Giving Birth: The Caesarean Debate (6 Letters)

Thanks for your reply. Thinking about it, perhaps the 3 baby rule had to do with the way incisions were made in the past. Vertical vs bikini line.

Lol, not only did she stay put, it seems like she didn't want to leave. Yes, she is a blessing :-)

Gypsy last baby was a stealth baby since she didn't know she was PG until about 2 months before he arrived. Am I recalling this right, Gypsy?
Yes, you remembered right. Even the relatives who were suspicious were surprised when I said I was expecting a baby a month later. They thought I was only four or five months along. Of course, a week after that I quickly got big enough that the N.D. I went to first said, "How did you not know?" My husband said he had thought I was for about a month before. Mind you, this was my fifth baby, so you'd think it would be obvious. I can laugh now and am still a little embarassed.

And for all of the "I birth at home folks", let me just say that you all are absolutely insane.
Isn't freedom wonderful? Just because it works for me doesn't mean it works for everyone. I had three children in the hospital before I was able to home birth. Home birthing was not a decision I took lightly.

Isn't freedom wonderful? Just because it works for me doesn't mean it works for everyone. I had three children in the hospital before I was able to home birth. Home birthing was not a decision I took lightly.

Yes...Yes it is.

And personally, although like I said I think home birthing is absolutely insane, I couldn't care less if women decide to do it...but if it goes horribly wrong, be prepared to deal with the consequences both physically and mentally that may arise to both the mother AND her child.

Hospitals are a pain in the *SS, I am fully aware of that fact. But there are occasions where we DO save lives and make an impact and the one area where this is most prevalent is Obstetrics.

At the turn of the century, the maternal/infant death rate was about 700/100000 births, or 0.7%...and as far as I know, the physiology of labor and delivery hasn't changed much in about, well, forever. Look at that number closer...almost 1 out of 100 babies and/or mothers DIED during childbirth.

What has changed is that we now have a modern hospital system that CAN and DOES save some of these patients from death and/or major morbidity. We have labs and blood banks. Facilities for expediting delivery of a distressed fetus. Capabilities to care for babies born who do not immediately adapt well to an ex-utero environment.

I'm sure there are plenty of statistics out there put forth by midwives societies et. al. that show lower M&M with home birth as opposed to in-hopsital deliveries...but if I have to explain the fallacies about those statistics to anyone then they are de facto incapable of understanding why they should not deliver at home in the first place.

As long as the mother is fully aware of the potential implications of her decision to birth at home, I couldn't care less. But I would wager that a significant proportion of them are not fully informed and some perhaps are not mentally capable of understanding the full implications what they are opting to attempt to do.

One thing that my midwives made sure to do was to have back up if needed. If there is a chance of distress they would immediatly transport to the hospital. They have equipment available on hand if the baby needs oxygen. They are required to do a number of tests -- just like the OB. If the mother does not want a certain test she understands why it is necessary and that they refused to take it. If a woman is high risk the midwives will tell her they cannot have her as a client and will suggest hospital care. In a case such as a VBAC, a doctor must legally be present at the birth. (I am going by my state laws)

I am grateful that those who need to are able to go to birth in the hospital if necessary. I also would not suggest anyone go into a home birth without doing their research. But, as I said, it worked for me. Yes, you can say I'm insane. ;-)

"One thing that my midwives made sure to do was to have back up if needed. If there is a chance of distress they would immediatly transport to the hospital. They have equipment available on hand if the baby needs oxygen. They are required to do a number of tests -- just like the OB. If the mother does not want a certain test she understands why it is necessary and that they refused to take it. If a woman is high risk the midwives will tell her they cannot have her as a client and will suggest hospital care. In a case such as a VBAC, a doctor must legally be present at the birth. (I am going by my state laws)

I am grateful that those who need to are able to go to birth in the hospital if necessary. I also would not suggest anyone go into a home birth without doing their research. But, as I said, it worked for me. Yes, you can say I'm insane. ;-) "

Thank you for maintaining polite discourse throughout this discussion...

The thing that bothers me is, despite your midwive's best preparation, having a "back up" plan is in reality having no "back up" plan at all. Things happen all the time in labor and delivery that are unanticipated and quick to occur. Calling 911 is not sufficient.

I could spend a lot of time outlining to you why this is so, but suffice it to say that if the home birthing mother suffered a complete placental abruption or even a hypotonic uterus after delivery as two easily cited examples, immediate transport to the hospital (which means at best say 15 minutes) would be in some cases wholly inadequate.

This does not even speak to the issue as to how your (or your child's) now emergent transfer to the hospital places the treating physicians in a very bad spot. Perhaps you can be helped, perhaps not..if you suffer a bad outcome are you going to hold the physician's liable?

As far as your midwife having oxygen available for the newborn...please tell me that you understand that newborn infants are subjected to many more maladies than that which can be corrected by supplemental oxygen. Is the midwife NALS qualified? Can they intubate and then adequately ventilate a neonate? Can they establish adequate IV access in a neonate? When was the last time they actually resuscitated a critically ill newborn?

BTW, NO DOCTOR IN HIS RIGHT MIND WOULD ATTEMPT A VBAC OUTSIDE THE HOSPTIAL, REGARDLESS OF STATE LAWS.

Listen, congratulations on your positive home-birthing experience, I am glad it went well...but please do not encourage others in this insane practice. Others may not be as lucky.

Men don't get it that we would walk through fire on broken glass barefoot for our babies.

Of course all us men have done throughout history is be willing to die for you and your babies if necessary.

Of course all us men have done throughout history is be willing to die for you and your babies if necessary.

I agree with you. OUR babies. I didn't write the other thing about men not getting it. I only added "and back again," referring to a mother's sacrifice for her children. G-d knows men will fight dragons for us and the wee ones.