Hey everyone :)

Just reading this article @ Jezebel: http://jezebel.com/5869719/study-shows-home-births-arent-as-safe-so-what it links to a published study.

I've love to hear what you think about the issue, and what your experiences have been like 

I have given birth at home twice. You could not PAY ME to go to a hospital to give birth. Ever.

I tend to think their data is skewed, after all, home births are going to cut into hospitals/OBs bottom line. It's big business.

Giving birth is a facet of female sexuality, and should be a private matter, with the mother's choices and philosophy respected. Hospital birth does not honour and respect women, or the mother/baby unit. Once inside their doors, they're going to cover their asses; no matter what the psychological repercussions are. So what if the mother later drowns her infant, while suffering from PPD that they helped plunge her into ? They rescued the fetus from a hostile environment (mom's body), and got both out the door alive and breathing; with no grounds for a lawsuit. That's all that matters to a hospital. No lie.

I trust birth and I trust my body's innate knowlege. Period.

This article looks like (yet another) attempt to smear and discredit midwifery, as they are usually the professionals attending the homebirths. They've failed to mention infant and mother morbidity and mortality rates for in-hospital, vaginal births. The stats are shameful.

My one and only was born at home... Im soooo with le soleil on this one "<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">You could not PAY ME to go to a hospital to give birth. Ever."

Once you are inside the hospital doors, you loose your right to make informed decisions. You are treated like you are crazy and do not know what is best for yourself or your child... You are just the hormonal/ ignorant mother... GAH!!!

The doctors may break your water before its time, use unnessary interventions, pump the mother full of drugs, and that puts the baby into artificial stress and go in with forsepts or worse unnessary C-sections. These are only a few of the 'routine' things done to birthing women... being trained as a doula I have heard many a horror story. Teaching hospitals are worse yet cause you dont know how many interns are gonna have their hands in your Yoni. 

Also... hospitals are for sick people... a woman in labor is not sick.

Hey, momma webb, good to see you again ! *waves*

I'm a college-trained birth doula, as well...

::bump::

Should I ever have a baby, I want it to be at home. I want the freedom to walk around, to move, to be naked and do what I need to do as far as pain management and what feels natural.

Something about the idea of the father assisting in the birth of the child really hits me in the right spots, too.

I would support you in that, 110% luci ! : )  Being a Pisces, how does the idea of a water birth hit you ? Just curious.

When it's time for us, we're going to try to do a home birth.

Currently, we're discussing an unassisted birth, but that's not as set.

My friend is an ambulance driver, and either way, he's said he's going to park his ambulance outside the house! Such a sweetheart! :) 

We would like our next to be born at home.

Cecile, I think every situation is different.  If I had been under 36, not a high risk pregnancy, and with a loving and supportive husband I would have chosen a home birth too.  I was on my own, 36 and with a thyroid problem (considered a high risk pregnancy in Canada).  I had friends who were willing to help me and they did so, in the hospital.  There is certainly a mystique around a home birth and I have many friends who did home births - it can be a wonderful experience under the right conditions.  Unfortunately not all of us get pregnant under the right circumstances with the right loving supportive guy to help us out.

While I can understand the vocal opinions many people have about home birth, I don't think those of us that had less than ideal pregnancies should be ridiculed or shunned for our decisions.  We all do what we can to cope within the situations we are faced.

mahchi, much love! I know I hear from women who have c-sections that they feel hurt when their friends were able to have vaginal births. Some tell me that they feel that they weren't "Good enough" or something silly like that. I can imagine that for women who wanted to do a home birth, but couldn't, the feeling could be similar.

Whether a person has a home birth, all the way up to a c-section, they cared for their child and weighed the options and chose the best for their sitation -- there is no better, stronger, wiser, more caring mother than that. :) 

thanks blessedwhitney!  My daughter did have a normal birth but I have 2 friends who had their first children - one at age 38 and one at 40. Neither birth went as planned.  You never know which way it's going to go - both ended up with C-sections after having been in labour for upwards of 30 hours.  I think ultimately the decision to have a baby in a hospital (and hospitals are different!), is because women are scared of losing their baby and don't want to risk something going wrong.  This is more of a fear when you are 35+.  Call it a risk mitigation strategy.

I think the key thing about the study is that first-time mums have a lower risk of things going badly wrong if they're in a hospital.

This article is not skewed either way, and presents the argument neutrally: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15861280

To me this makes sense. First-time mums, no matter how well they are supported in a home environment, do not know what their bodies are capable of. Combine that with fear of the unknown and the pressure attached to having a natural birth and the rise of complications is, to me, completely unsurprising.

First-time mums will also not be aware of possible medical problems their baby may have and may not have the expertise with them to identify such urgent problems.

First-time mums in hospital may have the same emotional and physical concerns, but they are in a setting which can immediately attend to complications, illness of baby, illness of mum etc.

Note that for non first-timers, the risk is practicallly the same, no matter where you give birth.

Granted, I am not yet a mum. But I truly want to be soon. The sad news here is they just closed the non-medical birthing centre (ie staffed by midwives) because of staffing problems so the options are: hospital or home. I would want to have more support during my first birth, so would choose hospital or birthing centre. But if that went ok and all went to plan, I'd definitely choose the birthing centre over hospital.

I would not want an actual home birth because, frankly, of the mess. But a non-medical setting where I can be supported an comfortable? Yes please.

I had both of mine in the hospital. I was happy and confident in that decision. Number one was an easy, uncomplicated pregnancy and we had originally planned to do a hospital waterbirth with my OB attending (our hospitals have waterbirth suites, which I understand is not the norm).  Shit hit the fan when I was in labor, and that didn't happen. I don't regret not having the waterbirth at all.  Number two I had high blood pressure throughout (155/95 toward the end) and was induced early. I still had a fantastic birth experience. I gave birth in the hospital that is on Lifetime's One Born Every Minute and my OB's partner is on the show often. I was vocal about my needs and had them honored in both births. I was relieved to be in the hospital for both. 

A lot of moms in my inner circle slam hospital births, saying that the baby doesn't get to bond with mom. I don't understand that. I breastfed both children within minutes of them being born. They slept in my arms at night, and didn't go to the nursery at all. My husband was involved and treated like a person. I was visited by a lactation consultant both times, and given help with latching, positioning, etc. It's not like I was given ether and sent away for a twilight birth while my husband smoked cigars in the waiting room and baby wailed in a cold lonely nursery with dozens of other babies

When I was in my second trimester with my first and tossing around birth plans, the advice I got over and over from the mothers I love and respect was that I had to do what made me comfortable, not what made other people happy.

@stellia- haha! Yes, the mess. Is your IC in Taurus too? Most of my friends have had homebirths, and they swear it's not a big mess. But I don't want people touching all my stuff and my bodily fluids going everywhere. I don't even like having guests in my home, I definitely don't want people like going through my linen closet to find towels or something.

Lol Jocelyn - no it's in gemini, but I have taurus on the fourth house cusp! Call me lazy, but.... ;)

I have a midwife who works in a combined midwife/OB practice. I will give birth in a hospital and have almost all the same options available to me that I would have at home (other than a tub birth - it's not currently available due regulations, but will be in the future). I also have doctors on stand by if need be, but midwives control my care, meaning I don't have to be induced if baby is running late, I can do it without drugs, I don't have to be on constant monitors, I can get skin to skin contact with baby directly after birth, etc etc. 

I haven't had the baby yet obviously, but I will come back to report on my experience. I think this is a great topic, I love how opinionated people are about pregnancy and birth, it's quite fascinating to me! :)

For low-risk pregnancies I think it is an awesome option.  I would have loved to have been able to give birth at home but due to my history, it isn't something I'd ever consider, really (And this is even though my hospital birth experience was not the greatest.)

@blessedwhitney -- Both of my homebirths were unassisted. I would never have gone that route without first having done meticulous self-monitoring, self-care (nutrition, exercise, etc.), and prenatal care -- as well as being under an endocrinologist's care. I do have a thyroid condition that was undiagnosed when I was pregnant with my first baby, and that precipitated into an emergency C-section, when I finally went into labour. I'm just adding that, because it's possible to have an uncomplicated birth anywhere one has freedom, if the groundwork is laid for it.

All of mine were born in the hospital.  #2 wasn't a good experience, because 1) I had to be induced; 2) they wouldn't let me get up to use the bathroom and 3) I ended up with a cath.  Horrible.  I was up for 36 hours straight because I was full of induction fluids and in the bathroom every 10-15 minutes.

Gah.

#1 came on his own.  I went up to my mom's, because my OB and hospital were by her.  Most of labor happened there - I was 6 cm by the time I got to the hospital.  No intervention, no drugs, no complications.

I'm glad I had #3 at the hospital, because she was a breech risk (I had a version to turn her around).  She was 9 days late and full of mucus when she arrived.  Her birth was much easier than #2's.  I had no pain through the whole delivery, and I could walk around and use the bathroom.  This hospital had midwives on the nursing staff.  It made me feel much more at ease, which led to an easier birth.

If I was having another one (), I'd still choose the hospital.  I'd want to be prepared in case something happened.  Virgo stellium and 6th house emphasis.

<span style="color: #163143;">@mahchi I do appologize if my response made you feel bad... it was not my intent. *HUGS*

<span style="color: #163143;">As always it is up to each mother to follow her own wise heart and do what is best for herself and her baby!! We are all different and each birth is unique. Namaste.

I haven't had a baby but I would want to have one in a hospital. Not because I'm afraid something bad will happen but if the only two options are (1) home and (2) hospital, then hospital it is.

I have Mars in 4th square Moon in 1st, and Chiron/IC conjunct. I would prefer to give birth outside; I am happiest outside.

ETA my best friend had her baby at home in her kitchen and I realized after she told me, that I would not like that memory in my kitchen. We are very different people; I don't see anything wrong with my feelings or hers.

from the age of 16 i was determined that if i ever gave birth it would be a water birth. when the time finally came i searched out an ob who had done these and at-home births. but by that time, both were illegal in my province and he had already been slapped around by the law for continuing to do them.

i'd like to think i sort of had the best of both worlds. he ran interference when any hospital types tried to force their ideas on me... and he was also practical...

both my kids had the chord wrapped around their necks. one had it twice around, the other had it three times around. i'm kinda glad that i had this doctor who had 40-plus years of experience and OWNED the little newbies who were so intent on doing things by the book.

i consider myself lucky to have found this doctor.

things have now changed a great deal in that province. and home birth is an option. in fact, one of my cousins, who is/was a nurse, was a huge proponent of changing the laws and helped many women give birth at home. many for who she helped birth those babies.

i still wish i could have done the water birth. :(