c-section safer? - Page 6

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post #101 of 105

5/17/12 at 2:02pm

317 Posts. Joined 3/2004
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Quote:

Originally Posted by MeepyCat

Miriam, this statement confuses me greatly. The only hospitals I know of that do not have L&D units are those that don't do obstetrics at all (which is, I admit, a growing number, but those hospitals transfer laboring patients, the only deliveries they do are precipitous ones in the ED). Those units are in constant use, and all laboring patients are sent there. So I can only think that you mean something by L&D that the rest of us don't. Could you please explain?

Homebirth is not necessarily cost effective - it's cheaper, in monetary terms, if you consider *only* the cost of the delivery, and if the delivery goes smoothly. If things don't go well, the costs mount exponentially and instantaneously. Furthermore, home is an environment in which there is no chance of pain relief, which many women want, and which they should be able to get.

It's hard to have this conversation when you insist that women who want ceseareans, or who schedule them in advance, are deceived, misled, or frivolous, without considering the possibility that they're educated, informed, and doing the best they can to deal with the challenges of their lives.

Agreed. I wonder, if one supports "birth choice" why doesn't one also support a woman's choice to birth in a hospital? To have an epidural? To have an induction? To have a C-section? If a woman makes an informed choice, should that not always be supported? Or do we only support people who make decisions identical to ours?

When a woman desires the list of interventions with an informed choice you have listed, every OB/GYN will line up to defend her choice, so you have lots of support and do not need it from me. Meanwhile, homebirth choices are OK, but go find yourself a midwife - go on woman - you can have your choice and you are on your own. Depending on where a woman lives, that can be a daunting task, so many give up.

I never thought I would have to defend homebirth as a choice here, on Mothering.com of all places.

Are you talking about me? I've been here almost as long as you have. Why on earth would you think a member that has been here for 8 years works for a hospital? I am a mother by occupation, and have been for 10 years. Perhaps I'm also an educated woman who isn't afraid to ask difficult questions.

I'm not talking about support from OB's, but from other women, which is vitally important to all mothers. So, if a woman chooses to give birth in a hospital with interventions, but otherwise she is an AP natural mother, you will not support her? I believe there is very little support for a woman like that. She's too "hippie" for other moms, and isn't "good enough" for MDC. Where does she go?

As for the second part of the paragraph where you say "you can have your choice and you are on your own. Depending on where a woman lives, that can be a daunting task, so many give up." Does that mean that you support legislation and governing bodies over midwifery? Because if not, then how is a woman to find a good midwife? Physicians have review boards and you can look up their lawsuits and any disciplinary actions, plus, if they screw up badly or often enough, their medical licenses are revoked. There are also nationwide standards with regards to their education and training. Is this what you want for midwives?

I don't think anyone is saying you have to defend homebirth, but rather saying that we should support all women who are making educated choices, and not shoving them on the fringe with insults because their choices or life experience are different from yours. Every mother has a different story. None is better than the other.

post #104 of 105

5/17/12 at 6:02pm