Just read an amazing story of an unassisted birth. While all of her positive descriptions were NOT my experience at all, I really hope it can be for Baby #2 (with the addition of a midwife helping me deliver, never fear!). But I like the idea of having Gregory there, and of having it in a tub, at home.
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Courtney says
that was AMAZING…but i really hope she was a midwife or l&d nurse so she had some idea of what to do on her own!
Becks says
Well… that will never be me! I’ve still never pushed a baby out of my weewaw, and I think I would be scared to death to do it by myself. That being said, I hardly think I would be allowed to do something like that anyway, what with all my high risk stuff. Anyway…
I know some people just LOVE the idea of home births, unassisted birth, etc., but I feel like I wouldn’t have peace of mind, even if I were a normal low risk patient. What if something went wrong? How would I know if something were going wrong? I would be scared that I wouldn’t be able to tell if things were not right, and I would feel so much more comfortable surrounded by experts, in a place where immediate medical care was available should there be a problem. However, maybe I just feel this way because emergency surgery saved my life and saved James’ life, and the dangers associated with childbirth are REALLY real to me. Having been through what I have been through, I would NEVER ever consider doing something like this.
It was a pretty amazing story though 🙂
Kelly says
It’s good to be reminded of the dangers associated with childbirth. If I had or have any complications leading up the birth (ie. high blood pressure, g.diabetes, etc.) I would never want to risk it. This past pregnancy went super great (didn’t even throw up once from morning sickness!), but I may not get so fortunate next time around!
Christina says
I agree with Becks, which is why I chose hospital even though I’d love to stay at home. Even a low risk person who has had absolutely no sign of trouble can end up in trouble in labor or postpartum. Of course I know that a skilled, responsible midwife is able to handle almost all of these cases, or know to transfer you to a hospital. But there is no guarantee. Now, I know there’s no guarantee in the hospital, either. But it came down to this for me, personally: if something horrible happened at home, I would feel guilty about it for the rest of my life. If it happened at the hospital, obviously it would still be horrific, but I wouldn’t feel guilty. This was how I decided. I know people for whom this would not be the case, and so I have no problem with people doing it at home (who knows, I may change my mind in the future!). It’s truly an emotional decision, since statistically it’s not clear that one is safer than the other (again, with a good midwife with proper backup).
That said, I love this story (except that she was unassisted; I can’t see how that is ever ever a responsible choice!) and these photos. How does that woman look so darn good???
Kelly says
Christina,
I think that there are ways to use hospitals responsibly, just as there are ways to use a midwife responsibly. Either can let you down– I’ve had friends who were told they absolutely needed a C-Section at a hospital when they didn’t (I’m afraid that I would’ve fallen into this category, because I was in no position to think clearly at the time!), and I’ve had a friend who needed a C-Section because her midwife didn’t do her job well! Ultimately, it comes down to (for me) a particular midwife or doctor. I researched and trusted both of mine (the Dr. in case of transfer to hospital. She has a reputation in DFW for being the only Dr. willing to try VBACs!).
My birthing center was a good compromise between the two– 2 blocks from the hospital, trained CNMs with all the hospital equipment right there in the rooms. A trained CNM can give anything the hospital could, minus the epidural (no anesthesiologist) and minus an emergency C-Section. Barring either of those happening, a birth with a midwife isn’t just as SAFE statistically, it is pretty much identical (they even have things like forceps or pitocin), minus the hospital environment. In fact, should I have needed an emergency C-Section, they would’ve called ahead and had a surgeon and team waiting for me at the hospital, since they have such a close working relationship. I would’ve been received into surgery before someone else!
So, for me, when they were put side by side, being the same and just as safe in every way, I went with where I felt more comfortable 🙂
Here’s the birth center I’m going to try, second time around: http://www.allenbirthingcenter.com/
Kelly says
Becks,
Also, I think you’re right about the fact that you wouldn’t have been cleared for that sort of birth. A friend of mine whose baby is 4 months older than G tried to use a birth center, but she developed high blood pressure early on. They tried to get it down her whole pregnancy, but nothing was working. Eventually, they induced her early (34 weeks) at a hospital to keep her from having a stroke! Luckily, they caught it early enough that she didn’t need a CSection, but she wasn’t able to give birth at a birth center.
I once heard my midwife arguing in the next room with a lady in her third trimester who had gestational diabetes AND high blood pressure, and was chewing the midwife out for transferring her care to a doctor at the hospital! She blamed the midwife for “ruining her perfect birth”. The midwife didn’t budge an inch, though.Midwives don’t WANT high risk situations, so they are even more paranoid than doctors, most of the time. For one, they don’t have the $ for high profile lawsuits and such– one bad case and they might lose their job and license! In comparison, our friends whose baby died of sepsis at 10 days old are suing the hospital bc immediate care wasn’t given to her (even though when her water broke, it was black!). First, the hospital tried to blame the birth center, simply because one of the midwives accompanied her to the hospital, even though she was never even BROUGHT to the birth center, seeing as she told them over the phone what color her water was when it broke! In other words, the midwives didn’t even want to admit her to the birth center, knowing what it would mean for them legally, but went straight with her to the hospital. In the end, the hospital paid settlement $ for their negligence.
Basically, bad things can happen anywhere you go. Hospitals aren’t necessarily safer. It all comes down to being in God’s hands!
Kelly says
Btw, just saw that the couple who lost their baby are pregnant again! With another girl!
http://www.facebook.com/prayforbabytrinity?ref=ts
Becks says
I like the compromise you chose Kelly – if I didn’t have all my issues etc. etc., that is totally what I would have wanted to do!
I think home births are probably a much better idea for subsequent babies – not the first one. The first time the mother is nervous and inexperienced, there isn’t any sort of track record for how well her body responds to labor, complications may arise (hip bones too narrow for a giant baby, baby is in distress, etc.). If you have a great labor track record and its your third (or beyond!) child, I think having it at home is a great idea.
One of my husband’s cousins has eight kids: With her most recent one she only had 4 hours of labor (total!), and had the baby at home with a midwife, easy peasy. That’s ideal, to me. But if you can’t have ideal, I am sticking with safe!
On another note, I am really happy to learn that the OB who delivered James does VBACs and St. Jude allows them, so hopefully when we make baby #2, I won’t have to have another C-section! 🙂