Home births are irresponsible

[LadyShapes]

Did anyone see the start of Lorraine at about 8.30? They were talking about what's in the news and one of the stories was about how more women should have home births. The delighful guest they had on to talk about it said that she thought home births were irresponsible and dangerous. She also said she thought natural births were a load of rubbish and she just wanted to be in hospital and have medical intervention (paraphrasing). Oh and she wouldn't have a home birth because she has cream carpets. The other guest just agreed with her, so the that was the extent of the discussion.

Is it me? AIBU to think they shouldn't discuss news stories unless the guests have some kind of informed opinion (I mean, all the infomation I have had from my midwife tells me about the benefits of home births and a natural birth as well as the risks), or they should have read more than just the headline. Or AIBU to be watching Lorraine and hoping for some kind of balanced discussion.

YABU for watching Lorraine Kelly.

Or rather, YABU for watching LK and expecting intelligent, balanced discussion!

I thought as much!

The vile that spews forth from the arse that is that bastard programme isn't worth your concern. Did you know that these weirdo, freaky homebirthers sometimes feed their babies? From their breasts you know? Disgusting harridans.

Turn the bollocks off.

Completely simplistic.
Lorraine Kelly makes me cringe anyway.

But Lorraine Kelly seems like such a nice sensible lady. Why didn't she speak up and say something positive? I'm so disappointed in her. Thankfully it's nearlly time for the Wright Stuff. No chance to be offended there.

I saw it and tutted at her ignorance but I disagree that guests should have an informed view...it's interesting to hear what people think no matter how much we disagree (a bit like MN really)

Apart from the cream carpets, I held a similar view to her once upon a time.

Then I had my 3rd child at home and it was the most wonderful experience...totally chilled and relaxed

MIL had 2 homebirths (dh remembers them both...you should have seen the midwife's face when during my labour he calmly told her he'd seen 2 births before he was 10 years old!). She said she wished every baby she'd had could have been born the same way it was so much nicer. I on the other hand had no problems being in hospital when I had ds and wouldn't have had it any other way. Probably because my house was a building site at the time...

YANBU - I think homebirths are irresponsible, but each to their own. Unfortunately you never know whether a birth is straightforward until after the event. I always "hope for the best but plan for the worst". I think the news item this morning was aiming to highlight the fact that the NHS cannot always deliver the choices they are supposed to offer women (such as homebirths) because of operational issues and chronic underfunding.

www.nhs.uk/news/2010/July07/Pages/hospital-births-home-births-compared.aspx

YABU to expect a balanced discussion on Lorraine though!

Was it Liz Frazer? She hates home births.

I think the article was encouraging home births...though I wasn't listening properly as my 8yr old had 'hair spiking' dramas

Dunno who she was. I didn't catch her name. She had brown hair and I think she is a journalist-come-rent-a-gob.

Cream carpets? That woman's in for a rude awakening...

Matthew Wright's going to be discussing it today too. Should be interesting...

My reservation around home births is its drain on resources from the point of view of tying up a number of midwives who might not necessarily be needed all the time they're in attendance. In a hospital or birthing centre, it's much easier to ensure that the correct level of assistance is given at the right time with a number of women in different stages of labour.

Who is this Liz Frazer woman anyway?

Morons might?

I saw this lk did sort of half heartldy stick up for home births but not enough imo.

I personally think any woman who wants a home birth should be given the opportunity to have one.

Personally I couldn't partly because of medical reasons and partly I'm too scared but I do think mw are quick to talk women out of it.

Yes I did end up with a stain on my carpet so I guess I was lucky it wasn't cream

for Liz Fraser.

No stains on either my bed (HB 1) or my living room carpet (HB2).

All hail plastic sheeting

"My reservation around home births is its drain on resources from the point of view of tying up a number of midwives who might not necessarily be needed all the time they're in attendance"

An ELCS is probably a far bigger drain on resources but that doesn't make them irresponsible.

I wonder about the morality of tying up money and scarce resources in supporting home births, while people are dying through not being prescribed new drugs/treatments due to funding shortages. Or have a four month wait to get an MRI scan. Or a six week wait to see an oncologist.

I just think there are many better ways the money can be used, seeing as the outcome of a delivery is a healthy mother and baby, and this can be achieved as well in hospital as at home.

For the record I don't think it was Liz Frazer (just googled her).

When the home birth team came around the MW said everyone she visits seems to have cream carpets...

My nearest hospital is only a few miles away, I'm not worried about what will happen if everything goes wrong.

I also asked my MW and she said homebirths are actually cheaper for the NHS.