Would you consider a home birth?

Mags4711, RN · May 5, 2006

Thanks for your support, Faith. I'm bowing out becuase when things get nasty and personal it's time for me to go.

In the time it took for me to get this silly computer to do what I wanted it to and edit my previous post, you posted. :)

Please read my addendum to my previous post and comment if you wish, I truly appreciate your point of view, especially as a woman who has given birth, multiple times in each setting.

lovemyjob · May 5, 2006

I do think your comments directed towards me are way out of line. No, I do not blame mothers for births gone wrong. However, I know from my own experience and that of my friends that when a woman is in a childbirth situation where she does not feel safe/supported/secure, labor tends to stall and things go wrong. My first hospital birth was an awful experience because of insensitive, uncaring nurses (or maybe they were just overworked but that's not my problem.) Fact is, I did not get the care and attention that I needed to have a safe and comfortable birth. For two days after the birth I had to lie there in discomfort because I had no shower in my room and was unable to walk down the long hallway to get to the shower, and no nurse was available to assist me. I could go on and on. Please don't accuse me of putting my own comfort before my baby. If all I cared about was my own comfort I could have gone to the hospital and taken the epidural. Poof, my troubles are over. It's because I strongly believe in the value of natural, unmedicated childbirth for both myself and my baby that I delivered at home, where I have my own stress-management tools available to me. Stressed mother = stressed baby, in my book. Trying to go natural in the strange and unnatural environment of a hospital, where comfort measures were not easily available to me, proved to be too stressful.
My homebirthed babies thrived from having ongoing skin-to-skin from the moment of birth unlike my hospital birthed son who was taken to a nursery and stuffed with formula (which he promptly vomited) because the nurse decided he was hungry.
You have a right to birth where you choose. I hired a competent, professional experienced midwife who was wonderful and we would have transferred at the first hint of problems. I am pleased with my homebirth experience and if I were in the .001% that had problems that would make me no different from the small percentage of hospital birthers who had problems.
Your tone was rude and inappropriate for a nurse as you made personal judgmental comments directed against me, not just the general situation.
Bowing out of this thread now.

You arent understanding. No one is syaing tht hospital births dont come with similar risks as home births, many of us are syaing that the minutes lost between home and hospital with high level NICU are precious. You and your circle of friends you been fortunate enough to have healthy babies with no complications. However, one baby dead b/c of homebirth is one too many.

I dont know what hospital you went to but I wouldnt go back either, I would find a better hospital. Both hospitals I work in and others I know of have all been very supportive of the mothers decision regarding delivery position, pain control, walking during labor, skin to skin (as long as baby is breathing after stimulation),etc. We arent thrilled when parents refuse to have a sepsis workup done when there are multiple risk factors for infection. GBS is a serious bug. We are consumers of healthcare and need "shop" where we get good service. I wouldnt go to a mechanic where last time my car came back more broken than when I left it.

I do not agree that b/c I am a nurse means I cant have an opinion about a topic. Beat me down b/c you think I am "judging" but I am not afraid of stating my opinion of an unsafe practice in fear of being considered "judgemental." I dont see how I can judge the situation and not the person who chooses to put themsleves in the situation I am judging. Our society is paralyzed in fear of being considered judgemental. Would I stand by and watch a kid play in a busy street while mom sat aside because she thinks boundaries inhibit personality development?? No, I think the theory is ridiculous. I would nicely tell the child to get out of the road, and then HELP him out of the road if he refused. OMG, that was judging how she chooses to raise her children!! I am not saying that just b/c I dont agree means I think it is wrong. But, seeing one asphyxiated baby from homebirth is enough to sway my opinion and my judgement of people who choose to take the risk. However, my judgement does not change the care I provide my patients and their families. I care for all of my babies like I would care for my own, and treat all of the families like I would my own.

midwifemamma · May 5, 2006

Could you live with yourself if you had a homebirth and you were that small percentage where MAS, asphyxia, PPHN, ect and your baby either died or ended up wih severe brain damage? Could you really live with yourself? maybe those who have had great outcomes should count themselves lucky, because there have been some very sad situations where parents end up with no baby at all. Why risk it.
I have NO symapathy for the parents who have poor outcomes resulting from home births/refusal to accept madical care (refusing blood work/abx on gbs pos/Prolonged ROM..just ridiculous). I grieve for the innocent baby who trusted his/her parents to care for him and keep him safe, and was let down.

I was wondering what equipment you think are brought to homebirths? also, do you have no sympathy for the people who chose hospital birth and had bad outcomes due to interventions that led to more interventions, which would not have happened at home?

In my area we bring (to name just a few items): oxygen, suction, resuscitation equipment, IV fluids, IV equipment, antibiotics (for GBS), epinephrine, meds for PPH (pitocin, cytotec), mag sulfate, and many other items.

I think there tends to be a misunderstanding in general about homebirth, hospital births, and evidence.

It was also mentioned that one bad homebirth all it takes to convince you. Well for me, I’ve seen too many bad hospital birth outcomes to convince me that it is not the choice for me..

I used to feel that homebirths were too risky and unsafe. But during my last pregnancy I decided to research for myself and make the decision that I felt was the best and safest option for my baby. Choosing a homebirth was not a decision I made lightly. I did my research, interviewed midwives, and asked a lot of questions about training and equipment brought to births.

A coworker had hospital birth a few years back and her baby died after a shoulder dystocia. Had she been at home, the homebirth would have been blamed. The hospital is not perfect either.

I saw an OB until 36 weeks and was planning on delivering in the hospital. I researched homebirth and interviewed around and changed my mind. My OB also thought my baby would be small. I am a tiny woman and gave birth to a 10lb 6oz baby, with a 14.5 inch head and a 16 inch chest (over an INTACT perineum) at HOME. My son did have a shoulder dystocia and required resuscitation (PPV) to come around. My midwives were well prepared and handled it very well. We did not end up needing to go to the hospital.

I can completely understand that as NICU nurses you have seen bad outcomes (for hospital births and homebirths) and I respect that many of you choose to birth in the hospital. For me, as a RN, I have seen too many bad outcomes in the hospital and I feel safer at home. If I were ever considered high risk during a pregnancy I would definitely birth in the hospital. I think that having a choice in childbirth is important, as is making an informed decision

I think with hospitals and cesareans, I’m glad that option is there if NEEDED.

For me, I personally felt that having a hospital birth was a risk I didn’t want to take. I didn’t want to increase my chance of an unnecessary cesarean, episiotomy, instrumental delivery etc. It was a personal choice that I made in the best interest of my child due to bad outcomes I’ve seen I felt quite safe at home.

I do not feel that my son was at increased risk at all. I recommend researching and learning more about birth if you truly believe that.

In my area, as I mentioned, we do carry emergency equipment and are trained to use it. We are also very near to many hospitals as well.

midwifemamma · May 5, 2006

Would I stand by and watch a kid play in a busy street while mom sat aside because she thinks boundaries inhibit personality development?? No, I think the theory is ridiculous. I would nicely tell the child to get out of the road, and then HELP him out of the road if he refused. OMG, that was judging how she chooses to raise her children!! I am not saying that just b/c I dont agree means I think it is wrong. But, seeing one asphyxiated baby from homebirth is enough to sway my opinion and my judgement of people who choose to take the risk. However, my judgement does not change the care I provide my patients and their families. I care for all of my babies like I would care for my own, and treat all of the families like I would my own.

so do you advocate for decreasing the number of unnecessary cesareans? do you advocate for natural birth, avoiding epidurals and medications due to effects on the baby? do you also judge the moms who choose to have medicated births and end up with babies with respiratory depression? do you judge the moms who choose circumcision?

midwifemamma · May 5, 2006

also, i know i'm not a NICU nurse, but i am an RN, and i feel very passionate about this and couldn't resist the urge to jump into this thread.

midwifemamma · May 5, 2006

ChayaN: The comments you made about your home birth all focused on you and your experience, just what one of the other posters said. Once you become a nurse and see the many realities of childbirth, maybe you will change your mind.

i became a nurse, have seen the realities of childbirth, and am convinced of the safety of homebirth.

education is so important, i'm so glad i have chosen to truly educate myself about this, i love my children that much that i took it on myself to research, be educated, and make the choice that was right for us. i don't feel that saying "i've seen a homebirth(s) go wrong" is enough. the same is said for hospital births. TRULY educating oneself and being very informed is so important.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 5, 2006

No, i don't work in the NICU, but i've seen enough stat sections that started OUT as homebirths to know that i wouldn't have one myself.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 5, 2006

Once you become a nurse and see the many realities of childbirth, maybe you will change your mind.

Or maybe not.

lovemyjob · May 5, 2006

I was wondering what equipment you think are brought to homebirths? also, do you have no sympathy for the people who chose hospital birth and had bad outcomes due to interventions that led to more interventions, which would not have happened at home?
In my area we bring (to name just a few items): oxygen, suction, resuscitation equipment, IV fluids, IV equipment, antibiotics (for GBS), epinephrine, meds for PPH (pitocin, cytotec), mag sulfate, and many other items.
All of this equipment is great but when there is one or two people there to use it, oppose to 4-5 at a hospital, there is an advantage to going to a hospital. Resuscitation is difficult when there is only one person to do it (IV, Epi, PPV, compressions...a lot for one person.) I have not seen any articles/research but I am sure resus is more effective when performed by more than one person.
I think there tends to be a misunderstanding in general about homebirth, hospital births, and evidence.
It was also mentioned that one bad homebirth all it takes to convince you. Well for me, I've seen too many bad hospital birth outcomes to convince me that it is not the choice for me..
I used to feel that homebirths were too risky and unsafe. But during my last pregnancy I decided to research for myself and make the decision that I felt was the best and safest option for my baby. Choosing a homebirth was not a decision I made lightly. I did my research, interviewed midwives, and asked a lot of questions about training and equipment brought to births.
A coworker had hospital birth a few years back and her baby died after a shoulder dystocia. Had she been at home, the homebirth would have been blamed. The hospital is not perfect either.
I saw an OB until 36 weeks and was planning on delivering in the hospital. I researched homebirth and interviewed around and changed my mind. My OB also thought my baby would be small. I am a tiny woman and gave birth to a 10lb 6oz baby, with a 14.5 inch head and a 16 inch chest (over an INTACT perineum) at HOME. My son did have a shoulder dystocia and required resuscitation (PPV) to come around. My midwives were well prepared and handled it very well. We did not end up needing to go to the hospital.
I can completely understand that as NICU nurses you have seen bad outcomes (for hospital births and homebirths) and I respect that many of you choose to birth in the hospital. For me, as a RN, I have seen too many bad outcomes in the hospital and I feel safer at home. If I were ever considered high risk during a pregnancy I would definitely birth in the hospital. I think that having a choice in childbirth is important, as is making an informed decision
I think with hospitals and cesareans, I'm glad that option is there if NEEDED.
For me, I personally felt that having a hospital birth was a risk I didn't want to take. I didn't want to increase my chance of an unnecessary cesarean, episiotomy, instrumental delivery etc. It was a personal choice that I made in the best interest of my child due to bad outcomes I've seen I felt quite safe at home.
I do not feel that my son was at increased risk at all. I recommend researching and learning more about birth if you truly believe that.
In my area, as I mentioned, we do carry emergency equipment and are trained to use it. We are also very near to many hospitals as well.

the midwives at both of the hospitals i work in do not do home births, and though they are at the hospital, they do not do episiotomies routinely, have several rooms equipped for water births, stay with their patients for support, and do all of the other things to make their patients comfortable. It sounds like the issue is geography rather than care. Having a baby at a hospital does not mean you have an epidural, pit, episiotomy,your baby stuffed with formula (I am a huge breastfeeding advocate and when in newborn, never give a baby who is designated as br formula unless mother requests it, and then only after a discussion/assist.) Those decisions are made by your practitoner. That is why, just like you found someone to do your home birth with, you should do the same for OB's, or hospital based midwives. Find someone who will support you and your preferences during labor/delivery.....just in a setting where help is seconds away, not several minutes.

I do not see my view as uneducated, I see it as conservative/not willing to risk a problem outside of a hospital.

*****third para is my writing...couldnt figure out how to respond to seperate quoted sections...***

midwifemamma · May 5, 2006

That is why, just like you found someone to do your home birth with, you should do the same for OB's, or hospital based midwives. Find someone who will support you and your preferences during labor/delivery.....just in a setting where help is seconds away, not several minutes.

it's a personal choice. we can review the same literature and reach different conclusions.

based on my experience, my education, and my research, i feel safer being at home. like i said, we have equipment so help is right there. if a transfer is needed, we transfer. it is a choice that i and other women make. it does not make us bad moms, or mean that you then have the right to judge us, not at all. but you've already said you judge anyway. that is your right, i just choose not to judge others, especially as a nurse. i guess i just have different values.

midwifemamma · May 5, 2006

also, your hospitals sound much better than the hospitals here. therefore, many women do make the decision to birth at home for many reasons including the care the hospitals give. i don't feel they should be judged for that.

yvonnemuse, BSN, RN · May 5, 2006

I had a wonderful homebirth with my elder son and planned one for my second.I had a thoroughly prepared,very experienced CNM who actually delivered MORE babes in this particular county than the local hospital did!!. I was monitered throughout my pregnancy .My lab work was scrutinized and progress carefully recorded. I was in excellent hands.My CNM came when I asked her to and did not wait til she thought delivery was close enough. SHe stayed for hours after the birth and did house visits all week, doing the needed labwork on my babe. I can understand those who have seen the worst possible outcome would abhor the idea of a homebirth.However I made my CHOICE with research,knowledge,heart and happiness. My hospital birthing experience was the truly sad one.(another story for another forum)I am sure this has been stated, but I have seen negative outcomes from hospital births as well.