There are no laws that force a woman to give birth in a hospital, however in most cases women are not encouraged or supported in this approach by the medical field. I know of one woman who said when she told her OB that she wanted to have a home birth she was told “Don’t call me if something goes wrong.”
She did call him after her son was born at home with no problems and told the doctor that her baby was alive and healthy and that she would find another doctor and would have the new doctor request her records.
One study done excluded patients with past multiple births, heart disease, high blood pressure, renal disease or a past history of a baby born before the 37th week or after the 41st or a past c-section. In other words high risk pregnancies were excluded.
Women who give birth at home with a midwife had fewer inductions, little or no pain medicine and babies did not suffer respiratory depression from maternal anesthesia. Hospital births had higher rates of induced labor, and pain medication and a higher rate of newborn respiratory distress. The study compared babies born at home with a midwife and those born in a hospital under the direction of a physician had similar mortality (death) rates and five minute APGAR scores.
No unassisted home births were included in the study. However the study appears to show that at the very least midwife assisted home births are just as safe as those that occurred in hospitals.
Below is a comparison of hospital births and home births.
Home Hospital
Has been happening for hundreds of years Big push in the 40’s and 50’s
Baby gets no drug from mom Mom’s given pain meds and
drugs to speed up labor
Mom has choice of positions(sit, squat, etc.) Stretcher, stirrups, on your
back
Can walk around to encourage movement into You stay in one place
birth canal
Family and friends can be present Surrounded by strangers
Can have privacy People in and out
Access to food and drink Limited access
The above comparison was compiled from talking to women who have used either one or both birth settings.
There are women who would never consider having a baby anywhere other than a hospital and others who prefer home births. The majority of home birth proponents do use midwives.
There are some who consider themselves free birthers and have unassisted home births. They feel that they shouldn’t have to pay for something women have been doing on their own since the beginning of time. It is hard to get verifiable statistics on this group although there is a growing movement in this area and books, DVD’s and internet message boards are available. However the information is mostly anecdotal.
I haven’t read one item on the boards where anyone said their UAHB (unassisted home birth) experience was anything but wonderful. Of course I most likely have not found every birth or pregnancy message board. But I can’t believe that every modern UAHB has gone completely smooth so I will keep looking.
There is a clash between those in favor of hospital births and those who believe that there is no reason that a healthy woman with an uncomplicated pregnancy shouldn’t have her baby born at home without even a midwife. This sounds logical until you want to leave out the midwife. Personally I would want someone experienced around just in case something did go wrong. I’d be willing to pay her fee just to have her in the room.
Some people request c-sections because they are afraid of the pain from labor, not my idea of a justified surgery. But there are elective c-sections happening just about every day.
Every women has the right to choose the place and manner in which she gives birth, however she needs to consider the health and safety of her unborn child. If you have heart or kidney disease, a neuro-muscular disorder, or unstable diabetes, you and your child are probably better off in the hospital for your delivery. Both you and the baby could be at risk.
Are all hospitals and their staff perfect? Of course not, but they are not all chambers of horror where mothers and babies die and yes hospitals and doctors do make mistakes but not as often as some would want you to believe.
Yes, you should be able to have your baby where and how you want, however take into consideration the fact that a newborn baby in distress needs immediate attention and even a wait of five to ten minutes for EMS could make a difference between life and death for your infant. A midwife in attendance could also be that life saver.
Having your baby born at home and her dad being able to catch her and cut the cord is an incident that nobody present will ever forget. Being surrounded by family and friends with soft music in the background will let this new little human feel welcome. Even though she won’t remember the moment, the feeling of belonging will stay with her for a long time although she won’t know why she feels the way she does.
