Home birth

[Anagray]

Should babies be delivered at home ?

[Jolie, BSN]

I voted "yes". I know that's sounds a little inconsistent coming from me, the NICU control freak. I would NEVER do it myself, or participate in a home birth, or encourage anyone elso to, but I do believe that parents should have that choice. They must then be willing to live with the consequences of their choice. One of the very first babies I cared for as a new grad in the NICU was a severely brain damaged infant who suffered meconium aspiration at her home birth. The midwife was attending to the hemorrhaging mother, and there was no one available to care for the baby. She was never suctioned, and several minutes passed before the midwife began CPR. A second pair of skilled hands was all that would have been needed to prevent this tragedy. But I still support the parents right to choose their healthcare provider and setting.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I would do it myself in a minute, but I would want at least 2 professionals present for the actual birth, and fast 911 ambulance service.

[keeper]

I posted yes, but I am biased (and happily so), as I've had two wonderful homebirths and two hospital births that were okay, but could have used improvement.

I want to point out that when a homebirther transfers to the hospital with complications such as PPH and lady partsl lacerations, this shouldn't be viewed as evidence of the danger of homebirth. This happens in any setting to a certain amount of women. The fact that the woman is presenting at the hospital is a sign that she and her attendant understand when it's time to transfer. There are many, many more homebirths you know nothing about, because the need for transfer was not there.

I'm a very religious person, so I think a lot of the "what if's" can be put to rest with a simple prayer. I've had friends who truly wanted a home birth but gave birth in a hospital after praying and feeling that's where they needed to be. If I were given that kind of answer, even during a completely uncomplicated pregnancy, I would listen and birth where I needed to. There's a lot to intuition, and the homebirthers and midwives I've known have had tons!

Last thought: No babies are "delivered" at home! I know I'm splitting hairs over terminology, but delivery implies a birthing woman as a passive participant having her baby delivered to her by her active attendant, as opposed to a glorious, powerful woman actively giving birth to her child. I've heard the phrase, "The only thing that ought to be delivered at home is a pizza," so many times, and I completely agree! The midwifery flip of that statement: "Pizza boys deliver; women give birth."

I'm not exactly sure how pizza has become so involved in the birth process, but I digress....LOL.

Anyway, I'm glad so many are willing to agree with my right to homebirth, even if you don't agree with the practice.

Sarah

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Now I'm hungry for pizza with extra cheese. Thanks.

[RNonsense]

I think it's risky. A strong movement with Midwives is gaining momentum in BC, and I think that's great. My own choice though would be in a hospital setting.

[joyflnoyz, LPN]

I am absolutely in FAVOR of homebirth! 'Course I was the neighborhood radical cuz I breast fed (OHMYGOSH!) my babies.

THEN I began home eduation...and the last 2 (out of 4 kids) were born at home.

I had toxemia

monitor, NPO. Hubster took care of me the whole time, putting me on and off the bedpan, wiping my butt, even pointing out to the RN that she had fed the IV tubing thru the IVAC pump the wrong way. She insisted she had it right and the pump kept sounding off (with said nurse stating :"I don't know WHAT is wrong with this pump") Tom finally rethreaded it himself when she left the room.

#2 Doc was gonna throw me in the hospital til he found out we didn't have insurance; taught Tom to take BPs and insisted I make the trip into his office everyday for a check

With #s 3 and 4 the midwives talked to me about nutrition exercise, rest. Lots of leafy greens and protein. Even gave me a book a DR in NY had written (What Every Pregnant Woman should Know) about toxemia/nutrition connection. I was able to labor at home, walked the block and avoided the agonizing ride to the hosp and having the need for an advocate to avoid all the interventions that were deemed "routine".

We DID have OB back up just in case we needed to transfer, but in reality in an emergency situation you get whom ever is there anyway, and we didn't take the stand that "I'm not going no matter what" THAT would have been extremely foolish,

Sandy (putting on her asbestos suit)

why can't I see the typos before I save the 1st time???

[spineCNOR]

After working L&D in hospitals for years, I can understand why a couple would want to give birth at home, as the objective of some obstetricians is that childbirth is a disease to be actively managed, and gotten over with as quickly as possible. It is essential that the woman have a qualified birth attendant, have good prenatal care, and very carefully screened for any potential problems, and live close to a hospital with C/S capability.

It is also essential that the couple be willing to take on the responsibility that goes with this choice, that if there are unforseen, unavoidable complications the couple must be willing to share the responsibility--which is contrary to the "victim" mindset of people today.

[ayemmeff]

As a prolapsed cord and severe PPH veteren,(Both DS and I nearly died)I'm a hospital girl all the way!

Having said that if someone wants to go for a homebirth,I wouldn't stand in their way.(Nor would I be anywhere in the vicinity though!)

[emily_mom]

I voted no, as if I would have done it, neither I nor Emily would be here today.

[ERNurse752, RN]

To clarify my previous post...I think it should be everyone's right to have a home birth if they want to, if they are a good candidate, and if they have competent and qualified personnel present. For myself...sh*t happens, so I still wouldn't do it.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

I voted no, too risky in my opinion.

[mark_LD_RN]

i voted yes also we almost had our last one at home, but due to our age and my nerves we decided on me delivering it in the hospital with doc present and leaving hospital 4 hours after delivery,hind site home birth would have been great especially since we lived less than 10 minutes away from hospital:)