To be fed up of the "home birth is risky" misinformation?

Also, when home births were all we had how many women and babies died? A lot!

What point?

Childbirth is risky, you never know until it's started how it's going to go. I was glad I'd opted for a hospital birth with DD1 when it transpired she was a face presentation (and back to back as well) and was completely stuck when they decided enough was enough, she was in distress and it was time for an EMCS after 48 hours labouring. It took a lot of tugging to pull her free. We were both exhausted. Then there was the PPH which followed. After that little drama I realised that childbirth can be a very dangerous activity when it doesn't go right...

What point?

it’s safe until you need emergency treatment. Then it could be the difference between a life and a death. Or seriously life altering injuries.

This is really disrespectful. She knows what happened better than you do.

Because you could very quickly become a sick person if something goes wrong when giving birth.

they would have arranged a transfer to hospital.

Average ambulance times for a Category 1 situation is 7 minutes. 90% within 15 mins from initial phone call to ambulance arrival.

Then take into account travel to the hospital. I live 20 minutes away from mine.

Then there is getting you to theatre or the appropriate ward. Lets say another 5 mins.

So with all things working perfectly and on time it would take 32 minutes before I was treated. That time can and does make the difference between life and death.

Now imagine being the unlucky 10% who are waiting 15 mins for an ambulance.

It only takes 10 minutes of oxygen deprivation for brain damage to occur in a baby and death occurs after 25.

I'm not saying home births are risky in that the chances of things going wrong is more likely. What I am saying is, when things do go wrong it is riskier to be at home. I don't think this can be disputed.

If you look at my historic graph showing how many babies and mothers died, it is less remarkable.

It’s really difficult to get exact figures but multiple sources average out around 1 in 18 births, now it’s 1 in 10000.

I don't think the majority of women who choose home births do so for the frivolous reason you are suggesting. Most do plenty of research (more than those that don't I would imagine) and are guided closely by the home birth midwives from the very start. It's not a simple tick box exercise.

i don't personally know any woman, home birthing or not, who would not put the safety of them and their baby at risk. Risk assessment isn't as simple as hospital = safe delivery. That is far too simplistic.

It's a bit unfair to imply that if a birth was not interfered with, things will go just fine. It's like blaming the mother for what happened. Believe me, some of the things said to me from fellow home birthers still hurt to this day.

I think that may be a bit of an unfair question. Yes, interventions can cause complications and lead to further interventions, but I had life threatening complications for myself and baby during a home birth. I hadn't had any interventions, no VE, absolutely nothing. It does happen.

Same.

It’s not about ratio of care. If something goes wrong and mother or baby need surgery before or after birth for example, it’s the time wasted on travel to the hospital that can cost lives. Unfortunately I personally know of situations which put both mum and baby at severe risk because of this factor. When something goes wrong, time is of the essence. It doesn’t matter how many midwives attend a home birth, the fact is that hospitals have advanced equipment and surgeons that are not just on hand at home.

One positive home birth does not outweigh the genuine risk involved.

I understand completely why women would want to have a home birth.

But birth can be unpredictable and dangerous and I know where I’d rather be should complications arise.

Exactly what do people think theres an ambulance just waiting to take you and your baby to hospital f an emergency occurs during home birth? An ambulance in the current state of the nhs is likely to be hours away at best
Why rish your life and your babies life on the off chance you may be ok?
Sorry to hear about your friend that is so awful that she was let down and given false information and hope :(

Rubbish, unless there is a hidden surgical theatre in my house my baby would not have made it.i was told this by the doctor who delivered her
I went from being in labour as normal or rushed down to theatre in minuits
You know when you see the panic buttons pressed and all available midwives run that was it i was wheeled down my other half had a blue gown and cap chucked ah him and he had to put it on while walking down
Wnt are you so dismissive of the dangers of giving birth outside of a hospital enviroment? It doesnt even have to be at home just anywhere where there is not medical support and equipment

(safety NOT being one of them.)

Safety was my only priority when having my ds.

I couldn't have cared less about all the things other people seem to worry about - the food, noise, visiting times, temperature, sleep, not your own bathroom etc.

Who cares? My only priority was for me & ds to come home safe and well. For that, I gratefully tolerated any amount of noise, odd food, strange bathrooms, disturbed sleep etc.

I would agree on the basis that the team will have more experience as they do it more often.

My own midwife didn't give me oxygen soon enough, even though that was available. Thankfully the paramedics sorted that one.

However, I also know of babies born at home or in small rural birthing units where they have been stablised and transferred to hospitals. I've never known of a case where it's been a problem (though I am sure those cases exist).

I’m sorry but in an emergency situation (for mother and/or baby) a midwife at home is absolutely no substitute for a crash team in a fully equipped hospital setting.

Home birth midwives do carry full resuscitation gear for mother and baby, so that can, and has been, stablised at home before transfers in cases I've known.

One of my babies had the cord around the neck at least five times. The cord was cut after the head emerged, but before the body. Midwives check for this.

I agree that being near medical care is very important, just in case. How far away depends on the comfort level of each woman, I suppose.

You're happy with your births and that's the main thing. Isn't it good we have a choice?