ACOG Statement on Home Birth

[danotoyou2]

Here's a piece...

Childbirth decisions should not be dictated or influenced by what's fashionable, trendy, or the latest cause célèbre. Despite the rosy picture painted by home birth advocates, a seemingly normal labor and delivery can quickly become life-threatening for both the mother and baby. Attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) at home is especially dangerous because if the uterus ruptures during labor, both the mother and baby face an emergency situation with potentially catastrophic consequences, including death. Unless a woman is in a hospital, an accredited freestanding birthing center, or a birthing center within a hospital complex, with physicians ready to intervene quickly if necessary, she puts herself and her baby's health and life at unnecessary risk.

It's the featured article at www.truebirth.com on the left column.

It's really a disgusting statement from them. No doubt to reiterate to the doctors who saw Business of Being Born and thought homebirth didn't look so bad after all. Gotta remember who you're working for.

[KarenEMT]

Thanks for sharing this. It makes me

[nccrunchymama]

Originally Posted by KarenEMT

Thanks for sharing this. It makes me

Me too!!! ARRRRR! There's nothing like publicity to stir up the authorities. I guess they have to defend their policies somehow.

[Arwyn]

Childbirth decisions should not be dictated or influenced by what's fashionable, trendy, or the latest cause célèbre.

So very, very true. Which is why women need to stop thinking of hospital birth as the default. That trend has been going on for 100 years, and it's not good for mamas or babies.




The rest of what they say is bunk, of course.

[Sileree]

Meh, what do I care what they think? They're dumb as rocks.

[saimeiyu]

Originally Posted by Sileree

Meh, what do I care what they think? They're dumb as rocks.

ITA
They've shown themselves more than once to care more about a hospital's bottom line (or their own, too) than a mom's or baby's health, or even both combined, so why should this surprise us?

I consider ACOG to be nothing more than a political lobbying group whose main goal is putting Midwives out of practice across the USA. If I knew Dutch or Norwegian I'd be all about following THEIR guidelines on safe birth. At least THEY know what they're talking about.

Pretty much I know if the ACOG endorses it, I probably want nothing to do with it.

[L.A.mama]

There's an OB/GYN running for president who is for "health freedom" which includes "birthing freedom!"

http://homebirth.meetup.com/boards/v...thread=4113255

[LoveChild421]

Originally Posted by danotoyou2

Here's a piece...

Childbirth decisions should not be dictated or influenced by what's fashionable, trendy, or the latest cause célèbre. Despite the rosy picture painted by home birth advocates, a seemingly normal labor and delivery can quickly become life-threatening for both the mother and baby. Attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) at home is especially dangerous because if the uterus ruptures during labor, both the mother and baby face an emergency situation with potentially catastrophic consequences, including death. Unless a woman is in a hospital, an accredited freestanding birthing center, or a birthing center within a hospital complex, with physicians ready to intervene quickly if necessary, she puts herself and her baby's health and life at unnecessary risk.

It's the featured article at www.truebirth.com on the left column.

gotta love ACOG- no facts, no stats, no studies quoted, no mention of all the women their Dr.s have hurt or worse with cytotec before realizing maybe it isn't a good idea to give it to women who have had a previous C-section (I can see how they would think things can so easily turn life threatening after giving powerful drugs and interventions on a routine basis without thinking of the logical consequences or not listening when dr.s speak out until years after when people are suing!), not based on evidence, just their opinions and some buzzwords...

[honeybee]

So, birth shouldn't be dictated by what's "fashionable," huh?

How come when they're talking elective c-sections it's all about a "woman's choice" but when it's homebirth it is a "dangerous fad." Tad bit of a double standard, wouldn't you say?

[sofiabugmom]

Um, haven't we as a society only been using hospitals and/or doctors for birth for not much longer than a century?

So, then, wouldn't going to birth at a hospital, once upon a time in the not-so-distant past, have been considered "what's fashionable, trendy, or the latest cause célèbre"?

Just a thought ...

[gemasita]

sofiabug - I just made that same comment on another board.

gotta love ACOG- no facts, no stats, no studies quoted, no mention of all the women their Dr.s have hurt or worse with cytotec before realizing maybe it isn't a good idea to give it to women who have had a previous C-section (I can see how they would think things can so easily turn life threatening after giving powerful drugs and interventions on a routine basis without thinking of the logical consequences or not listening when dr.s speak out until years after when people are suing!), not based on evidence, just their opinions and some buzzwords...

Incredibly well-said!

[Gilby]

Funny... they didn't cite any research that backs up their statement....

[clutterbug]

Originally Posted by honeybee

How come when they're talking elective c-sections it's all about a "woman's choice" but when it's homebirth it is a "dangerous fad." Tad bit of a double standard, wouldn't you say?

:

Sigh. I hate to say it but they will never change their minds. I suppose it could happen one doctor at a time, but I dunno. Sorry to be so defeatist, I just find it soooo depressing :-(

[kltroy]

Unfortunately, ACOG and medicine in general look at pregnancy and birth as a "medical condition" that needs to be treated and is, at all times, potentially dangerous. This is the western medicine mentality, and it's simply a fundamental philosophical difference (vs. the midwifery model which looks at pregnancy and birth as "natural physiological processes" that occasionally require a little help). The statement is stupid and unfortunate, but really not surprising, eh?

Here... this one makes me feel better :
“Every family has a right to experience a safe and satisfying childbirth, attended by providers who respect cultural variations, human dignity, and the rights of consumers to freedom of choice and self determination. This includes respect for the client preferences regarding birth site. The education and preparation of CNMs/CMs... qualify them to practice in a variety of settings, including hospital, home and birth center.”
ACNM Position Statement on Practice Settings, Revised February 1999

[Karri_B]

Originally Posted by honeybee

So, birth shouldn't be dictated by what's "fashionable," huh?

How come when they're talking elective c-sections it's all about a "woman's choice" but when it's homebirth it is a "dangerous fad." Tad bit of a double standard, wouldn't you say?

:

[CherryBomb]

This was my favorite part-

Choosing to deliver a baby at home, however, is to place the process of giving birth over the goal of having a healthy baby.

:

I can't even formulate a response to that, it makes me so angry.

[channelofpeace]

Originally Posted by honeybee

So, birth shouldn't be dictated by what's "fashionable," huh?

How come when they're talking elective c-sections it's all about a "woman's choice" but when it's homebirth it is a "dangerous fad." Tad bit of a double standard, wouldn't you say?

Especially when, ironically, elective c-sections carry muuuuch higher risks for mom and baby than homebirths

I love the hypocrisy. I makes me want to laugh and cry all at the same time.

[pampered_mom]

Choosing to deliver a baby at home, however, is to place the process of giving birth over the goal of having a healthy baby.

Couldn't agree with you more CherryBomb. Because they can totally guarantee a "healthy" baby. Wish I had a copy of "Pushed" - she's got a quote towards the very end of her book that is a FANTASTIC response to this kind of sentiment.

Nevermind the fact that maybe the "process of giving birth" may very well be part of what, in most cases, results in a healthy baby (and a healthy mom, let's not forget the mom).

[channelofpeace]

Originally Posted by pampered_mom

Couldn't agree with you more CherryBomb. Because they can totally guarantee a "healthy" baby. Wish I had a copy of "Pushed" - she's got a quote towards the very end of her book that is a FANTASTIC response to this kind of sentiment.

Nevermind the fact that maybe the "process of giving birth" may very well be part of what, in most cases, results in a healthy baby (and a healthy mom, let's not forget the mom).

And the fact that, statistically, their statement is untrue. Studies have shown that low-risk mothers are as safe or safer at home than in the hospital. They are just pulling things out of their a$$es. It is sad really, that they feel so threatened.

[Arwyn]

I think it's kind of great that they feel so threatened.

Although if they realized that we could work together for the optimal health of mamababies, and stopped being so immature and didn't feel threatened, life would be much better.