Today Show "Dangers of Midwifery" - Page 2

[strawberryprincess]

I can't stand watching Today show segments on breastfeeding either...these things just make me so mad, and I'm actually quite grateful i wasn't watching it this morning.

My SIL had the most medicalized pregnancy i've ever heard of (IVF, every test possible, multiple u/s for what a was appeared to be a normal pregnancy)--she developed severe pre-e, and was hospitalized for a week, they almost took the baby at 33w, but she stabilized and they sent her home. Two days later, they tried to do a NST, but couldn't find a heartbeat. The baby died of a blood clot--no one realized SIL had that disorder, even though in retrospect there were several signs of it. No, nothing ever goes wrong when the doctors are involved.

[oregonmama79]

I think the most troubling part for me is that the mainstream media makes it seem like the only choice is a hospital birth. While it is tragic for the couple who lost their baby-that is one case in many. Hospital births are right for some women. Homebirth is right for others. There is a great big gray area that is rarely considered. The personalities of the expectant couple (i.e. are they assertive to get their needs met in either setting? can they set aside worry and fear?) It's not just about risk factors, but also about being informed and in touch with yourself and body.
I do however think that it is unusal for a HB midwife to let a woman labor at home for 4 days (depending on what kind of labor)-but again this is an isloated incident. In order for research to be real, there needs to be validity and reliability-it is unfair to present one case in so many and expect that that is the "way it is"...Am I making any sense? I have too many thoughts (and hormones) raging right now. I guess what I am trying to say is that presenting one side of the story is a pretty manipulative and deceitful way of presenting information to the masses.
And whoever said they should have a story about the growing epidemic of c-sections--I 2nd that!!
All that being said-it is very sad what that couple had to endure. Nobody should have to expierence the loss of a baby.

[Mama2 '05'06]

Ridiculuous to say that it was the fault of the midwife/danger of homebirth! I have a friend who had her dd in the hospital, with the best OB around and she was still dead b/c of the cord around her neck.

[Mi_LuBelle]

Ya know, I watched it again with my DH because I HAD to show him how ridiculous it was... the message was overwhelming... "Have a C-section and your baby will be safe," AND "Make sure above all else your care provider has insurance" so at least we know the insurance companies will get their $$. Hmmm... again... I wonder which organizations/companies were swaying the media on this little piece. What a crock. ::

[caiesmommy]

WTH! Seriously! Of course the parents story is HEARTBREAKING! There is *nothing* worse then losing a baby! BUT seriously as sad as it is the truth of the matter is babies die...birth is beautiful, magical, perfect and in order to be all these positive things their has to be negatives. That is life. To blame the fact that you chose to have a hb on the reason your baby dies is unbelievable and the fact that the Today Show is playing off that that is the reason as well is horrible journalism. There could have been a million reasons why that baby didn't make it...maybe just the fact that that was that spirits destiny!

When a baby doesn't make it in a hospital, it's "An act of God"..."It wasn't meant to be" ect ect. When a baby doesn't make it in a hb setting its neglect on the mother/midwives part...very sad

:To help the poor mother deal with the loss of her daughter

[mommyshanti]

Originally Posted by Kino

How about a segment entitled "Dangers of Obstetrics?"

My first was a three day labor, but that was in the hospital. All they can do is monitor the heart beat. Being in a hospital doesn't magically make it safer.

So much for investigative journalism though.

exactly
is is very sad a when a child passes but it also happens in hospitals sometime is is something you cannot prevent
ive heard of many women laboring for days safely whether home or hospital

[Kidzaplenty]

Such a sad story. The media drives me crazy!

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Television.

[xbabymamax]

Originally Posted by berrymama

This bugs me and I am an OB nurse! They would never do a story about the mom's who are full term that come into the hospital in labor or with decreased movement and end up with a stillbirth. Just because this couple happened to be at home doesn't mean that was the CAUSE of the stillbirth.

Thank you.

[dogmom327]

I think it's so funny (okay, more like sickening) when those of us who homebirth are made out to be just following a celebrity trend. Seriously? Birth (at least for me) isn't exactly a walk in the park. It hurts like crazy and if I was just doing it because Ricki Lake did, I think I would have gotten over myself after about the first hour of painful contractions and gone to the hospital for the drugs. I give birth at home because it's safer for me and my baby and because I really value a peaceful and respected birth experience (both for myself and my baby)--I only get to do this so many times in my life and my children only get to do it once.