i follow a lot of blogs. it kinda feels like watching the news to me.
today i read this on the blog of someone i don't know that well:
"I am 100% happy and confident in choosing a homebirth."
this person is 38 weeks pregnant with her first child. i must say, i laughed out loud when i read her statement. off the top of my head, here's why:
1. if you really were 100% happy and confident about your choice, you wouldn't feel the need to reiterate it to yourself or anyone else. i'm confident i'm a female. i don't go around telling people my percentage of confidence.
2. probably the reason you aren't really so confident about your choice is because it's a STUPID decision.
i'm not really sure why i feel strongly enough about this issue to be clackity clacking my fingers furiously on my keyboard at the current moment. maybe it's because i feel like choosing to have a baby at home is spitting in the face of everything that is safe and precautionary. i mean why WOULDN'T you want to have all options available to you? because you don't want to be bothered by those pesky hospital machines? is it too "impersonal"? or is it the sterile environment? does avoiding these justify the risk? really, maybe someone can enlighten me. even if you wanted to have the baby "naturally", whatever that means, why couldn't you have it naturally in the hospital? with doctors around, who know about...you know like, saving lives and stuff.
i just can't wait to read this girl's birth story in a couple months, when the pain gets too great and she decides at the last minute to make a rush for the hospital so she can get the epidural.
"To each his own." Or HER own, in this case!
ReplyDeleteDidn't people used to squat against a tree to give birth, back in the day? Native Americans, maybe? Maybe she's channeling them.
I wouldn't let it bother you too much... at least she isn't having your baby for you!
Isn't is a great thing that we have state of the art medical care today as well as the option to choose what works for you?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure people think I'm crazy for giving birth 4 times w/o pain meds. I've never had a home birth, but I was present for one. The mother saw an obgyn her entire pregnancy and had excellent medical care.
That said, it certainly isn't for everyone! Aren't you glad we don't have to have home births like in the olden days!
I'm kind of a fan of homebirth, but the more I research about it and the more Layton shares his thoughts against it, I understand why it's a little silly to not use the amazing doctors and practices we have available. But it just seams so unnatural to lay on your back and push when gravity should be your best friend at that point. At hospitals it's about what the doctors want and what's convenient for them.
ReplyDeleteAnd before I consider homebirth I'd have to know a midwife really well and feel completely comfortable with her, so since I don't know one, it's probably out of the question.
I am strongly considering no epidural though. I've heard too many good experiences from other people to not consider it. They feel powerful and appreciate the experience more. I also hear that giving birth is easier when you're fit. So keep putting on those running shoes, Sara!
I love hospitals and I loved my doctor and my nursing staff even more. It's nice having all those people cheering you on and encouraging you. Then again I would probably be dead several times over with and no children if I wasn't in a hospital. I love that someone else makes my food 24/7 for 2 days after and that I can order what I want. I love that my bed sits me up so I don't have to use my energy for that because I am just that lazy after childbirth. Instead I only have to worry about snuggling my new baby. And I love that I don't have to have a blow-up pool full of water that might pop in my living room leaving stains my carpet. Even if it didn't pop, I wouldn't know what to do with it after. I want to be taking care of my baby not cleaning that up. After 3 times of giving birth it still seems to be a VERY clean process to me. But to each his own...This is always a hot topic and people are either completely for or completely against.
ReplyDeleteMost hospitals that are up to date have a Birth Center that will support the choices [birth plan] each couple have made relative to the birth of their child. No longer are women made to assume positions they find uncomfortable or restrictive....unless there are problems. There is intermittent monitoring vs continuous that accommodates walking during labor. Doulas can help with labor, medication vs natural labor is supported as well. Some facilities have whirlpool tubs for both before and after. Even with the best equipment and trained medical personnel, babies can come out compromised and then you want someone there that can intervene immediately. Minutes mean everything to an infant who needs oxygen @ birth to avoid brain damage, and it needs to be directed by a team that know what they are doing, like a neonatologist etc.
ReplyDeleteSafety of Mom & infant 1st.
I have experienced home deliveries gone bad to the regret of all connected.
Please don't take this as critical of those who do home births, it just would never be my decision.
Looks like you hit a nerve with your clackity clacking. Funny thing is I just read a friend's blog that did a home birth and blogged about the experience in it's entirety (no I didn't read it) and while I still think she is a few bricks short of a full load for choosing to inflict that pain on herself I did feel a tiny twinge of wishing I were woman enough to do it. That twinge lasted all of one nano second until I realized that I can't even jump into cold pools without a full wet suit and much bribery so there is no way I would opt out of an epidural. Plus I can guarantee you I would have only had one child doing it au natural and I am happy with my 6 happy healthy maxed out epidural births. Maybe we also feel a sense of hospital connection from our Laura Ashley runway walking for the Pomerado Birthing Center. It is my personal hotel that I get to visit every few years and I love it. I also told my anesthesiologist as he was administering the blessed pain relief that the man who first invented the epidural should be given the Nobel Peace Prize. I mean really, micro loans to the poor or pain relief to the tired, weary and hormonal mothers? Plus Al Gore got one and he is WAY over rated.
ReplyDeletehaha, this is my point of view on the subject exactly. and i secretly want you to send me the link to this blog so I can laugh when the day comes too...
ReplyDeleteoh and my sister had natural births with all 3 of her girls...but in the hospital.