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Original poster

Why homebirth?

200 replies

Castanet · 21/08/2007 07:10

I have been reading different threads on MN and the number of people who insist on having a homebirth is astounding. What is so great about it and why are so many people willing to take a chance with the wellbeing of their baby, because if things go wrong, and they do, sometimes, wouldn't you want to have all the medical help and expertise of the best consultants at hand? Just wondering.

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TigerFeet · 21/08/2007 12:31

Have only read bits and bobs of the thread, but picked up on Castanet's wish to have a doctor/specialist deliver her baby...

I had dd in hospital. Never saw a doctor during the whole delivery, she was delivered by a midwife, a student midwife and some very able assistance from dh. I was lucky, it was fairly uneventful, although I was left alone for long periods and was also persuaded to take a sleeping tablet (It'll be hours yet dear) - dd was born 5 hours later and I was still incredibly groggy and completely off the planet. I would have felt much more in control at home and wouldn't have let myself be swayed against my better judgement.

Would definitely want a home birth for any possible future dc's.

RGPargy · 21/08/2007 12:31

*unbiased

Rhubarb · 21/08/2007 12:33

"hysterical slinging match"? eh? Have I missed something?

Are we a tad sensitive castanet?

Woby · 21/08/2007 12:34

Hi, I haven't read all this thread but have been very confused about the conflicting views on this subject. I have however found a report by the RCOG and RCM very interesting. They say there are lots of pros with homebirth and that they support homebirths for low risk pregnancies. But, they also mention that controlled trials to assess safety are not feasible and comparative stats on women being transferred to hospital are unclear - see www.rcog.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=2023. What's the phrase, "lies, damn lies and statistics..."?

TigerFeet · 21/08/2007 12:34

bloody hell,x posts with "spite and venom"

Castanet, people were posting about having homebirths because of bad experiences at hospital. How is that not a reasoned response? It is amazing really how many women opted for a homebirth second time around, a position I find myself in should I ever have more dc's. There is very good reason for this.

Can I ask, are you going Private? I feel this is the only way you will get the birth you want.

kittenbaby · 21/08/2007 12:38

totally agree with rgpargy and rhubarb
that

1.it's your blinkered posts that have been the ones to incite "spite and venom" as you put it. You have not answered people's questions put to you for some bizarre reason.

casanet
why can you not answer the questions put forward to you ?

2.You simply cannot come onto any board and say why this and why that and then when people give you VALID reasons, you simply dismiss them or ignore them and call people selfish and accuse them of endangering their babies!

If you wanted a fair and unbaised discussion, you have certainly gone the wrong way about it!

so true

TwitmonstEr · 21/08/2007 12:38

Castanet,in your position I would choose a hospital birth, no question. For a first lo I would suggest hospital but I wouldn't push it.
That said I wouldn't open a thread asking how women who want a home birth could possibly be so selfish and not care about the welfare of their lo's. And then not try to listen and each some kind of understanding as to why some women may choose home birth.

Best of luck to you and your twins, I hope all goes well and we hear from you on the birth announcements soon.

thomcat · 21/08/2007 12:42

Castanet - saying things like:

"What is so great about it and why are so many people willing to take a chance with the wellbeing of their baby" Women who have a homebirth will feel defensive over the 'willing to take a chance over the wellbeing' line, understandably. You weren't just asking 'why homebirth' you got personal and expressed a view that having a homebirth was putting babys wellbeing at risk.

Then you go on to say "but to me it seems a tad selfish" Hmmm well again that will call for some emotive responses back. Don't dish out the personal stuff if you don't want it gettign personal, and you got personal there, same with your comment "Wouldn't you want to do absolutely everything possible to assure that your baby has the very best chance, even if it means being dictated by the medical staff as to what to do and what not. I trust the knowledge of consultants and the equipment, medications etc. at their disposal to do their best for my baby. I would never sacrifice the safety of my unborn baby for my personal comfort" That's all about you and what YOU think is best, it's not a general open question you are asking and you're saying almost that women who have HB's just can't be arsed to leave home, want their own bed and their own mug of tea which is unfair and untrue.

And you say "why choose to forgo all available medical help?" We're not. We have 2 dedicated midwives in our home attenbding to us and us alone.

think about what you are saying and who you are saying it to. It was never just an interested question. It was your opinion, being opposed to home births, and a discussion. It never got basty as far as I can see.

Heathcliffscathy · 21/08/2007 12:44

castenet, you seem to be refusint to acknowledge that far from being a safer option, IF there are no risk factors hospital is LESS SAFE. keep ignoring that if you want to, but evidently you don't want your question answered if you do.

I'll spell it out for you again: if a woman has had a normal pregnancy and is not a high risk SHE IS STATISTICALLY SAFER WITH A HOME BIRTH.

so by your logic, it could be argued that women who choose hospital births without having the risk factors to justify it and being 'selfish' and jeopardising their baby's safety. however you'd have to be exceptionally closed minded not to say thick to make that argument imo.

Heathcliffscathy · 21/08/2007 12:45

are not and.

kittenbaby · 21/08/2007 12:48

sophable you just hit the nail on the head there x

I'll spell it out for you again: if a woman has had a normal pregnancy and is not a high risk SHE IS STATISTICALLY SAFER WITH A HOME BIRTH.

so by your logic, it could be argued that women who choose hospital births without having the risk factors to justify it and being 'selfish' and jeopardising their baby's safety. however you'd have to be exceptionally closed minded not to say thick to make that argument imo.

think thats why she is not answering any questions put to her ?

lulalullabye · 21/08/2007 12:52

Maybe she wanted to cause this kind of debate and trouble so as thats what she wants maybe the best thing is to not entertain her anymore and ignore the thread ?

Nobody is getting anywhere so why bother !

scattyspice · 21/08/2007 12:54

I had 2 hospital births to be on the safe side (and couldn't bare the mess!!) both were great.

But both suddenly speeded up and only just got to hospital on time (12 mins to spare with DD). Both times I felt so relaxed at home I really didn't want to shift.

Would still opt for hospital birth though.

ThursdayNext · 21/08/2007 12:54

After reading this thread, I know lots of good reasons for choosing a homebirth which hadn't really occured to me before. It's very interesting.
So even if the original poster was just picking a fight, it's still useful.
Thanks for the education, everyone.

scattyspice · 21/08/2007 12:56

Blimey, have just read the thread.

Its personal (and DH) choice why the hoo haa?

ib · 21/08/2007 12:57

I haven't read the whole thread, just the first few posts, and I have to say I had a home birth because I DON'T trust the hospital and consultants to do the best for me and my baby. I trust them to follow a protocol within limits and do whatever is most convenient to them beyond that....

As it happens, both my sister (who gave birth 2 weeks after I did) and I would have ended up with interventions/CS if we had been booked to give birth in hospital. We weren't, and both ended up with drug-free home births, no tearing and quick recovery. Better for us, but also imo better for our babies.

kittenbaby · 21/08/2007 13:05

this is one of castanets post about her planed birth;

There has never been any other option to my mind, regardless of the number of babies, but a planned c-section. I know I'll be shot down for such views, but simply - I do not wish to be in pain for hours and then have my fanny torn up and feel like a wind tunnel afterwards, Kegels or not. And yes, I know all about the risks of c-section.
Different strokes and all that..
Luckily my consultant fully agrees.

think that explains alot

NotADragonOfSoup · 21/08/2007 13:09

Ah. So she's not worried about taking a chance with the risks of a c-section.

belgo · 21/08/2007 13:10

I opted for a homebirth because of the high level of skilled care I knew I would recieve.

Two highly qualified midwives, with 20 years experience each, one of whom had worked in the Congo for years. They closely monitored me through my labour and delivered my star-gazing baby who had the cord wrapped twice around her neck, and my baby was fine.

You can't guarentee you'll get that in a hospital.

thomcat · 21/08/2007 13:19

LOL at that piece about Castanets planned c-section!

No wonder she thinks it so outrageous to have a home birth if she is not even prepapred to try giving birth herself just becuase she does "not wish to be in pain for hours and then have my fanny torn up and feel like a wind tunnel afterwards"

And she thinks women who birth at home are selfish! PMSL!

I wonder if she'll bother breastfeeding or are her boobs not for feeding babies?

Heathcliffscathy · 21/08/2007 13:22

ahhh, genuinely feel sorry for her now....she started this thread out of guilt? or some kind of weird thing about needing to justify planned c-section (imo she doesn't need to justify it in the slightest....whatever makes you feel ok about it all tbh).

sundew · 21/08/2007 13:22

It has been great reading this thread as it has made me realise that I'm not the only one who had a pretty traumatic first labour (hospital, left alone for hours etc etc etc) who then decided to have a home birth.

I think it needs to be pointed out as well that the reason that there are 2 midwives present is so if there are problems there is one person to care for the baby and one to care for the mother. In addition, an area is always set aside as an emergency area with basic resus equipment (oxygen cylinder etc).

A home birth is an intensely personal choice and one which should never be forced on anyone. But, for me the birth of dd2 was one of the best days of my life - and a day which I still look back on with a smile (and I still feel sad when I know I don't feel that way about the birth of dd1 )

lisalisa · 21/08/2007 13:23

Message withdrawn

kittenbaby · 21/08/2007 13:25

thomcat

pmsl at castanet too

think whats actually happened here is what psycotherapists would call projection

castanet realises shes been selfish, and trys to get rid of that horrible feling by projecting it onto others

lisalisa · 21/08/2007 13:26

Message withdrawn