The hospital is no place for a low risk woman to give birth. It seems that an increasing number of women are figuring this out and spreading the word as the number of home births in the United States skyrocketed 29% in the past 5 years.
For non-hispanic white women, the rate increased 36%.
Home births are most common in white women over the age of 35 who have other children.
Marian McDorman, a statistician with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), said that although it isn’t entirely clear why the rate is increasing so rapidly, it might be because “a lot of women really like the idea of home birth because they want a lower-intervention birth. A lot of women are worried about higher C-section rates and other types of intervention that happen once you go to the hospital”.
Saraswathi Vedam, Chair of Standards and Practice for the Home birth Section of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, sees out of hospital births going mainstream. She said:
“Women and families have started to question the widespread use of obstetric interventions and want to control the environment they give birth in.”
Bingo!
It would be interesting to see what these numbers would look like if out of hospital births at freestanding birth centers were included along with home births. My guess is that the numbers would be at least double.
There is no doubt that an increasing number of women are consciously rejecting the overmedicalization of birth. Doctors and nurses in a hospital environment, while nice people who are no doubt fully competent, have to abide by draconian procedures and rules when it comes to the process of birth. These rigid limitations cause many women to have induced labor, C-sections and other interventions that would never happen at a birth center or at home.
In my case, my first child would have definitely been an emergency C-section had I given birth in the hospital. Fortunately, I chose to stay away and have my baby at a birth center instead. The steps my midwife took to assist me are not permitted in the hospital and yet are simple and very safe.
The issue was simply pushing back a small flap of cervical tissue manually while I was pushing so the baby’s head could get through.
Another woman I know who experienced the exact same, minor problem wasn’t so lucky. She was wheeled in for a C-Section that was completely unnecessary, as the intervention was “required by hospital protocol”. She would have almost certainly birthed vaginally at a birth center or at home.
If you are a low risk woman who is pregnant or considering becoming so in the near future, do yourself a favor and investigate an out of hospital birth either at a birth center or at home.
You just might save yourself major surgery like I did not just once, but probably 3 times! Each of my children’s births had a similar problem that was easily rectified in about 30 seconds by a skilled midwife.
To learn more about out of hospital birth and the many reasons to consider doing so, see this article on the benefits of having a baby at a birth center.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Source: CDC: Home Births Rise Nearly 30% in the United States
We are trying to get pregnant and I really, really don’t want a hospital birth. How do you judge a good midwife?
yes!
Have you chosen a birthing center or home birth? http://t.co/amZTwoSD
I’ve noticed over the years that I have gotten a more understanding and less shocked responses. Sadly, there just aren’t enough midwives in my area to deliver all the moms who want a homebirth.
Homebirths with a certified professional midwife, trained and experienced in homebirth, should be “mainstream”. Cheaper than a hospital birth, with a much higher quality of care, even when factoring in prenatal and postpartum care expenses. I would never birth any other way.
As an LMT, I have assisted in relaxing many women in labor during home birth or ABC rooms in hospitals. Please check into having your Massage Therapist on hand to help you through your delivery
I recommend them. I have been a part of several home births… most went perfectly, but one did not… here is a short story, I wrote as a tribute to the miracle of such a powerful experience: http://www.enterrest.com/Miracles_Creative_Non_Fiction.htm
It’s a great idea – as long as a mom keeps the possibility of having to go to the hospital in the back of her mind.
My son, now 14, was supposed to be a homebirth. We had both a Doula and a hospital nurse/midwife. I attended two appointments for every one that other moms were having, because for every regular dr.’s office visit I had with the nurse midwife, I also had one with the Doula at her office.
I had both bases covered and boy was I glad I did it that way.
At 36 weeks my son stopped moving, and I had to have an emergency C-section. When we called the Doula to tell her what was going on, SHE even said “get to the hospital” – she was out of her depth and couldn’t help us. We were very glad that we had kept both alliances, as there would have been a much slower response to our emergency had we not been “known” by our nurse/midwife and the hospital, in addition to our association with the Doula.
My son was delivered by emergency c-section that afternoon, and although the situation did not turn out perfect, it certainly could have been much worse had we not sought proper medical attention in time.
A Midwife or Doula has to be able to make the call when she’s out of her depth – one that thinks she can “handle anything,” and that “any intervention” is unnatural should be avoided. It’s nice to do things naturally and in a comfortable peaceful environment, but we have medicine and hospitals for a reason as well.
We had both our girls at home. So thankful for our midwives! The first one would have been a C in a hospital, as my water broke, and I was in labor for 3 days. Second, she had shoulder dystocia, and her heart stopped because of it. The midwife beautifully corkscrewed her out and immediately began CPR. Of course, we transported at that point. The NICU doctor said the midwife had saved her life, because a hospital doctor probably wouldn’t have been able to do that. The midwife also saved my life because I began hemorrhaging. We <3 our midwives!
It’s a great idea – as long as a mom keeps the possibility of having to go to the hospital in the back of her mind. My son, now 14, was supposed to be a homebirth. We had both a Doula and a hospital nurse/midwife. I attended two appointments for every one other moms were having, because for every regular dr.’s office visit I had, I also had one with the Doula at her office.
I had both bases covered and boy was I glad I did it that way.
At 36 weeks my son stopped moving, and I had to have an emergency 3-section. When we called the Doula to tell her what was going on, SHE even said “get to the hospital” – she was out of her depth and couldn’t help us. We were very glad that we had kept both alliances, as there would have been a much slower response to our emergency had we not been “known” by our nurse/midwife and the hospital, as well as the Doula.
My son was delivered by emergency c-section that afternoon, and although the situation did not turn out perfect, it certainly could have been much worse had we not sought proper medical attention in time.
A Midwife or Doula has to be able to make the call when she’s out of her depth!