Homebirth and Triplets - Page 3

[boscopup]

Originally Posted by bamamom

ITA!!! OF COURSE Babies are monitored at homebirths!!!! It shocks me to think that anyone would believe otherwise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What about in UC's? I know midwives monitior babies periodically, but I don't know if most UC'ers do.

Also, if you don't know you're having triplets, how do you monitor each baby? I think that'd be really hard. In a singleton, it's easy. But if you think there's two and there are really 3, you are going to have a hard time monitoring all 3, aren't you? I mean, if you haven't picked up 3 heartbeats during prenatals, I doubt you'll pick them all up during labor.

[The Lucky One]

Yes, but how were these babies heartrates monitored? No one even knew how many babies there were!??!

[scatterbrainedmom]

i (only an assumption) think that the mw had to have known. *most* women with more than one baby get very big and I would assume with twin she would be noticably larger. the mw may not have known about twins, but I would assume she was checking all over her belly for any chance of multiples.

But, we don't know what exactly happened. only speculation.

[DragonflyBlue]

I had twins, in the hospital with a perinatologist who followed my entire pregnancy.

Vaginal birth at 35 weeks, 6 days. Both babes roomed in, went home with me after two days.

Labor was 15+ hours all without an epi. In fact, nobody even mentioned an epi. I spent several hours in the jacuzzi tub, soaking, dozing. I walked, rocked, sat on a yoga ball, squatted, did what I wanted. I only had interventions that I chose to make. And those were very, very few.

Multiple pregnancies are riskier than singletons. Placentas can and do age faster. Cord entanglements, TTS, lack of growth, toxemia risk goes up. Pre-term labor and delivery.

I had just buried my 16 year old dd when I found out I was having twins. I needed that extra bit of care to make me feel secure. To make me feel my babies had a chance.

To me, that's one of the wonderful things about being a woman, being able to choose how and where to give birth. I've had homebirths, I've had hospital births that ranged from low tech to a baby needing 45 minutes of hard core work to get her breathing on her own. I've attended over 150 births, at home and hospital and will always hold steadfast to the belief that women should choose. They should always be informed of all possible risks and allowed to choose which set of risks they want to take responsibility for making.

Myself, it never crossed my mind to birth my twins at home. I knew my limits mentally and physically. And at that point and time, I wanted to be sure I was doing the utmost to have healthy babies.

Janis

[Belle]

Originally Posted by JanisB

To me, that's one of the wonderful things about being a woman, being able to choose how and where to give birth...They should always be informed of all possible risks and allowed to choose which set of risks they want to take responsibility for making.

Exactly. You were most comfortable in the hospital in this instance. This mom was most comfortable at home. I agree with you on this completely. A mom should be where she feels safe.

That's awesome that you had a natural birth with twins! You rock momma! Its especially important that you felt supported by your peri and that they honored your wishes.

[singleton+twins]

Originally Posted by alegna

singleton+twins- welcome to MDC! Glad you're here. BUT I have to say you are speaking from a place of clear ignorance and bias. Heart tones ARE usually monitored at homebirths.... homebirths are statistically SAFER for normal birth than hospitals. I have yet to see any study prove that twins are safer in the hospital.

-Angela

heartones ARE monitored during birth but please tell me how a person knows if they are hearing three different heartones or one, with an echo. Personally I have seen tons of ladies swear they were having twins due to hearing two separate hb at different rates while using a doppler. Heck I have seen Dr. insist it was twins due to the same thing. 99% it is one baby. It is difficult to distinguish what is making the sound. Is it the placenta/umbilical cord, an echo, the blood flow thru the veins that feed the uterus? Amniotic fluid is highly conductive that you can get several hb in several different places. And if you didn't know it was twins/triplets how would you even know to monitor each baby.

I lurker on another UC board and most of those ladies do NOT monitor heartones as they are doing an totally unassisted birth. My comment was from what I have learned from them.

Do you have stats that prove birthing multiples is safer at home? I'd love to see those studies. I agree that in a low risk situation birthing a singleton at home is safer but very much disagree with multiples.

[maxmama]

Originally Posted by boscopup

Quite possibly, yes. Drugs can often stop PTL until babies get to a "safer" gestation. Also, birthing those babies in a hospital with a level 3 NICU can get them immediate care for their underdeveloped lungs (they inject a synthetic surfectant), plus help breathing, etc. A 24 weeker singleton has a 50% chance of living. I imagine that 26 week twins would have at least that high a chance, possibly higher if they're a good size for their gestation. They might be micropreemies, but they could be saved by modern medicine.

In a level III NICU, the survival rate for 26-28 weekers is around 90%. Betamethasone prenatally makes a HUGE difference in survival, as does access to ECMO and cardiac surgeons (many micropreemies need cardiac repairs), but 26 weekers are absolutely viable. Twins also do better than singletons (prenatal stress). However, in order to have time for betamethasone and for any chance for viable 26 weekers, delivery must be in not only a hospital but also a level III nursery. We have a level II and transfer out all patients who are less than 32 weeks.

[JuicyPakwan]

Has anyone read "Full House the story of the Anderson Quintuplets"? Pretty fun story. They where born premature but all where born vaginally. And all came out head first. I imagine pretty rare but it can happen. I too believe our bodies are very capable of handling difficult circumstances.

Also wanted to add in our news a lady had and 26 wkr at home. Not intentionally it was a precip labor and mom stimulated baby until medics arrived and baby survived and is doing well.

[kerikadi]

But if a homebirthing Mama went into labor early she would go to the hospital. Nobody would attend a homebirth before 35 weeks gestation. So, she would be in the hospital.

When we are talking about homebirthing Mamas these are Mamas that are cared for, take excellent care of themselves, eat MUCH healthier than the average Mama and would go to the hospital if the NEED arose. However, there is NO NEED for a 36+ week Mama to go to the hospital.

Keri

[Belle]

Originally Posted by singleton+twins

heartones ARE monitored during birth but please tell me how a person knows if they are hearing three different heartones or one, with an echo. Personally I have seen tons of ladies swear they were having twins due to hearing two separate hb at different rates while using a doppler. Heck I have seen Dr. insist it was twins due to the same thing. 99% it is one baby. It is difficult to distinguish what is making the sound. Is it the placenta/umbilical cord, an echo, the blood flow thru the veins that feed the uterus? Amniotic fluid is highly conductive that you can get several hb in several different places. And if you didn't know it was twins/triplets how would you even know to monitor each baby.

Okay this is hypethical because I don't know the whole story. But say baby A is in the birth canal. That is the baby under current stress. The Midwves/doctors knew exactly where that baby was. Baby A comes out, baby B moves into position. Palpatate the uterus to see where baby B is. B moves into position. Check heart tones of baby B. Baby B comes out. Check uterus again. FP can tell that there is a baby C and that baby C is breech posterior. MW turns C into the anterior breech position. Baby C is born. MWs check for baby D. No baby D. Okay, wait for placentas.

I lurker on another UC board and most of those ladies do NOT monitor heartones as they are doing an totally unassisted birth. My comment was from what I have learned from them.

This was not a UC birth.

Do you have stats that prove birthing multiples is safer at home? I'd love to see those studies. I agree that in a low risk situation birthing a singleton at home is safer but very much disagree with multiples.

Point taken. Just as there are no stats proving a hospital birth is safer, there are no stats proving HB is safer.

[boscopup]

Originally Posted by kerikadi

But if a homebirthing Mama went into labor early she would go to the hospital.

In theory, but a PP mentioned a mama not seeking medical attention and losing 26 week twins. Sounds like she didn't go to the hospital when needed, and I've seen the occasional mention of similar situations here on MDC - purposely waiting to go to the hospital with a preterm birth, etc. I think MOST homebirthing mamas will go to the hospital when necessary (I did!).

I think sometimes women here get so anti-medical that they refuse to see an OB unless it's super obvious that there's a really bad problem, but sometimes it's not so obvious. I had amniotic fluid gushing down my legs at 29 weeks, so it was obvious that something was wrong. After that experience, I'm now more willing to see my OB even if it's not obviously something really bad, but at the same time, I also trust my midwife and talk to her about issues too. In a multiple pregnancy though, I would absolutely want to be monitored by an OB though. Yes it *is* riskier. And sometimes you don't know you're having preterm issues without being checked.

Part of the midwifery model of care is seeing an OB for high-risk pregnancies, and multiple births are higher risk than singleton births. Yes, it can be done naturally, but sometimes it might be safer to do it in the hospital, and just find an OB/hospital that will heed your wishes. I know that's hard in some places, unfortunately. I wish more OBs were open to natural child birth, even in multiple pregnancies.

[alegna]

As to 26 weekers, some moms may choose to not go to extraordinary means to keep a super preemie alive and I believe that is their ethical choice to make.

-Angela

[kerikadi]

Obviously I can't speak for all homebirthing Mamas or their MW's but my MW would insist that I go to the hospital at any sign of labor before 36 weeks.

Keri

[bamamom]

Originally Posted by kerikadi

Obviously I can't speak for all homebirthing Mamas or their MW's but my MW would insist that I go to the hospital at any sign of labor before 36 weeks.

Keri

EXACTLY

[maxmama]

Originally Posted by alegna

As to 26 weekers, some moms may choose to not go to extraordinary means to keep a super preemie alive and I believe that is their ethical choice to make.

-Angela

Sadly, certain people currently occupying a certain large white house don't agree, and have passed a law requiring health care workers who receive federal funds (i.e., anyone who accepts medicaid or is covered under EMTALA) to attempt resuscitation of any infant 20 weeks gestation or greater born with any vital signs, including only a heart rate. Parents' wishes don't enter into the equation and the penalty can be removal of all federal funding.

[Kathryn]

So sad.

[MamaTaraX]

This is an incredibly interesting thread and there are dozens of things I wish I could go back and respond to. I may try later. In the interim...
Someone here on MDC has had triplets at home, she posted that she was preg w/trips again sometime last year. Don't know what happened but she already had a ton of kids so I doubt she was online much I tink she was a UCer. I also konw a story of a woman who had triplets at home, in the water. She thought there was one. BIG surprise.

Namaste, Tara

[MamaTaraX]

Originally Posted by maxmama

Sadly, certain people currently occupying a certain large white house don't agree, and have passed a law requiring health care workers who receive federal funds (i.e., anyone who accepts medicaid or is covered under EMTALA) to attempt resuscitation of any infant 20 weeks gestation or greater born with any vital signs, including only a heart rate. Parents' wishes don't enter into the equation and the penalty can be removal of all federal funding.

In my state any baby over 500 grams "must be saved or an attempt made to save, regardless of parental desire".

Originally Posted by kerikadi

But if a homebirthing Mama went into labor early she would go to the hospital. Nobody would attend a homebirth before 35 weeks gestation. So, she would be in the hospital.
Keri

Not true for everyone. I'm a homebirthing mama and if I had gone into labor before 35 weeks, I'd have stayed right on home. Would my midwife have attended? Possibly, we talked about it. Would move midwives attend it? No. That's a choice we were wiling to make and it was definaely our choice to make.

To me, that's one of the wonderful things about being a woman, being able to choose how and where to give birth

: I agree. I support women and the choices they make. Women should bvirth where they feel comfortable be it at home alone or on an operating table. If they feel safe and supported, that is where they belong.
Namast, Tara

[alegna]

Originally Posted by maxmama

Sadly, certain people currently occupying a certain large white house don't agree, and have passed a law requiring health care workers who receive federal funds (i.e., anyone who accepts medicaid or is covered under EMTALA) to attempt resuscitation of any infant 20 weeks gestation or greater born with any vital signs, including only a heart rate. Parents' wishes don't enter into the equation and the penalty can be removal of all federal funding.

Exactly the reason that some moms may choose not to request services of such health care workers at such a time....

-Angela

[The Lucky One]

Women should bvirth where they feel comfortable be it at home alone or on an operating table.

(bolding mine)

Ah, really. Hmm, I've never seen support at MDC for those who choose elective c-sections. Double standard, I guess.