PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for March, 2000: Re: to mary.Re: 16 year old soon to be mother, seeks truth of natral child birth

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Re: to mary.Re: 16 year old soon to be mother, seeks truth of natral child birth

From: Mary (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 1 Mar 2000 20:16:23 -0600

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> My daughter would have died without IMMEDIATE Level III NICU care after
> her birth. Even transport from home or other hospital, all the doctors
> agreed, would have at least led to brain damage if not death. So as you
> might imagine, I would never want to take a risk like having a
> homebirth. In my area, there are wonderful hospitals, with birthing
> suites that put my master bedroom to shame, wonderful nurses, and very
> competent doctors and midwives. I'll be having all my babies at a
> hospital! Sure, in a perfect world, having your baby at home would be
> wonderful, but there are literally hundreds if not thousands of
> complications that arise during childbirth. And I wouldn't trade my
> daughter's life for any comfort or desire on my part.
>
> Just thought I'd add something from a mommy who almost lost her precious
> baby only hours after birth. She's 16 months now, healthy, climbing on
> everything, and talking up a storm!!

Hi Rachel,

Couple of thoughts I would like to toss into the discussion at this point. And thank you for contributing! :)

You are very fortunate that you were at or near a hospital that could save your baby. What happened? Was she born premature? Where there underlying medical concerns? I am very glad your baby is alive and well today. My firstborn was born still, my third ended in miscarriage, and my fourth died in my arms 8 hours after birth - all in the hospital but problems were genetic in nature, incompatible with life outside the uterus. The end result would be the same no matter where they were born. I thank God every day for my two healthy children and the one wiggling inside me at this moment.

Not *everyone* can have a homebirth with a midwife. (Obviously anyone can have an unassisted homebirth but that is too far out in left field for even me!) Midwives do not take on ANYONE who wants to birth their baby at home. A woman can "risk out" of a homebirth for many, many reasons at any time during pregnancy, or even before becoming pregnant. Midwives are not going to put their careers on the line for one person who wants to have their baby at home but has circumstances that warrant a hospital birth.

Parents who homebirth do lots of research on the topic. It's not one taken lightly. Studies have shown (start with the Farm Study, if you are interested) that homebirth is as safe as, if not safer, than a hospital birth for normal women with normal pregnancies.

My hope is that women in this country can have a choice of where to birth their babies without pressure from any side. For those that choose a hospital birth, good for them! But for those who want and desire (and qualify for) a homebirth, it should be equally available without them having to resort to practically going underground to locate a midwife. This may sound funny, but in states where there is a hostile HB climate, midwives are very hard to find unless you have the right connections, and even then you are regarded with high suspicion. This is not right.

Again, I am so happy for you that your little babe is healthy and active. That is all any of us want. :)

Mary

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