Today Show Infuriating Homebirth Story - Page 3

[mommadoula2]

i just wanted to say thank you to everyone who sent them a e-mail!

[mommadoula2]

Just wanted to let you know

Originally Posted by sweet.p

Choices in Childbirth has crafted a petition in response to the Today Show segment, "The Perils of Midwifery."

Our goal is to collect 5,000 signatures from all across the country by October 9th, the final day of Midwifery Week. That morning we will hand deliver the petition to the Today Show offices.
(y'all are invited to join us!).


Please sign the petition and forward it to your clients, family, and friends.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/accurate-reporting-in-birth-options

[LeslieB]

Originally Posted by mommadoula2

Just wanted to let you know

Signed it!

[gen24]

signed it too...hope it makes a difference

[~Kristina~]

Originally Posted by ChristSavesAll

What I found interesting is that most people that choose homebirth educate themselves and don't fully rely on the midwife, however I think this woman and her husband did. Choosing homebirth generally is done by women who trust their bodies and their instincts, but this couple talked about how the midwife should have known they have the experience, the husband said that the mom asked if such and such was normal... That to me sounds like a momma who was having some intuition that she should have gone in but wasn't being encouraged to listen to it and was putting more trust in the midwife than her own intuition. That makes for a bad outcome. While I totally feel for the couple I think both parties had a part in this, the midwife should have encouraged her to listen to the natural instincts she was feeling and be in tune with her body, it seems to me that since she is a big shot midwife she was letting her pride run the show.

I am totally aware that babies die in hospitals too and do wish they would do a segment on that and make it fair, they should also factor in the torture mom went through since most moms are traumatized not only emotionally but physically as well.

Anyways that's my 2 cents.

I completely agree with this. I feel horrible for these people, yet, she didn't trust her gut or mother's intition. If she felt so strongly something was wrong, she should have just went to the hospital. Was she strapped down?? Maybe I missed that part? If something felt wrong to me, I would be in the car in a minute!

[SeekingSerenity]

Originally Posted by ~Kristina~

I completely agree with this. I feel horrible for these people, yet, she didn't trust her gut or mother's intition. If she felt so strongly something was wrong, she should have just went to the hospital. Was she strapped down?? Maybe I missed that part? If something felt wrong to me, I would be in the car in a minute!

Well, we can't all be strong and advocate for ourselves during the scary and unknown first labor. Lots of moms have gut instincts that they just don't know how to articulate. They doubt themselves (that silly ol' human nature thing ) and don't mention what they feel. Besides, as it's been said over and over, no one really knows what happened. No one has the MW's side of the story nor do they have the insight into that mama's head.

Good to know there's strong and capable moms able to stand up for themselves in the most uncertain moment of their lives. I know I couldn't. (I needed someone to advocate for me during my 5th labor... I knew what I was doing, even, but I just couldn't put it out there in a way that would get me the results I needed.)

ETA: I signed the petition.

[ACsMom]

Signed the petition. I'm not watching the segment, though - trying to keep my blood pressure down!

[Tenk]

I signed the petition.

I also emailed them to complain about the scare tactics they used.

I also informed them that I delivered my daughter full term and still born in a hospital with Dr, so I don't agree that one or the other is safer or more harmful than the other. Basically, I just suggested they don't use those type of tactics when these outcomes can happen anywhere anytime. Just wanted to share.

[beatgenxer]

i watched the segment, sent it to a few friends of mine and we were all horrified by the lack of journalism going on. i plan on asking my MWs if they saw the segment at my weekly check-up Thursday.

i just signed the petition and i'll send the link to everyone i sent the original video to.

[wbg]

So frustrated watching that. I had 3 hospital births abroad and 1 home birth here in the states. I came to home birth as I was trying to recreate the wonderful supportive natural births i had back home in the hospital supported by midwives. My home birth here was very similar to my hospital births there and i felt empowered and supported and that i did everything i needed to to keep my baby and I safe.

I am so sorry for the couple's loss of their child. I can not believe that the show chose to manipulate and abuse their situation by presenting such a one sided and hurtful approach to the subject. I can not begin to imagine suffering their loss, but am sure that part of their healing process should not be to have people dissect their choices. I can understand their reaction, but I think the show should have had more sense than to take this route.

Very saddened and disappointed in mainstream media, once again....

[girlfromthefuture]

I just signed the petition and here is my response....

My husband and I plan to contact the Today show producers directly, so just a short note here.

Six years ago our second child died at birth. At home. As much as we grieve, we realize that her death, like her birth, was natural. Babies die in the hospital, too. I've come to realize that if she was going to die, that I'm grateful she died in her home, surrounded by people who loved her. (a number of "medical" professionals have reviewed our case and determined the outcome would have been the same in a hospital setting)

I went on to have another safe and happy homebirth with our third. And this year, after reviewing the facts of my pregnancy, the facts of my medical history, and trusting my maternal instincts, CHOSE to have a cesarean birth with our fourth. Let's advocate for women to not settle for standard care. Each pregnancy, labor and birth are unique and should be treated as such.


The medicalization of birth evolved from somewhere.....natural birth!
To state that natural birth is a "trend" is just not true. Medicine is the trend. Unfortunately c-sections have become the trend. And I can tell you that as much as I loved my natural births, comparing them to being at a "spa" is just silly!

Demonizing hospital birth or home birth makes them both less safe for women and babies. While this segment wasn't entirely one-sided, it definitely had an anti-home birth and anti-natural slant. C'mon Today! People listen to you. I respectfully ask you to produce and present another segment. Let's give people the whole story and allow them to form opinions not based on fear.

Mary Karl-Gruswitz, mother to:
Noah, Emerson, Beatrice and Winter



Thank you all for being aware, involved, ACTIVE!! Let's keep all our options safe!

[wbg]

Originally Posted by girlfromthefuture

Demonizing hospital birth or home birth makes them both less safe for women and babies.

Thank you all for being aware, involved, ACTIVE!! Let's keep all our options safe!

Thank you for sharing your story. What a beautiful family you have.

I agree with everything you said in your post, but particularly the part I quoted. I am tired of it being an us versus them discussion point.

Women need to give birth in a safe, empowered environment, having chosen their environment and level of intervention or lack there of, based on being presented with honest, evidence based facts as opposed to installing fear.

I believe women should have all available choices.
I believe in natural child birth.
I believe there is a very valuable place for intervention where truly necessary.
I believe in homeopathy and naturopathy and home birth and hospital birth.
I believe that we need unbiased media covering the childbirth press!!

Well...I believe many things really...but I will climb down off my high horse for the evening and am going to go back to trying my hardest not to mess up my kids while I fumble my way through parenting!

[LittleBlessings]

i feel so sorry for that couple

[Mama_2_Boy]

I watched the segment and like how at the end Matt says to the guy "what questions should you be asking your midwife?" and the guest says "that is what people all across the country are discussing, and we spoke to our professionals and they said 1. does your midwife have malpractice insurance"

Are you kidding me? Yes, that's right, that is the most important piece of information you could ask your provider. What a bunch of clowns.