To the original poster, your husband needs to be fully informed to help his decision making .
It's unfortunate that members feel the need to ignore research from other countries which show bad outcomes for HB with trianied midwives in an itegrated system .
Its also unfortunate that MANA refuses to release the figures on HB it has been recording for several years.
One of the reasons I so rarely post on MDC is the feedback that comes form being honest .
First -- as to my prior post, I agree that I painted with a rather broad brush (sorry to those cnms practicing scientifically!) and that my statement could have used the word "traditional" in front of the words "midwifery practices".
"I think it's telling that you, Buzzbuzz, who I assume is not a HB advocate, think that you know that the "most important ball" is in terms of HB advocacy. Can you tell us a little about your experiences as a HB advocate that bring you to that conclusion?"
I was speaking as to what I believe that 99.99% of pregnant and child-bearing women are MOST interested in -- that being the health and well-being of themselves and their babies. If morbidity and mortality of women and babies isn't a (if not the) primary concern of the homebirth movement, I wish they would be upfront and honest about that! I will admit, that is something I have long suspected (Exhibit A -- the continued practice of Lisa Barrett, for example) and if all homebirth advocacy just had a general disclaimer to that effect I would happily take my ball and go home.
"For someone so interested in science and the stats of HB I find this statement just..."
Perhaps you could share the scientific evidence for the practices I mention since you think my statement is wrong?
"I'm not really sure why you're on this site at all."
Well, you compelled me to post to this thread by putting up incomplete (verging on misleading) information.
[censored]
edited to reduce infammation.
Perhaps you could share the scientific evidence for the practices I mention since you think my statement is wrong?
If you would like to discuss those, I may be willing to discuss them on another thread, however, I think you are mistaken about what midwifery practices are as many, many things that I consider to be originally midwifery practices that are studied by hospital midwives and OBs. My CPM and my cousin's hospital birth midwife were recently at the same conference, for instance. It was a conference on shifting baby's position in the birth canal. Something I'd like to see homebirth midwives and OB's go head to head on by way of showing you my perspective...but you probably think the surgical route is better since there's less chance for morbidity or mortality. Maybe we should just birth all our babies by cesarean then? That'd be safer right?
As far as factoring morbidity and mortality in my choice making...I have said for months that I do factor in what I believe to be a very slight increased risk of HB. I believe we (you and I and all parents) make those choices on a daily basis and it is not something I am afraid to acknowledge. However, the choice to give birth at home was made with the best interest if my child, you can count on that. I realize that you probably discount the advantaged of HB but that doesn't make them any less important.
This is where I think the OP should come from with her DP. I think perhaps he should read the morbidity thread we have going (and the awesome Wax study counter from the Canadian Family Physicians) but then focus on the benefits of HB the way she prioritizes them. There are so many advantages but which ones are important and why vary from family to family.
"...fated their children to a post-cesarean life"
Yes, the operative (ha-ha) word there being life.
By the way, you know what people say about assuming...my childbirth history is not what you are claiming.
And thanks for showing your own feelings about women. Yes, many people find "overly vocal women" to be a problem. I wouldn't want to so clearly show myself to be one of them if I were you, though.
I feel like these overly vocal women who have fated their children to a post-cesarean life are ultimately attempting to convince THEMSELVES of the validity and safety of such a decision. Me thinks she doth protest too much...
What is the "post-caesarean life"?
Hey there!
Congrats on your baby to come!! I am really excited for you that you have had such a great first time birth experience and are considering a home birth.
I totally get your husbands reaction and your hearts desire to have a home birth. I have had 12 natural births and 8 home births. I consider myself a regular lady not some kind of mega Mama! I have my first 4 in the hospital and they were, for me, not my best births. My 8 home births were not easy, however, they were very peaceful and safe for me. Throughout my different births I have had long labors (24 hr) and short labors 20 min. The difference with my home births was the quality of care and support and the comfort of birthing in any position, and room, standing up or lying down, eating when I wanted, and the close time after birth with baby and family. It is like the difference between doing something very personal in a strange setting among strangers, or in the comfort and safety of your own home. Birth is personal and natural, not a medical condition.
As far as bringing your husband on board, I would say to ask him to investigate home birth vs. hospital birth. Read some books and watch some videos of home births. Meet with your midwife. Stay up beat! Since you are so close to the hospital, you could agree to transport if at any point of your birth he feels uncomfortable.
I have been part of a community that supports home birth, for a long time. Large families and home birth. I have attended several home births of friends of mine and have not encountered any danger. I do not know of any fatality in 17 yrs of home birth. I hope this helps you make a educated decision.
Blessings to you and yours!
By the way, you know what people say about assuming...my childbirth history is not what you are claiming.
I think that part of the disconnect here is that in the HB forum those of us for whom this forum is intended open ourselves up here and share our birth choices and often our medical histories and intimate details of our family lives. Posting with sensitivity towards that is the best way to approach your involvement in this forum if posting from outside of the community of homebirth families.
With that said, we do have a good general UA here at MDC and as this discussion gets heated I want to remind everyone to have a look, especially as we welcome new members.
Welcome mama to 12! It's a pleasure to have you. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Back to the topic of the OP, I really like the articles from Midwifery Today. They are very well sourced (the ones I've read) and are often very approachable. It's possible that they have published a good article or two on the choice to HB from a beginner's perspective.
Also, another thing that was of interest to me (and perhaps to your DH too) is to look into the diversity of your HB community in your area. This would vary wildly depending on where you live but when I was in CA the parents from the mainstream medical community were in the top three professional groups giving birth with my MW. You could meet with a MW and ask her about that. It's telling!
Along those lines, OP, I was still on the fence when pregnant with my first and was doing a local hospital visit. I mentioned to the hospital birth MW there at the hospital that I was interested in HB and she told me she had her children at home and encouraged me to start with a HB midwife. She said she felt it was more comfortable to change my mind from a HB to a hospital birth than the other way around. That's what I did...
Please keep us updated and I hope you will forgive a little bickering on your thread. 
"What is the "post-caesarean life"?"
The inevitable poor health, reduced mental function and general lack of specialness that is the doom of all c-section babies. You mean you can't tell who was a c-section baby and who was a vaginally birthed baby when you meet a new co-worker, neighbor or friend?
IdentityCrisisMama -- As I have posted here several times, I myself have had two homebirths. You post as if your position (acknowledging a rise in mortality and morbidity in homebirth) is the generally accepted position within the homebirth advocacy community. It is not. As is demonstrated by someone else elsewhere on this board using a 30 year old study from Britain to claim that homebirth is equally safe for all mothers regardless of their risk level. The claim that homebirth is as safe as (if not safer than) hospital birth can be found on this board and all over the internet generally.
With regard to "traditional midwifery practices" my point, which I appear not to have communicated well, is as follows: that there are practices which are generally "traditional midwifery only" (in that your average ob will not, for example, use castor oil to induce labor). These practices are, by and large, not supported by reliable scientific evidence. I believe (though certainly others may dispute) that if they were scientifically supported practices, you would see obs start to incorporate them into how they practice medicine (such practices would become standard for obstetrics, much like the historical use of willowbark has become incorporated into modern medicine as asprin). In any event, if your problem is that obs aren't scientific enough, it seems strange to me to pursue care from a group which tends to engage in practices that are even LESS supported by scientific evidence than the practices of obs.
Sorry, I'm sure I'm being as clear as mud here.
In any event, I will attempt to bow out now in order to prevent the further derailment of the OP's thread (for which I apologize!).
"What is the "post-caesarean life"?"
The inevitable poor health, reduced mental function and general lack of specialness that is the doom of all c-section babies. You mean you can't tell who was a c-section baby and who was a vaginally birthed baby when you meet a new co-worker, neighbor or friend?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093169/figure/F0001/
...I know that wasn't the end of the study, I just like to amuse myself with that tidbit of info 
Now I'm getting confused...
My coffee hasn't set in yet but I want to be sure that everyone knows that Buzzbuzz was being sarcastic in the quote above. As far as the edited quote (which should be edited out of any one else's post, btw), I'd like it we could let that new member edit and move on. The discussion was heated and it's best to practice some forgiveness when someone kind of talks off the cuff. I know we've all been there.
As for that study, Escaping.... sometimes it's more interesting to me what scientists study than what the actual outcome is, don't you think? Also goes to show part of why I think studies are such a complicated way to look at this issue and part of why, though I don't agree with the conclusions of the Wax study, why I do appreciate it nonetheless.
With regard to "traditional midwifery practices" my point, which I appear not to have communicated well, is as follows: that there are practices which are generally "traditional midwifery only" (in that your average ob will not, for example, use castor oil to induce labor). These practices are, by and large, not supported by reliable scientific evidence. I believe (though certainly others may dispute) that if they were scientifically supported practices, you would see obs start to incorporate them into how they practice medicine (such practices would become standard for obstetrics, much like the historical use of willowbark has become incorporated into modern medicine as asprin).
I think this can get a response and still be supportive of the OP. OP, what you will find in looking for a MW is that your individual choices depend quite a bit on the area where you live, the culture there and quite a bit on the MW you choose. I've seen 3 HB MW's and though they all practiced quite differently than an OB in many ways, they did not recommend any really "out there" stuff to me. The implication that this is common place is not accurate in my experience. It's possible that your DH holds some of the same stereotypes about midwives and clients as other people have and that's worthwhile to investigate.
Back to the OP's original question...
I think it's important to find out all the reasons that you husband has hesitations, not just reasons related to safety (though those are obviously important).
When my DP & I were talking about home birth as a possible option for us, it came up that she was worried that if I made a lot of noise during labor, the neighbors would hear and that would cause problems (worst case scenario...and my DP is really good at thinking of worst case scenarios...they would call the cops because of the noise). That concern hadn't even crossed my mind, so it was really helpful when I realized that this was a concern of hers & we could talk about it. Not only because it helped move us towards a mutual decision about where to birth, but because it also gave us a chance to talk about how she would respond if I was making a lot of noise in labor (my message was basically: figure out a way to be OK with it if you want to be at the birth, because I can promise you that I'm not going to be quiet).
Anyway, my only point is that there can be lots of reasons why someone might have concerns or hesitations about HB. Nosy neighbors, inviting strangers into your home, concern about caring for other kids in the home during birth...those are a few that pop into mind. (OP, those might not be specific concerns for your hubby, but I'm just brainstorming here).
Good luck! I hope you can find a way to arrive at a mutual decision with your husband.
Thank you for your advice as to where & what I should be posting but I'm afraid that sounds like censorship .
Ypu might not like my opinion but as someone who has been delivering babies for 30 years , I am entitled to it .
In any case , we have somehting in Australia called free speech .
heatherfd, this is a privately owned community, not a public government run by a democracy. We set rules for participation and require all members to agree to our rules and our basic guidelines for polite posting and setting a comfortable atmosphere for discussion when they request membership. We don't hesitate to censor people who prove themselves to only be interested in arguing their viewpoint rather than focusing on offering personally helpful information to the person posting about their situation.
IdentityCrisisMom has already addressed your posting behavior and your dismissal of the opinions and research of others. I think you've been given a fair chance to participate in this discussion and you continue to abuse it. We can agree to disagree but I think your membership here has an agenda to it since you look upon the members of this community with a lack of respect and accusation of ignorance. If you would like to continue your membership you can contact me by email to discuss further - cynthiam@mothering.com
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