My opinion is that most women would be safer at home than the hospital. This is supported by reems of research. It breaks my heart to watch normal mothers and babies being put through things that make them more uncomfortable, and if research proves anything, less safe. A study done just a couple of years ago showed that statistically speaking all catergories of babies and mothers did better at home except for micropremies-- those under 34 weeks of pregnancy. As soon as the first interuption of the normal birth process occurs, women begin losing choices and their safety and that of their baby is compromised, even if only slightly
( ... )
You'd have to do it in Arizona because midwifery, at least independent midwifery, is illegal in Kentucky. I think I could practice in Tennesee, too, but I'm not sure.
I could easily have had Eddie and Jonathan at home. My labors for them were quick and relatively uncomplicated. In fact, I almost did have Jonny at home. My labor was 2 hours, 20 minutes from start to finish!!! My mom and dad were scared that they would have to help deliver him! It's very fortunate we are less than five minutes from the hospital
( ... )
Oh, Booster! If I had been there, you would have been covered up! I think that because birth is so "everyday" to hospital staff, they forget that not carefully covering a woman is embarrassing to her and detracts from her dignity. When I attend as a doula, I keep the privacy curtain pulled between the bed and the door at all times, just so in the event that they come in while she moving or uncovered in some way, she's shielded from the hall. I also keep the lights low for an added sense of privacy. Preserving a woman's diginty and protecting her memory of the birth is high on the priority list.
I appreciate it! I wish you could've been there, too!
Overall, except for Davey's traumatic birth, my birthing experiences weren't terribly bad. I'd rate them a 5 or 6 on a scale of 1-10. I know ladies who've gone through much worse, including one of Doc's cousins.
I'd say my experience with Daniel's birth was probably a 2 on that scale. of course, if that's the only way I could get him, I'd do it again. The only birth worse than his was my stillbirth. The situation sucked enough on it's own, but then the doctor wanted to make me stay 3 days on mag sulfate and wouldn't discharge me when I refused the mag. I had to sign out AMA. Rachel's birth was probably a 9. Only detracting point being I had to get in a car and ride to the center trying not to push the whole way. Jacob's was a 5 because though it was a very good birth in terms of what I wanted, he was turned weirdly and was hard to push out. Caleb's birth was a 10 all the way. No difficulty at all. I didn't even experience anything other than pressure as long as I stayed in the water.
1) 25 2) 25 3) 3%, 30% 4) 10-12%, 26.6%(it was around 4% in the 70's in the US) 5) life saving in the event of very rare complications, otherwise it's riskier across the board 6) none
Most of the stats came from the World Health Organization from the late 90's. I haven't seen their most recent report. I doubt it's much different, though, since we've been basically tied with Canada for dreadful maternal and infant mortality ratings, among the lowest in the industrialized world. Then questions #5-6 are from research collated by Henci Goer from research done over the course of the last 20 years.
The rest of it came from the hospitals and midwives I interviewed in Florida, since I haven't been here long enough to know everyone and their stats.
What a cool story! I think the homebirths have made a real impact on my older kids. I asked Rachel about it the other day, if Caleb's birth freaked her out (she was 7). She rolled her eyes and said, "no, Mom, it was cool."
Comments 27
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Overall, except for Davey's traumatic birth, my birthing experiences weren't terribly bad. I'd rate them a 5 or 6 on a scale of 1-10. I know ladies who've gone through much worse, including one of Doc's cousins.
Reply
Reply
1) 25
2) 25
3) 3%, 30%
4) 10-12%, 26.6%(it was around 4% in the 70's in the US)
5) life saving in the event of very rare complications, otherwise it's riskier across the board
6) none
Reply
Reply
Most of the stats came from the World Health Organization from the late 90's. I haven't seen their most recent report. I doubt it's much different, though, since we've been basically tied with Canada for dreadful maternal and infant mortality ratings, among the lowest in the industrialized world. Then questions #5-6 are from research collated by Henci Goer from research done over the course of the last 20 years.
The rest of it came from the hospitals and midwives I interviewed in Florida, since I haven't been here long enough to know everyone and their stats.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment