Home Births

[FutureNrse]

I'd like to hear some opinions on home birth. If the woman is healthy, has had great prenatal care, and has previously delivered healthy babies with no difficulties, would you say that this still is an absolute no-no? Attitudes about childbirth seem to change on a regular basis, but it seems to me that more and more lately one rarely even hears of a natural birth.

So, any comments?

[fergus51]

Personally, I wish birthing centers were more common. I can understand why a lot of women don't want to deliver in hospitals, but my personal preference would be a birth center staffed by midwives and L&D nurses attached to a hospital. Sort of the best of both worlds, since I wouldn't feel comfortable giving birth at home but I'd still like that homey atmosphere.

[Tashia]

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?

This is her second.