Home Births -- The Good, the bad, and the Ugly

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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Specializes in LTC.

Can you OB/GYN nurses give me your feedback about home births...good and bad?

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I did about 50 homebirths as an apprenticed licensed midwife under the preceptorship of an CNM and Cert. Professional Midwives as well as a birth center. As long as the midwife is a CPM or CNM and follows the standard of care, taking only low risk mothers, the risks are low. Almost no different than delivering in a rural hospital that cannot do c sections or that takes over an hr to set up for a c section. Yes, had a few complications--did a lady partsl exam and felt fingers...transported for C/S. Delivered twins -SURPRISE! (7 lbs each) to a mother whose last baby weighed 9 lbs and she was only 1 week large for dates...and remember, train wrecks happen in hospitals too!

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My own homebirth- good:) After working in L & D I couldn't stand to have my normal lady partsl delivery turned into a three ring circus of intervention. I have yet to see a normal birth in the hospital that wasn't interfered with in some way- even when I try my best it seems the MD cuts epis at the last second just so things can't go by without some interference.

To be fair, I had AROM and IV abx for GBS at home- I believe necessary intervention is what makes homebirth safe.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
Can you OB/GYN nurses give me your feedback about home births...good and bad?

Can I ask why you want this information?

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Specializes in OB.
My own homebirth- good:) After working in L & D I couldn't stand to have my normal lady partsl delivery turned into a three ring circus of intervention. I have yet to see a normal birth in the hospital that wasn't interfered with in some way- even when I try my best it seems the MD cuts epis at the last second just so things can't go by without some interference.

To be fair, I had AROM and IV abx for GBS at home- I believe necessary intervention is what makes homebirth safe.

I actually had a doc come in once on a delivery that he was about to miss because the baby was COMING! He actually yelled at the woman to stop pushing, held the head in with one hand (it was practically crowning), and cut an episitomy! Unbelievable!! She was stretching beautifully and I'm sure wouldn't have torn if left alone. Made me wish I'd called him 2 minutes later than I did!:angryfire

I totally GET homebirth! Other than getting a good midwife, a homebirth is the only control a woman is going to have.

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Specializes in LTC.
Can I ask why you want this information?

I have a co-worker that just had a home birth. The other staff and I were discussing the ramifications and I was interested in the opinions of other nurses that have some experience in this arena.

Can I ask why you wanted to know why I wanted this information? It is my understanding that this type of question is what allnurses is all about.....I don't see others getting questioned for their posts....

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

If you do a search, you will find some lengthy and heated topics about homebirth, I am sure that is why she is asking.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

To the OP and anyone else concerned: The subjects of homebirth, as well as unassisted birth----and debated safety/need for hospital birth are rife with controversy and often become heated. We just want to be sure you are not seeking a form of medical advice or simply stirring the pot. Pardon the question as to your intention; please feel welcome here and do enjoy our other threads in the forum!

THANKS!!!

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discussing the ramifications and I was interested in the opinions of other nurses that have some experience in this arena.

....

There aren't really any "ramifications." There are a very few situations where it might be safer to be in the hospital- abruption for instance. But that depends on the hospital- many are not staffed by OB/anesthesia 24/7 so you might be faster to transport from your house to a hospital that does have 24/7 coverage. The hospital where I worked did not and two hours to assemble an OR team was not out of the ordinary. So much for 30 minutes "decision to incision."

But if you compare the relative risks of abruption compared to the increased morbidity of hospitals- unnecessary c-section, episiotomy, infections (no MRSA at my house!), etc homebirth can easily come out on top.

Research has proven homebirth to be as safe or safer than hospital birth for the low risk woman. The UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Canada all endorse and offer midwifery and homebirth care. The U.S. is the only country where the medical establishment has taken a hard line against homebirth- and also the only for-profit system, see the connection?

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
I have a co-worker that just had a home birth. The other staff and I were discussing the ramifications and I was interested in the opinions of other nurses that have some experience in this arena.

Can I ask why you wanted to know why I wanted this information? It is my understanding that this type of question is what allnurses is all about.....I don't see others getting questioned for their posts....

I just wanted to know if it was for a project I would have given you some links, I would have done some research as I have some good sources. I had my educators hat on not asking as a mod.

I have done lots of home births

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