safest choice for you. If you decide that home is a safe option for you than embrace it. Find a qualified midwife and back up care.

  Omg yes to this. You summed up my personal pregnancy treatise entirely.
  
  

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• chauliodus member

  October 2014

  "It’s one of the best kept secrets in the medical profession these days: an increasing number of doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, and other medical professionals are choosing to birth at home.

   

  For the most part these medical professionals keep quiet about it.

   

  They don’t want to offend their colleagues.

   

  They don’t want to lose their hospital privileges.

   

  They don’t want to jeopardize their jobs."

  
  

  There is no truth to any of the above.  The article is extremely misleading and does not discuss any statistics on medical professionals and home births and to imply that growing number of medical professionals are choosing home births without any supporting evidence is irresponsible. It is unclear to me how I would ever jeopardize my job as a doctor or lose my hospital privileges for having a home birth. The author totally made that up. Your colleagues can only be offended if they know about your birth plans and "offended" is probably not the right word. Concerned is probably more likely. 

  There are risks and benefits to delivery in any location and people need to make informed decisions about where the best place to deliver for them is, but this article is not a great one to base any decisions off of. 

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• kelseypie member

  October 2014

  Homebirths are fine and dandy, if that's what you have your heart set on. But I hate that there's such a divide between home-birthing moms and moms that give birth in a hospital. I'm part of what you might call a crunchy mom type circle, and many of my friends and acquaintances have had home births, and loved it. That's great for them, but I always hear them talk about how awful and impersonal hospital births are, and how all they do is push you towards meds and c-sections. My hospital experience couldn't be further from that, and I'm excited to have this baby in the same hospital. My OB is amazing and supportive, and does everything she can to get you the birth you want. I feel like the only information that some of these people are basing their opinions on are biased articles and documentaries. I actually get side eyes from some people when they ask, "so, are you having a home birth!?" and I say no. It's ridiculous.
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

   

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• Stargirlb member

  October 2014

  Self selection, ya cuz studying women giving birth places against their will would be a bit ethically problematic. Studying women at their location of choice (hospital or birth,) is really the only way u can do it. Ya, that's a limitation, but if you CHOOSE a homebirth in Canada as a low risk woman, u can feel good about making the safest choice for you (same with those choosing a hospital birth.)

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• Stargirlb member

  October 2014

  As for the divide, I dunno, I have homebirth and hospital birth friends. Most of my homebirth friends had hospital births for at least their first birth. In general everyone respects everyone's choices. I get a lot of "OMG that sounds so scary and not for me!" When I tell ppl my homebirth choices, but that doesn't bother me. Their choices probably aren't for me either, but I'm cool with that!

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• crunchymamaof2 member

  October 2014

  kelseypie said:

  Homebirths are fine and dandy, if that's what you have your heart set on. But I hate that there's such a divide between home-birthing moms and moms that give birth in a hospital. I'm part of what you might call a crunchy mom type circle, and many of my friends and acquaintances have had home births, and loved it. That's great for them, but I always hear them talk about how awful and impersonal hospital births are, and how all they do is push you towards meds and c-sections. My hospital experience couldn't be further from that, and I'm excited to have this baby in the same hospital. My OB is amazing and supportive, and does everything she can to get you the birth you want. I feel like the only information that some of these people are basing their opinions on are biased articles and documentaries. I actually get side eyes from some people when they ask, "so, are you having a home birth!?" and I say no. It's ridiculous.

  
  I agree. I've only had a negative hospital experience because I didn't get to bring my baby home until 3 weeks later, but now were choosing a different hospital to avoid any flashbacks/stress. The actual birth was fine for both my kids, no complaints. I'm sure some hospitals are terrible, but I bet some home birth midwives suck too. You need to be proactive and research all your options and make the best choice for you. But don't lump an entire group together by saying hospital births are cold or home births are super dangerous. The divide definitely needs to go.

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• maddreyc member

  October 2014

  I have had two hospital births, different hospitals, and a home birth. My eldest child is 18, my youngest is 17 months. Much has changed in the hospital climate during that span. The average cost of a hospital birth has quintupled. The average c section rate has more than tripled. The national average of children bing diagnosed with autism has skyrocketed. One in 112 children born are now in the autism spectrum, ie permanently neurologically impaired. This does not follow suit in all developed countries. I am longer in the tooth now, at 39 when I give birth, my national average c section rate for age will be over 50 percent. I just had a very long, hard, painful yet fantastic delivery at home last year. 30 hours of labor. Ouch. If I were to labor longer than 8 hours in my local hospital at my age it would be a c section. So I will stay home, provided everything looks great through the pregnancy. If anything at all looks amiss I will be very greatfull to head to a hospital for my and my baby's safety. Nothing should ever be demonized. My hospital births were fine. Not great, fine. MRSA and other infections as well as malpractice are a fact of life as are medical interventions beyond my control if I am too tired or ill to take charge. I feel lucky to have this choice and am so happy to have well trained midwives that I can rely on and a hospital system for back up.

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