This is my first pregnancy. I'm planning a homebirth with a midwife, but I'm receiving backup care through the midwife group at the local hospital because Medicaid covers it and my husband feels safer that way. I'm having a hard time finding actual scientific data about some of the tests, screenings and procedures that seem to be routine at my hospital.
My homebirth midwife doesn't require any of these screenings, but since I'm getting backup at the hospital, I really want to be well-informed in case I need to defend my decision to decline routine tests. Hopefully by homebirth is uneventful and I won't have to worry about interventions during delivery or postnatal stuff (at least until I take my baby to the pediatrician.)
Here's how I'm leaning so far:
Prenatal Stuff
Ultrasound-no, unless there seems to be a problem.
AFS- no
CFS- no
Glucose Tolerance Test- I'd prefer not to, but I don't know if it is optional at the hospital
Hematocrit- not sure. For one, I'm not sure if it's optional. Also, I can't find a lot of information about what happens if the midwife is unhappy with the results. Anyone know?
Group B Strep- not sure. I don't want routine administration of antibiotics, but I would prefer to know if my baby is at risk for getting sick after birth so I can do some more natural preventative measure like extra probiotics, colloidal silver, garlic insertion, etc.
Prenatal Rhogam- no (I'm A-)
Postnatal stuff
Vitamin K- not sure, but I'm leaning toward no.
Eye ointment- again, not sure, but leaning toward no.
PKU screening- mandatory in my state, though I plan to refuse until at least 3 days after birth.
Postnatal Rhogam- yes, if my baby has a positive blood type. I will request that the blood be drawn from the placenta instead of my baby's body.
Am I missing anything big? What are your thoughts on these routines? I'd love any information anyone can give, especially links to peer-reviewed studies or data about these things.
My homebirth midwife doesn't require any of these screenings, but since I'm getting backup at the hospital, I really want to be well-informed in case I need to defend my decision to decline routine tests. Hopefully by homebirth is uneventful and I won't have to worry about interventions during delivery or postnatal stuff (at least until I take my baby to the pediatrician.)
Here's how I'm leaning so far:
Prenatal Stuff
Ultrasound-no, unless there seems to be a problem.
AFS- no
CFS- no
Glucose Tolerance Test- I'd prefer not to, but I don't know if it is optional at the hospital
Hematocrit- not sure. For one, I'm not sure if it's optional. Also, I can't find a lot of information about what happens if the midwife is unhappy with the results. Anyone know?
Group B Strep- not sure. I don't want routine administration of antibiotics, but I would prefer to know if my baby is at risk for getting sick after birth so I can do some more natural preventative measure like extra probiotics, colloidal silver, garlic insertion, etc.
Prenatal Rhogam- no (I'm A-)
Postnatal stuff
Vitamin K- not sure, but I'm leaning toward no.
Eye ointment- again, not sure, but leaning toward no.
PKU screening- mandatory in my state, though I plan to refuse until at least 3 days after birth.
Postnatal Rhogam- yes, if my baby has a positive blood type. I will request that the blood be drawn from the placenta instead of my baby's body.
Am I missing anything big? What are your thoughts on these routines? I'd love any information anyone can give, especially links to peer-reviewed studies or data about these things.