Home birth vs. hospital

[rnmi2004]

I belong to another parenting board & one of the debates that surfaces every so often is home birth vs. hospital birth. There are so many pro-home birthers that talk about how natural home birth is. I understand that the many interventions used in hospitals can turn a mom off to birthing there, but I still cringe at the idea of a prolapse, abruption, previa, etc. happening at home. Also, in the short time I've had clinicals in a postpartum unit at the hospital, I've seen two babies turn blue from lack of oxygen and been rushed to the special care nursery.

Would any of you care to share incidences where a home birth would have resulted in serious harm? Thanks for your time!

[midwifemamma]

I agree that the child abuse analogy is going too far, and it could very easily be turned around the other way. As parents, I believe that we are doing what we perceive as the best for our children when we choose where to birth them, whether it be at home, a birth center, or a hospital.

I had my last child at home, and I plan to have my future children at home as well. I am a high risk labor and delivery nurse, and I still feel that having my babies at home is the right choice for my babies and family. And I am not the only nurse where I work who has chosen to have her babies at home, there are a number of us.

[2curlygirls]

I just get weary of hearing the "sheeple" comments and how we, who hospital birth and choose pain meds haven't "done the research". And the "selfishness" of my generation comment very much rubbed me wrong.

I guarantee, I have done the research and I'm not selfish in the least (my severe sleep deprivation can attest to that!). And, I've had 2 amazing, comfortable, peaceful, hospital births and two incredibly healthy kids. I picked my place of delivery based on all the options available (jacuzzi's, liberal monitoring policies, etc.)

Plus, I'm bombarded daily by what can, and does, go wrong. I hear people say they don't want ultrasounds, GBS testing and I'm agog! Occupational hazard of NICU nursing. I wish I could go back to my bubble of peace but that's long gone.

So until pain meds and a NICU team are an option at home, I'll be in the hospital.

Oh, and I don't think I would consider Vitamin K or erythro oint. child abuse either.