So I have seen a lot of different posts about home births and I just wanted to put in my two cents. When Lauren was born she had breathed in her meconium during the birth, and spent 3 days in the N.I.C.U. If she had been born at home the time it would have taken to get her to the hospital would have probably resulted in brain damage. My sister who works in the N.I. has babies all the time that need attention immediately. Fifteen minutes is the difference between life and death, or brain damage. These are babies who had perfect sonograms, but things happen all the time that are unexpected. If these babies are born in the hospital they can be healthy with no ill effects. My sister after seeing everything she's seen wouldn't deliver in a hospital without an N.I. I know some of you are saying my baby would have been perfectly healthy. But that's not the point. Some babies are not, and you cannot predict meconium or any other complication before hand. The percentage is small by why risk it.
I know that some people will say that women have been having babies for thousands of years. This is true, but childbirth used to be the biggest killer of women. And it was common for mothers to have one or more of their children die due to complications from birth. Just look at Afghanistan today, the percentage of women dying in childbirth is alarming. I agree that c-sections and pitosin are used more than necessary, but take a step back. Women all over the world would love to have that problem. In Africa women walk hundreds of miles to give birth in a hospital. The rise of c-sections is two-fold- One dr.s have to show they took some sort of action if they are sued. And O.B.'s are sued the most. So doctors are going to fault on that side. People expect perfect babies and sue if they don't get one. Second women want c-sections so it can be scheduled, they don't want natural childbirth, and they want to have the baby early to avoid stretch marks.
We are so spoiled in America to complain about c-sections, pitosin, heart monitors. All these things were invented to save lives, and they do. The thing is, it is easy to blame dr.s and not take any responsibility for ourselves. Your heath care is a partnership, you need to be informed and make your choices be know. You don't have to have a c-section, or pitosin, or a heart monitor, or even an I.V. If you don't like your nurse ask for a new one. Who cares if they think your a b****.
Find a dr. or mid-wife who understands your wishes. But even the most trained dr. cannot help your baby if you are not at the hospital. I think that we have a long way to go, to get childbirth were it should be. But it should be a positive dialogues, because we are blessed to give birth in the U.S.
The second thing I want to comment on is that dr.s give women c-section to make more money. Or the only reason you are treated well at the hospital is because you know someone who works there. That is so offensive to me. Most people have no idea what it takes to be a dr. The time and money is staggering. When people express this idea that dr.s are just in it for money, you are questioning my husbands ethics. I know a lot of drs,some are very arrogant, have horrible bed-side manner, but I know of only 2 who are in it for money, and even they wouldn't do anything to hurt someone to make more money. My husband devoted almost his entire adult life to becoming a dr. And when people make these statements they are disregarding everything he has done, and all the sacrifice our family has made
he can serve his patients, and be a wonderful dr. The amount of time and money it takes to be a dr. pretty much weeds out the incompetent(there are still some) and the money hungry. The H.M.O.'s are really the ones making the money. I'm not going to say that Kyle doesn't make good money but we aren't rich.
And finally I want to say that I had wonderful nurses who treated me great because they are professionals and care about their patients. So thank you Barbara and Jen, and all the nurses in the N.I. who took care of Lauren. I know your not perfect but I will defend your integrity and care for your patients.
I know it was long but I had to get it off my chest.