To each their own but the medical research out there does say home births are less safe than those in a hospital. Trained or not a midwife is not a doctor. The person that posted this on fb is in the same practice as my Dr. I'll continue to listen to his 12 years of medical education and 20+ years experience and continuing ed.
To each their own but the medical research out there does say home births are less safe than those in a hospital. Trained or not a midwife is not a doctor. The person that posted this on fb is in the same practice as my Dr. I'll continue to listen to his 12 years of medical education and 20+ years experience and continuing ed.
@magen16 It's pretty gross to equate people who choose a home birth attended by trained professionals to those who refuse vaccination. There could be a lot of valid reasons to choose home birth. They often aren't all that dangerous. I am confident I could go find a peer reviewed study that claims home births are safer in many ways than hospital births. Peer reviewed studies constantly contradict each other. This really is a case of if the pregnancy progresses in a healthy way, and the expectant mother has had good prenatal care that it is generally very safe to have a home birth. This is not at all like the vaccination "debate"(quotes because vaccination shouldn't be a debate at all).
It is ridiculous to lump women who choose a safe home birth in with anti-vaxxers.
OP, I had a home birth with my first (after extensive research on all options) and it was a fantastic experience. I had two attending midwives, which is hopefully the practice where you live but worth asking because having 1 dedicated to mom and 1 to babe after delivery is important.
We have a tenant in a suite below and he had NO idea it was going on at all. There was noise but really, the most effective sounds during labour are low moans. I wouldn't really worry about noise. If anything the baby is going to disturb them more next summer
To each their own but the medical research out there does say home births are less safe than those in a hospital. Trained or not a midwife is not a doctor. The person that posted this on fb is in the same practice as my Dr. I'll continue to listen to his 12 years of medical education and 20+ years experience and continuing ed.
Serious? Lumping people who choose to have a home birth with Anti-vaxxers?!? That's an ignorant thing to say
I get really tired of being made to feel like I'm some uneducated hippie who endangers her babies for birthing at home. The OP asked for home birth experiences, not a debate on which is better. Because really, neither one is better. Do your research. Talk to your partner and care provider. Decide where your comfort levels lie. And then make a decision for yourself, without trying to make anyone else feel bad for their own choices.
@mamabudd - I totally agree! Even though I plan on an unmedicated hospital birth (due to certain health issues that make me high risk for hemorrhaging and needing a transfusion), I think that she should be aware of her options and know what is best for her and her situation.
FFS how would you like it if I came on threads about c/s, hospital births, circumcision, formula feeding, or anything else & tell you that yeh it can be safe but you totally could die and/or your baby could die. Fact of the matter is that the UK is pushing for low risk moms to have home births b/c it is SAFE. The US has abysmal maternal & newborn mortality rates despite spending the most money on maternity care. Respect this mom's choice, respect that she has done the research & chosen this as one of the options she'd like to pursue.
OP, I just strongly advise you to ask all the questions. All. The. Questions. Grill the midwife. I say this b/c we tried for a homebirth with my last. My midwife said all the right things & completely played us. She asked for non-evidence based tests & interventions that were exactly why I didn't want to go to an OB/hospital again. Exactly the opposite of what was promised to us. We told her we were switching to the hospital & she told us that she had planned on dropping us at my next appt so it's good we had switched already. She made out with $1500 & I had to pay another $1500 for my deductible & we opted to pay $400 for the private 2 room suite so we could at least feel like we weren't at the hospital. I'm still dealing with the trauma she put us through. I had panic attacks just making the appt with our current home birth midwife. She's why I won't consider a CPM this time. We found a PhD CNM who my husband likes but b/c of what we went through I can't bond with currently. But here I am trying for a home birth again. Other than my deposit I won't be paying a dime until it's all due at 36 weeks & I see an OB next week to establish care at the hospital I'd go to should I transfer before or during delivery.
I too am in a townhouse & we're in the middle. I don't ever hear my neighbors & TMI I'm a screamer & no one says anything. my son also screamed regularly & for hours like we were abusing him & no one called CPS on us. I'm not worried in the least.
Just thought it should be pointed out that any midwife worth their salt will bring medication like Pitocin with them to a home birth to use in case of emergency, like hemorrhaging after delivery. Do your research and find a skilled midwife. They don't just show up to your house with a towel and leather strap for you to bite down on while in pain. Especially if you do research to find a skilled midwife you will be in good hands so long as you have a low risk pregnancy. In the case that you aren't low risk they will refer you to an obstetrician and your midwife will likely play a doula style role during your labor/delivery.
I second what @mamabudd said ^
This fear spreading is the reason that the US has the 2nd highest maternal mortality rate and one of the highest newborn mortality rates in all the developed countries. Women's bodies are meant to birth and somehow, over the last several decades, we have convinced women that they don't know how to give birth. Birth is a beautiful and natural thing and every woman has the right to birth the way she is most comfortable and safest for her.
If you want a home birth, I say go for it. In the moment, what your neighbors can hear or think most likely won't matter at all.
^So much YES to these comments.
OP, home births are beautiful, peaceful. I am a birth photographer and can tell you that there is a HUGE difference between a hospital birth and home birth. All in all mom, dad and staff always seem to be calmer and way more at peace when birthing at home.
With this baby I will be free birthing at my home with a CPM present.
DD1 | Jan 2009 DD2 | June 2011 DS1 | Oct 2013 ADD3 | Oct 2014 (April 2001) DS2 | June 2016 DS3 | Dec 2018
I had a home birth. Similar experience to many who have posted. It was empowering and exactly how I wanted my second birth experience to be. My first was a c-section and I was completely unhappy with so many aspects of it. Home birth gave me back whatever it was I felt I had lost at my first birth. I felt strong. i felt in control and I felt safe-safer than I did at the hospital never knowing what was going to happen next. I know it doesn't take a home birth to have an amazing birth experience, but that's what it took for me and I'm going to do that again this time. And, I'm going to have a photographer this time. I really regret not having more documentation of everything. To this day I find myself digging out the midwives' record of the experience and reviewing it just to remember how amazing it all was.
You should totally watch the Bussiness of Birth, the experience of my first birth was horrible for me and I'm convinced lead to my PPD. I'm arguing right now with my insurance to cover a birthing center. Why would they cover a hospital birth ($12K) but not a birth center ($4K)? Because they make more money the more drugs they pump you with and that's way easier to do at a hospital. I felt I had no control over how MY birth went and it was aweful. Do your research and get good care, if you decide you do want a hospital birth but want med free I'd look into a doula to have someone help you you manage pain. Most doctors have never seen a non medicated birth from start to finish.
My SIL almost lost her baby bc a complication arose that was life threatening and incredibly rare and she was trying to give birth at home. She was rushed to the hospital and the dr called other medical professionals over to witness the procedure bc they'd never see it again in their careers. It was something that had to be done very precisely or the baby would die.
Me: 29 / Hubster: 31 Married July 2010 DC #1 Oct 2013 DC #2 EDD June 2016
You should totally watch the Bussiness of Birth, the experience of my first birth was horrible for me and I'm convinced lead to my PPD. I'm arguing right now with my insurance to cover a birthing center. Why would they cover a hospital birth ($12K) but not a birth center ($4K)? Because they make more money the more drugs they pump you with and that's way easier to do at a hospital. I felt I had no control over how MY birth went and it was aweful. Do your research and get good care, if you decide you do want a hospital birth but want med free I'd look into a doula to have someone help you you manage pain. Most doctors have never seen a non medicated birth from start to finish.
Do you mean the Business of being Born? It is a good documentary. I have no desire for a home birth, and with a pre existing non pregnancy related condition, there is probably no way I'd be a good candidate for one anyway. Plus, I want an epidural. It's also not fair to lump all insurance companies, doctors, and hospitals together. Everyone needs to do their own research and do what's best for them and their family.
Are there shitty hospitals and doctors, absolutely.But there are also really good ones that if everything is going fine, will let you labor as you want. Some hospitals even have birthing suites that are more homey than a hospital room. I know I'm super lucky because I live in the Boston area where there are dozens and dozens of hospitals to choose from. And doctors are some of the best in the country. I spent one night reading the annual report and the hospital I'm delivery at has a less 5% episiotomy rate and though it has a 35% C section rate it's also a major trauma hospital, so woman are transferred there from other hospitals when needed, so that can increase their rate.
It's also not fair to completely bash home births. If you do your research and you're low risk and your midwife ok's it sure go for it, your body your choice. People have to do their own research which could vary depending on where you live.
To each their own but the medical research out there does say home births are less safe than those in a hospital. Trained or not a midwife is not a doctor. The person that posted this on fb is in the same practice as my Dr. I'll continue to listen to his 12 years of medical education and 20+ years experience and continuing ed.
Glad you trust this person/your practice...Really--It's important for you to feel confident/comfortable in your doctors views. I, on the other hand, would not at all trust any of what this person said. I would trust a midwife over a doctor ANY day (**if you are not high-risk/have no need for a doctor in particular). In general, I don't trust anyone who doesn't at least acknowledge a right for parents to even question vaccinations/address the controversy surrounding vaccinations/the money to be had in promoting vaccinations, etc. This person's ignorance in a lot of what they said is actually quite disturbing. like saying IN QUOTES that birth is a "natural thing"...IT IS A NATURAL THING!!!! There is nothing inherently WRONG with your body when it is birthing! For THIS precise kind of attitude is why I will choose a midwife every time-(** that is not a blanket statement about doctors-I am sure SOME of them think birth is a natural non-medical process**--I just prefer a midwife's approach). And for the record: we do vaccinate and I do birth in the hospital...before anyone assumes from my comments that I am a "certain" type.---Which I wouldn't mind being by the way! I respect the non-vaxxers and the home-birthers 100%. (**And I don't mean to imply those 2 groups are one-in-the-same--before anyone flames me for that. )
To each their own but the medical research out there does say home births are less safe than those in a hospital. Trained or not a midwife is not a doctor. The person that posted this on fb is in the same practice as my Dr. I'll continue to listen to his 12 years of medical education and 20+ years experience and continuing ed.
Glad you trust this person/your practice...Really--It's important for you to feel confident/comfortable in your doctors views. I, on the other hand, would not at all trust any of what this person said. I would trust a midwife over a doctor ANY day (**if you are not high-risk/have no need for a doctor in particular). In general, I don't trust anyone who doesn't at least acknowledge a right for parents to even question vaccinations/address the controversy surrounding vaccinations/the money to be had in promoting vaccinations, etc. This person's ignorance in a lot of what they said is actually quite disturbing. like saying IN QUOTES that birth is a "natural thing"...IT IS A NATURAL THING!!!! There is nothing inherently WRONG with your body when it is birthing! For THIS precise kind of attitude is why I will choose a midwife every time-(** that is not a blanket statement about doctors-I am sure SOME of them think birth is a natural non-medical process**--I just prefer a midwife's approach). And for the record: we do vaccinate and I do birth in the hospital...before anyone assumes from my comments that I am a "certain" type.---Which I wouldn't mind being by the way! I respect the non-vaxxers and the home-birthers 100%. (**And I don't mean to imply those 2 groups are one-in-the-same--before anyone flames me for that. )
You realize the controversy was made up by and the data was fabricated, right? I don't respect people who risk their baby's and others lives because they don't want to get their children vaccinated. There is an increase in measles because of these people. And it's really not fair to lump those people in with women who want a home birth. It's not the same at all! You having a home birth doesn't affect my children.
To each their own but the medical research out there does say home births are less safe than those in a hospital. Trained or not a midwife is not a doctor. The person that posted this on fb is in the same practice as my Dr. I'll continue to listen to his 12 years of medical education and 20+ years experience and continuing ed.
Glad you trust this person/your practice...Really--It's important for you to feel confident/comfortable in your doctors views. I, on the other hand, would not at all trust any of what this person said. I would trust a midwife over a doctor ANY day (**if you are not high-risk/have no need for a doctor in particular). In general, I don't trust anyone who doesn't at least acknowledge a right for parents to even question vaccinations/address the controversy surrounding vaccinations/the money to be had in promoting vaccinations, etc. This person's ignorance in a lot of what they said is actually quite disturbing. like saying IN QUOTES that birth is a "natural thing"...IT IS A NATURAL THING!!!! There is nothing inherently WRONG with your body when it is birthing! For THIS precise kind of attitude is why I will choose a midwife every time-(** that is not a blanket statement about doctors-I am sure SOME of them think birth is a natural non-medical process**--I just prefer a midwife's approach). And for the record: we do vaccinate and I do birth in the hospital...before anyone assumes from my comments that I am a "certain" type.---Which I wouldn't mind being by the way! I respect the non-vaxxers and the home-birthers 100%. (**And I don't mean to imply those 2 groups are one-in-the-same--before anyone flames me for that. )
You realize the controversy was made up by and the data was fabricated, right? I don't respect people who risk their baby's and others lives because they don't want to get their children vaccinated. There is an increase in measles because of these people. And it's really not fair to lump those people in with women who want a home birth. It's not the same at all! You having a home birth doesn't affect my children.
Did you even read anything I said? I was absolutely intent on making the point NOT to lump those two groups of people together... (anti-vaxxers and home-birthers). And I ALSO said that I personally DO NOT have home-births. And finally...it is anyone's choice to give respect. I respect your choice not to respect other people's choices...You do realize...in the thousands of women on this board...there is probably a pretty substantial representation of people who do not vaccinate?Just curious if you think that somehow they are not here? like unicorns? EDIT: @huskypuppy14 are you missing that my comments were linked to the attachment that went WITH the quote I referred to? THAT is the source of linking the anti-vaxxers to home-birthers.
P.S. wanna take this outside? hehe. Meaning-to another thread? I hate to hijack the poor OP's post about home-births with a totally separate dialogue.
@huskypuppy14 35% is very high (1 in 3 women!). World Health Organization designates any hospital with more than 10-15% for the procedure as over use as anything above 15% has not been shown to correlate to a decrease in maternal/fetal death. It can be very very hard to find a hospital with lower than 20% in any major US city, but over 30% is really concerning.
I would be very cautious if the location I was to give birth at had such a high figure, trauma center or not. How does it compare to other hospitals in your area?
@huskypuppy14 35% is very high (1 in 3 women!). World Health Organization designates any hospital with more than 10-15% for the procedure as over use as anything above 15% has not been shown to correlate to a decrease in maternal/fetal death. It can be very very hard to find a hospital with lower than 20% in any major US city, but over 30% is really concerning.
I would be very cautious if the location I was to give birth at had such a high figure, trauma center or not. How does it compare to other hospitals in your area?
The US national average for 2014 was 32.2% of all births. I looked back and 35% was for 2012, the 2014 for my hospital was 31%. That's total. The primary cesarean rate is lower (25%). Those are all comparable with the other trauma hospitals in the area. It also has a 70% VBAC success rate, which I believe is really good. I think looking at cesarean rate alone is not good indication, because there can be many variables. The hospital with the lowest rate in my area doesn't have a level 3 Nicu so if something were to go wrong the baby would have to be transferred. Anyway, my point was I did my research and made the best choice for me. Everyone else should do the same.
ETA: And the hospital I'm delivering at has the second most deliveries in the state. My guess is because it's one of the best hospitals in the country and it's right across the street from children's hospital.
@huskypuppy14 I totally get that! My DH is similar--he wants to be very certain that any 'worst case' can be covered for me or the LO. It's the only way he will be comfortable with the birth. I'm more laid back and tend to rely on stats for most/least likely outcome, but we both need to feel safe during delivery. Our compromise was a birthing center attached to a top-tier hospital 'just in case' either LO or I need intervention. We still have to tour it to make sure we are both on board, but it seems to be a good option for us.
If you decide to have a home birth, talk to your neighbors first. They will likely be fine but a warning is good so they don't call the cops thinking your husband is beating you.
I have heard nothing but great experiences from everyone I know who has had a home birth, they also were not FTMs. The experience sounds absolutely amazing and I plan on a home birth for a second child.
I looked into a local birthing center and for FTMs, even if the slightest thing is off, like blood pressure not being 100% ideal but CLOSE to that, they'll send you to the hospital instead. They also don't do VBACs there. I would find a midwife who has ideals similar (but not quite as extreme) if I ever decided to have a home birth. I'd want someone who was really trying to err on the side of caution because I'm overly nervous with everything.
Most home birth midwives are highly experienced and qualified for home births. I want to consider a home birth for my second baby but will be having my first in a hospital. My hospital and midwives support natural med free birth, skin to skin, golden hour, etc. It feels like a birth center except they don't do water births. They do have tubs to labor in, bars for help with squatting deliveries, and essential oils in each "birthing suite". If my hospital didn't have this, I'd be more nervousness going in and likely find one farther away that had all these amenities.
So question regarding stats comparing home births vs hospital births - if you transfer from a home birth to a hospital birth because of complications, is that considered a hospital or home birth? Or neither?
DS 9/2/13 was a BFP from an IUI! Triplets due 6/29/16 also from an IUI!
@huskypuppy14 yes that's what I meant! @huskerfamily I would say if the baby was born in a hospital that it was a hospital birth but you labored at home maybe?
To each their own but the medical research out there does say home births are less safe than those in a hospital. Trained or not a midwife is not a doctor. The person that posted this on fb is in the same practice as my Dr. I'll continue to listen to his 12 years of medical education and 20+ years experience and continuing ed.
Glad you trust this person/your practice...Really--It's important for you to feel confident/comfortable in your doctors views. I, on the other hand, would not at all trust any of what this person said. I would trust a midwife over a doctor ANY day (**if you are not high-risk/have no need for a doctor in particular). In general, I don't trust anyone who doesn't at least acknowledge a right for parents to even question vaccinations/address the controversy surrounding vaccinations/the money to be had in promoting vaccinations, etc. This person's ignorance in a lot of what they said is actually quite disturbing. like saying IN QUOTES that birth is a "natural thing"...IT IS A NATURAL THING!!!! There is nothing inherently WRONG with your body when it is birthing! For THIS precise kind of attitude is why I will choose a midwife every time-(** that is not a blanket statement about doctors-I am sure SOME of them think birth is a natural non-medical process**--I just prefer a midwife's approach). And for the record: we do vaccinate and I do birth in the hospital...before anyone assumes from my comments that I am a "certain" type.---Which I wouldn't mind being by the way! I respect the non-vaxxers and the home-birthers 100%. (**And I don't mean to imply those 2 groups are one-in-the-same--before anyone flames me for that. )
I have had 3 HBs. Not all midwives (or doctors or hospitals) are created equal. Some midwives, particularly the illegal ones, have zero training in infant rescucitation/emergency care becauseteir priority in an emergency event is t
So question regarding stats comparing home births vs hospital births - if you transfer from a home birth to a hospital birth because of complications, is that considered a hospital or home birth? Or neither?
I would guess that if you actually gave birth in a hospital, it would be considered a hospital birth, even if you started at home.. If you gave birth at home, and then were transferred to a hospital, it would still be a home birth. My friend gave birth in the car outside the hospital because they didn't get there in time. Not sure what that's called.
So question regarding stats comparing home births vs hospital births - if you transfer from a home birth to a hospital birth because of complications, is that considered a hospital or home birth? Or neither?
I would guess that if you actually gave birth in a hospital, it would be considered a hospital birth, even if you started at home.. If you gave birth at home, and then were transferred to a hospital, it would still be a home birth. My friend gave birth in the car outside the hospital because they didn't get there in time. Not sure what that's called.
That's what I was kind of thinking. I know it doesn't happen a ton but makes me wonder about stats and how they are perceived.
DS 9/2/13 was a BFP from an IUI! Triplets due 6/29/16 also from an IUI!
Being a trauma center should have no bearing on birth statistics. Following evidence based practice does. I delivered both my children at a level 1 trauma center, serves a very low socio-economic population, best NICU/PICU you can get for 100s of miles. Their c/s rate at the time was around 17%, episiotomy rate 2%. They deliver twins vaginally & breech babies. They also have a large midwifery practice that works WITH the OB/MFM doctors.
As a healthcare professional, I won't weigh in on my personal opinions regarding home birth, but here is some information regarding the research:
Multiple studies have reported the maternal and neonatal outcomes of home birth. Generally these studies have found that, compared to planned hospital birth, planned home birth is associated with reduced rates of cesarean birth and medical interventions, and similar rates of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, there are significant limitations to the quality of population data available for systematic analysis and, in some cases, on the methodological quality of the studies themselves. (resource: Estimating intrapartum-related perinatal mortality rates for booked home births: when the 'best' available data are not good enough.Gyte G, Dodwell M, Newburn M, Sandall J, Macfarlane A, Bewley BJOG. 2009;116(7):933.)
Retrospective studies comparing the outcomes of women who planned home birth to matched women who planned hospital births have generally found that maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates for the planned home birth group were as low as, or lower than, those in the hospital group. However, this has not been a consistent finding; some studies of birth registry data have reported increased infant morbidity and mortality among infants with planned home births. These studies are limited by incomplete ascertainment of provider qualifications (eg, certified professional versus lay midwife), antepartum versus intrapartum death, differing definitions of planning status, and tracking of planned home births delivered in hospital after intrapartum transfer and some important neonatal outcomes (eg, neurodevelopmental dysfunction). They do suggest varying risks associated with home birth provider, but are limited by birth certificate limits on identifying the training level of the "other midwife" category and the content of the "other" category. A recent analysis by Danish economists of data from the Netherlands used distance from hospitals to infer the impact of place of birth on outcomes and suggested that in the Dutch context there was greater risk in home births for women from lower income districts, but no difference in risk for women from wealthier districts.
Large cohort studies using intent-to-treat analysis of midwife-attended, planned, out-of-hospital birth of low-risk women in developed countries have reported reduced rates of cesarean birth, perineal lacerations, and medical interventions, and similar rates of maternal and early perinatal morbidity and mortality compared to planned hospital birth. However, there may be a higher rate of late neonatal mortality with planned home birth.
(multiple sources--if you're interested in the direct links, PM me and I will send them to you)
@HBMama2B haha, thanks, although I can't take all the credit. I used an excellent medical reference: Up-to-Date, it's only available to medical providers (although there may be a consumer version, but I think it's very expensive), and is basically the gold-standard reference for synthesizing research and summarizing current practice recommendations.
@TunieBeeDo the articles speak to the population used in the study and their associated socio-economic status? I would suspect that the majority of those that fall into a lower socio-economic status aren't participating in an equal number of home births which would then skew the numbers for the hospital births as that group tends not to receive the same amount/quality of pre natal care.
@cdnrunning Interesting point! I love when people actually think of the reason behind some of the numbers rather than just taking them at face-value! Here's what I found for you (not exactly what you're looking for, but informative nonetheless).
WOMEN WHO CHOOSE HOME BIRTH — Little systematic research has been performed on the motivation of United States mothers who plan home birth; most studies report survey data from select groups of women. These women tend to be self-reliant, more comfortable with their own intuition than with professional advice, adverse to medical intervention and technology, confident about the normality of childbirth, and they have a belief in their bodies' inherent ability to give birth without interference.
Demographics — Approximately one out of every 109 births in the United States overall was a home birth, while for non-Hispanic white women, approximately one out of every 74 births was a home birth. Women who chose home birth were more likely to be white non-Hispanic, older, multiparous, native born, living in a nonmetropolitan county, college graduates, and nonsmokers. They were much more likely to report not having had prenatal care than women who delivered in a hospital. The revised birth certificate provides an opportunity to explore some additional characteristics of mothers in the 41 reporting states. Mothers having a prepregnancy body mass index in the overweight or obese category were more common in hospital births than in home births. Mothers in home births were also much more likely to report having paid for the birth out-of-pocket (59 percent) compared with mothers giving birth in a hospital (4 percent).
Reasons for choosing home birth — Studies have identified many different reasons women choose to give birth at home, including
●A desire for a low-intervention birth, in particular the avoidance of oxytocin, epidural analgesia, pharmacologic pain relief, episiotomy, instrumental vaginal delivery, and cesarean birth
●Cultural or religious concerns (eg, the Amish, religions that proscribe male birth attendants)
●A concern about iatrogenic complications of hospital birth; fear of and dissatisfaction with hospital care
●A desire for freedom and control in the birth process
●A desire to give birth in a comfortable, familiar environment surrounded by family and friends
@TunieBee definitely some interesting reading! Thanks for pulling that together.Sadly, I took a LOT of stats courses in college and I quickly learned that researchers/scientists can be very convincing with numbers and it's important to understand how the study was put together (population, sample size etc.) before drawing any conclusions. This board has been so informative and I love learning from all the ladies here. What a great resource!
It takes only 3 minutes for a fetus to be oxygen deprived before they die or can be born with brain damage. Nobody can forsee how their bodies will react to delivery. I will be delivering in a hospital and happily.
It takes only 3 minutes for a fetus to be oxygen deprived before they die or can be born with brain damage. Nobody can forsee how their bodies will react to delivery. I will be delivering in a hospital and happily.
It takes only 3 minutes for a fetus to be oxygen deprived before they die or can be born with brain damage. Nobody can forsee how their bodies will react to delivery. I will be delivering in a hospital and happily.
Midwives bring oxygen with them to home births.
How do they administer oxygen if baby is stuck in the birth canal or cord is restricting airflow before being dilated enough to push?
I'm a lurker from July (due on the 2nd), and I just wanted to thank all the home birth moms for sharing their experiences. We're planning a home birth with a highly experienced CNM in our area (who comes with a birth attendant/midwife's assistant). Even though the research I've done on planned home births vs planned hospital births shows that the risks are similar, there is a lot of fear mongering that surrounds birth that makes it all very stressful. I've heard hospital horror stories and home birth horror stories, and every time I feel set in my decision I seem to get overwhelmed with someone else's opinion. So, thanks for the honest statistics and the personal stories. I appreciate it.
I am from May16 moms but am due the 27th so I ventured to June and noticed this post to follow- I am planning a home birth with a midwife and am very confident in my decision. If you are considering it or on the fence you could watch "The Business of Being Born" found on Amazon movies or Netflix, or also contact a midwife near you and just ask questions, most I've encountered love educating people about what they do.
Re: Home Birth
We have a tenant in a suite below and he had NO idea it was going on at all. There was noise but really, the most effective sounds during labour are low moans. I wouldn't really worry about noise. If anything the baby is going to disturb them more next summer
Good luck with whatever you choose!
OP, I just strongly advise you to ask all the questions. All. The. Questions. Grill the midwife. I say this b/c we tried for a homebirth with my last. My midwife said all the right things & completely played us. She asked for non-evidence based tests & interventions that were exactly why I didn't want to go to an OB/hospital again. Exactly the opposite of what was promised to us. We told her we were switching to the hospital & she told us that she had planned on dropping us at my next appt so it's good we had switched already. She made out with $1500 & I had to pay another $1500 for my deductible & we opted to pay $400 for the private 2 room suite so we could at least feel like we weren't at the hospital. I'm still dealing with the trauma she put us through. I had panic attacks just making the appt with our current home birth midwife. She's why I won't consider a CPM this time. We found a PhD CNM who my husband likes but b/c of what we went through I can't bond with currently. But here I am trying for a home birth again. Other than my deposit I won't be paying a dime until it's all due at 36 weeks & I see an OB next week to establish care at the hospital I'd go to should I transfer before or during delivery.
I too am in a townhouse & we're in the middle. I don't ever hear my neighbors & TMI I'm a screamer & no one says anything.
^So much YES to these comments.
DD2 | June 2011
DS1 | Oct 2013
ADD3 | Oct 2014 (April 2001)
DS2 | June 2016
DS3 | Dec 2018
Due with baby blob August 2021
Me: 29 / Hubster: 31
Married July 2010
DC #1 Oct 2013
DC #2 EDD June 2016
I would be very cautious if the location I was to give birth at had such a high figure, trauma center or not. How does it compare to other hospitals in your area?
I have heard nothing but great experiences from everyone I know who has had a home birth, they also were not FTMs. The experience sounds absolutely amazing and I plan on a home birth for a second child.
I looked into a local birthing center and for FTMs, even if the slightest thing is off, like blood pressure not being 100% ideal but CLOSE to that, they'll send you to the hospital instead. They also don't do VBACs there. I would find a midwife who has ideals similar (but not quite as extreme) if I ever decided to have a home birth. I'd want someone who was really trying to err on the side of caution because I'm overly nervous with everything.
Most home birth midwives are highly experienced and qualified for home births. I want to consider a home birth for my second baby but will be having my first in a hospital. My hospital and midwives support natural med free birth, skin to skin, golden hour, etc. It feels like a birth center except they don't do water births. They do have tubs to labor in, bars for help with squatting deliveries, and essential oils in each "birthing suite". If my hospital didn't have this, I'd be more nervousness going in and likely find one farther away that had all these amenities.
Triplets due 6/29/16 also from an IUI!
@babyweber3 please be my bff. Unicorns unite!
DD2 | June 2011
DS1 | Oct 2013
ADD3 | Oct 2014 (April 2001)
DS2 | June 2016
DS3 | Dec 2018
Due with baby blob August 2021
Triplets due 6/29/16 also from an IUI!
Multiple studies have reported the maternal and neonatal outcomes of home birth. Generally these studies have found that, compared to planned hospital birth, planned home birth is associated with reduced rates of cesarean birth and medical interventions, and similar rates of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, there are significant limitations to the quality of population data available for systematic analysis and, in some cases, on the methodological quality of the studies themselves.
(resource: Estimating intrapartum-related perinatal mortality rates for booked home births: when the 'best' available data are not good enough.Gyte G, Dodwell M, Newburn M, Sandall J, Macfarlane A, Bewley BJOG. 2009;116(7):933.)
Retrospective studies comparing the outcomes of women who planned home birth to matched women who planned hospital births have generally found that maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates for the planned home birth group were as low as, or lower than, those in the hospital group. However, this has not been a consistent finding; some studies of birth registry data have reported increased infant morbidity and mortality among infants with planned home births. These studies are limited by incomplete ascertainment of provider qualifications (eg, certified professional versus lay midwife), antepartum versus intrapartum death, differing definitions of planning status, and tracking of planned home births delivered in hospital after intrapartum transfer and some important neonatal outcomes (eg, neurodevelopmental dysfunction). They do suggest varying risks associated with home birth provider, but are limited by birth certificate limits on identifying the training level of the "other midwife" category and the content of the "other" category. A recent analysis by Danish economists of data from the Netherlands used distance from hospitals to infer the impact of place of birth on outcomes and suggested that in the Dutch context there was greater risk in home births for women from lower income districts, but no difference in risk for women from wealthier districts.
Large cohort studies using intent-to-treat analysis of midwife-attended, planned, out-of-hospital birth of low-risk women in developed countries have reported reduced rates of cesarean birth, perineal lacerations, and medical interventions, and similar rates of maternal and early perinatal morbidity and mortality compared to planned hospital birth. However, there may be a higher rate of late neonatal mortality with planned home birth.
@cdnrunning Interesting point! I love when people actually think of the reason behind some of the numbers rather than just taking them at face-value! Here's what I found for you (not exactly what you're looking for, but informative nonetheless).
WOMEN WHO CHOOSE HOME BIRTH — Little systematic research has been performed on the motivation of United States mothers who plan home birth; most studies report survey data from select groups of women. These women tend to be self-reliant, more comfortable with their own intuition than with professional advice, adverse to medical intervention and technology, confident about the normality of childbirth, and they have a belief in their bodies' inherent ability to give birth without interference.
Demographics — Approximately one out of every 109 births in the United States overall was a home birth, while for non-Hispanic white women, approximately one out of every 74 births was a home birth. Women who chose home birth were more likely to be white non-Hispanic, older, multiparous, native born, living in a nonmetropolitan county, college graduates, and nonsmokers. They were much more likely to report not having had prenatal care than women who delivered in a hospital. The revised birth certificate provides an opportunity to explore some additional characteristics of mothers in the 41 reporting states. Mothers having a prepregnancy body mass index in the overweight or obese category were more common in hospital births than in home births. Mothers in home births were also much more likely to report having paid for the birth out-of-pocket (59 percent) compared with mothers giving birth in a hospital (4 percent).
Reasons for choosing home birth — Studies have identified many different reasons women choose to give birth at home, including
●A desire for a low-intervention birth, in particular the avoidance of oxytocin, epidural analgesia, pharmacologic pain relief, episiotomy, instrumental vaginal delivery, and cesarean birth
●Cultural or religious concerns (eg, the Amish, religions that proscribe male birth attendants)
●A concern about iatrogenic complications of hospital birth; fear of and dissatisfaction with hospital care
●A desire for freedom and control in the birth process
●A desire to give birth in a comfortable, familiar environment surrounded by family and friends
●Lack of access to transportation (rural areas)
●Economic concerns
Midwives bring oxygen with them to home births.
How do they administer oxygen if baby is stuck in the birth canal or cord is restricting airflow before being dilated enough to push?