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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

690 replies

everychildmatters · 14/10/2025 08:36

Because clearly evidence says otherwise!!

OP posts:
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Butchyrestingface · 14/10/2025 08:49

Given what happened with her first delivery and its aftermath, I’m amazed she DIDN’T want a hospital birth.

Original poster
everychildmatters · 14/10/2025 08:48

@Swiftie1878 Incorrect..

OP posts:
Swiftie1878 · 14/10/2025 08:46

everychildmatters · 14/10/2025 08:43

@x2boys But you can't argue from that all home births are riskier than in hospital.

Well, they are. By definition.
Hospitals aren’t always the most desirable location to give birth, but not wanting to be there is never to do with safety.

x2boys · 14/10/2025 08:45

everychildmatters · 14/10/2025 08:43

@x2boys But you can't argue from that all home births are riskier than in hospital.

I'm.not arguing that I even said that in my reply
My point is that giving birth can be unpredictable .

ComfortFoodCafe · 14/10/2025 08:45

Didnt a lady & her newborn just recently die from a home birth?

Original poster
everychildmatters · 14/10/2025 08:45

@MidnightPatrol An absolute tragedy - but that lady was advised she was high-risk so HB would not be recommended.

OP posts:
Seeline · 14/10/2025 08:44

I and my baby would probably have died with my first labour, and possibly my second if I had had home births.
Neither had been problematic pregnancies, and there was no indication that labours would be difficult.
I'm glad that I decided on hospital births for both.

TheNightingalesStarling · 14/10/2025 08:44

I was recommended to have a home birth with my second as my first had been really quick... it was considered safer for the midwife to be travelling to me rather than than me giving birth on the side of a country lane without any medical staff.

(Mt first was "unattended" while in hospital due to the sudden acceleration).

MidnightPatrol · 14/10/2025 08:43

I assume this is in response to the news today of a woman dying as a result of a home birth?

My initial response to that story, was really that I empathised with the mother’s rationale - she had such a terrible experience in hospital the first time round, she wanted to avoid putting herself through that again.

I felt like this after my first - the hospital experience was so dehumanising, the staff so uncaring, so much of the awfulness created by the medical interventions foisted upon me… I really get why women are fearful of putting themselves through that a second time.

I think maternity care is all a bit surface-level and I can see the messaging may not have got through to her that it would be very dangerous for her to have a home birth given a previous PPH.

It is far too normalised that women are just supposed to put up with substandard - and often downright cruel and scary - maternity care. ‘What did you expect?’.

Original poster
everychildmatters · 14/10/2025 08:43

@x2boys But you can't argue from that all home births are riskier than in hospital.

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PrizedPickledPopcorn · 14/10/2025 08:42

I am not up to date with research. When I did pay attention there was concern that home births appeared safer because risky births were scheduled to happen in hospitals.

I had a home birth, but needed hospital support after. DS2 was a hospital birth because he needed to be induced.

Ketzele · 14/10/2025 08:42

Yes, but bear in mind that home birth is safe for the women for whom it is safe. A piece in the paper today about a woman who died after a home birth against clinical advice (I havent read in detail). But I agree that lots more women could give birth at home safely.

x2boys · 14/10/2025 08:41

everychildmatters · 14/10/2025 08:36

Because clearly evidence says otherwise!!

Well they can be both my babies would have died without medical intervention
That doesn't mean all home births are risky.

Original poster
everychildmatters · 14/10/2025 08:40

@TheNightingalesStarling The many people.who honestly believe that birth is ALWAYS "far safer" in hospital. I totally agree with you re risk factors.

OP posts:
TheNightingalesStarling · 14/10/2025 08:37

Maybe some more details for context? All births have different risk factors.

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