Home Births

BETSRN · Feb 9, 2005

:stone Having a homebirth is selfish, needlessly puts the child at risk, and is never, ever a good idea.
It doesn't matter how many uncomplicated births you have had or how experienced the people attending to you are - birth is the most difficult and risky event of life (for the infant - not the mother) and something could go wrong at any moment.
If you want your baby to have the best chance possible, don't have your baby at home. A few days of having to be in the hospital is nothing compared to the permanant injury that can be caused by even seconds of delay in the birthing process.
I have seen this from both the clinical aspect (working postpartum) and from the legal side, working on cases where children have permanant impairments related to birth events.
It does not benefit the infant. :stone

While I certainly do NOT think that the majority of people who choose homebirth are being selfish, I will admit that I do think, ON OCCASION, that maybe the decision is selfish, especially when it's one of those mothers (or couples) who are into the "it's all about me" mode. I have seen a couple of those who clearly do NOT have the infant's best interests in mind. I am so glad those people are far and few between.

Betty_SPN_KS, LPN · Feb 9, 2005

While I certainly do NOT think that the majority of people who choose homebirth are being selfish, I will admit that I do think, ON OCCASION, that maybe the decision is selfish, especially when it's one of those mothers (or couples) who are into the "it's all about me" mode. I have seen a couple of those who clearly do NOT have the infant's best interests in mind. I am so glad those people are far and few between.

True. I once heard of a case where the mother begged to be taken to the hospital. Her husband refused, and both she and the baby died.

BETSRN · Feb 10, 2005

True. I once heard of a case where the mother begged to be taken to the hospital. Her husband refused, and both she and the baby died.

That's one of those "selfish" cases where , in this case, it is all about Dad! Sad, isn't it? We get one of those dads every now and again (not refusing to bring Mom to the hospital) who pouts and sort os is bent out of shape because all of a sudden, it is NOt all about him (like it ever was.....). Those guys drive me nuts!

nursey_girl · Feb 10, 2005

There was a once upon a time that I felt like home births was a great option, but after working in labor and delivery for 8 years, I've learned that the lowest of risk can suddenly turn into a very ugly situation...I have a rapport with out local midwives, but I'm against the home thing...It scares me. And when it becomes ugly, it's uglier by the time they get transferred to me, which is a very common occurence! :cool:

judy ann · Feb 10, 2005

There was a once upon a time that I felt like home births was a great option, but after working in labor and delivery for 8 years, I've learned that the lowest of risk can suddenly turn into a very ugly situation...I have a rapport with out local midwives, but I'm against the home thing...It scares me. And when it becomes ugly, it's uglier by the time they get transferred to me, which is a very common occurence!

After MANY years of labor and delivery---- :uhoh21: AMEN! :bluecry1:

cnaanswers2005 · Feb 10, 2005

After MANY years of labor and delivery---- :uhoh21: AMEN!

One of my best friends mom had a home delivery back in 1976 and the midwife did not clean out all of the after birth stuff and amongst other things..Not even 2 days later she was rushed to the ER.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2005

I was planning on a home birth but I started spilling protein (checking daily because I had high blood pressure and swelling) and was sent to the hospital to be induced.

In hospital I was treated like absolute crap by the nurses (and I was a working nurse in their hospital system). They were cold, didn't involve themselves at all with me, and didn't talk to me when my son was taken to level two nursery (he was five grams under their cut-off).

Everything I had wanted for my birth and delivery was gone and then my newborn was gone from me as well. There was no compassion; only a haughty attitude that made me feel as if I were the lowest form of pathetic scum.

I used to want to be a midwife; it's why I started nursing school in the first place. Now, I just don;t think I could work in that kind of enviornment.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 10, 2005

Those of you reporting horrible experience, I sure hope you reported these to management. That is inexcuseable to be treated horribly by anyone. I just wish people like this did not give the rest of us such a bad name. Cause they are NOT in the majority.

Tashia · Feb 10, 2005

my sister recently gave birth to her second at home ( a girl, rebecca )and she had her in the tub. she said her labor was much harder than the first because of being in the water.

she had the worst bladder infection and now 4 months later she still feels a little pain. people that we talked to said it's because she had her in the water and is liable to infection more-so than having the baby out of water.

just wondering if anyone else has ever heard of the high risk of infection in water births.size]

Jolie, BSN · Feb 10, 2005

my sister recently gave birth to her second at home ( a girl, rebecca )and she had her in the tub. she said her labor was much harder than the first because of being in the water.
she had the worst bladder infection and now 4 months later she still feels a little pain. people that we talked to said it's because she had her in the water and is liable to infection more-so than having the baby out of water.
just wondering if anyone else has ever heard of the high risk of infection in water births.size]

absolutely not. properly managed, water birthing does not predispose one to infection.

BETSRN · Feb 10, 2005

my sister recently gave birth to her second at home ( a girl, rebecca )and she had her in the tub. she said her labor was much harder than the first because of being in the water.
she had the worst bladder infection and now 4 months later she still feels a little pain. people that we talked to said it's because she had her in the water and is liable to infection more-so than having the baby out of water.
just wondering if anyone else has ever heard of the high risk of infection in water births.size]

i would have trouble believeing that. from my experience with laboring patients, i would say that usually being in the tub for labor eases the pains in most poeple.

as far as her bladder infection goes, if she is still having problems, she needs to see a urologist and get a thorough work-up to see where the problems lie.

i doubt that you are more liable to infection in the water. the literature supports the use of water for labor. there are contraindications specific to each institution (like + gbs or rom >18 hours at my place for instance) but that's it.

your sister needs some good reliable follow up from either her gyn or a urologist. please encourage her to do that. is this her first baby?

BETSRN · Feb 10, 2005

I was planning on a home birth but I started spilling protein (checking daily because I had high blood pressure and swelling) and was sent to the hospital to be induced.
In hospital I was treated like absolute crap by the nurses (and I was a working nurse in their hospital system). They were cold, didn't involve themselves at all with me, and didn't talk to me when my son was taken to level two nursery (he was five grams under their cut-off).
Everything I had wanted for my birth and delivery was gone and then my newborn was gone from me as well. There was no compassion; only a haughty attitude that made me feel as if I were the lowest form of pathetic scum.
I used to want to be a midwife; it's why I started nursing school in the first place. Now, I just don;t think I could work in that kind of enviornment.

I hope you will follow through with your complaints and make a thorough report to the hospital and to the nurse manager of that specific L&D unit.