what are the pros and cons of at home child birth?

Question

because i wanted 2 have my baby at home with a midwife, but im still considering the hospital,what are some good things and bad things about having a baby at home

Answer 1

Pros of homebirth~
*Less risk of intervention. Each intervention creates a risk to you and your baby, and creates a cascade of interventions.
*Less risk of infection. Hospitals nowadays are teaming with MRSA (even the 'good' hospitals have staph infections)
It has been proven that labor progresses better at home than in a hospital (ie, the "fight or flight" response)
*You don't have to try to figure out when to go in to the hospital (and usually get sent back home once or twice) which also means there is less risk of delivering the baby in the car on the way. If something happens during labor, an ambulance can come to transport you to the hospital if need be.
*The baby IS monitered by the midwife in a homebirth setting. In fact, the baby gets monitered BETTER at home because the midwife uses a stethescope. Machines are machines and make mistakes. They can't replace humans in terms of reliability.
*Less stress on the baby and mother
Cons of homebirth~
*There is a small chance that something could go catastrophically wrong during labor. BUT being in a hospital doesn't necessarily prevent this. Babies can and do die in hospitals as well. Often the doctor isn't even present, or the OR needs to be prepped (which can take 20 mins or longer) etc.

Pros of hospital birth~
*The availability of pain meds. I myself do not consider this a positive aspect, as it is harmful to both baby and you, but there are women who would have terrible birth experiences if they didn't have one bc they just can't tolerate pain. You also have to take into account that in a hospital birth, labor is often much more painful than in a homebirth setting (for various reasons) so there isn't really a need for pain meds at home.
*NICU. In the rare chance that something is wrong with your baby, having the NICU right there (as opposed to an ambulance ride to the hospital) might make a difference in the outcome. However, a large number of these problems can be credited to the effects of unnecessary interventions in the hospital setting.
*If mom has lots of other kids, she might be able to rest better in the hospital. I say "might" because the dang nurses are always bugging you, coming in to take your temp, than 20 minutes later to change your sheets, than an hour later to take your BP etc, or just plain standing outside your door loudly gossiping with each other, LOL.
Con's of hospital births~
*Commute to hospital (often resulting in getting sent back home multiple times, or risking giving birth en route)
*Interventions interventions interventions
*Stressful environment
*You are often left with only a nurse until just as you are ready to push (or even later) as where at home, the trained MW is with you monitoring you and cheering you on your entire labor, and if anything goes wrong she is right there instead of across town.
*Risk of staph and other communicable infections.
*Risk of staff not following your wishes (my baby was given 2 injections, eye drops, and a pacifier all AGAINST my written and verbal directions)
*You are constantly bothered by the nurses and other staff during your "recovery"
*Often times you do not even know who your delivering doc will be (you just get whoever's on call)

Answer 2

Why is assumed that a hospital is equipped for every emergency? My last birth there was NO OB there even though I called ahead of time. Waited at home for a return call and was told to leave my home. My son was caught by a nurse. If you type in "homebirth safety" in any search engine you will find that homebirth has been proven many times over to be safer or just as safe as hospital birth. Often times the things that end up bringing you or your child in danger are caused from the medical treatment in a hospital. Look up the list of infant mortality rates as well. These can been found on the cdc.gov website. The United States is listed as 24th. Many of those countries that are better have the majority of births at home. Our mortality rates have gotten worse since babies and moms move to the hospital. Where else can you go for a 1 an 3 or 4 chance of having a major surgery? Midwifes screen clients. Most do not carry malpractice insurance. They would not risk it if it was not a safe thing to do.
By the way there was very little mess at my homebirth with my last child. Neither my spouse or I had to clean it up either. Things do happen at home. My son's heartbeat was monitored and it dropped to the 80's then was gone. When he was born he was purple and his first apgar was 7. However I was never concerned I had 3 midwifes working on him. They did the exact same thing that would have happened if I was in a hospital. Except that his cord with oxygen giving blood inside it would have been cut. I have no problem with anyone chosing a hospital birth. I just don't care for it being based on misinformation and someone scaring you into it.

Answer 3

There should be somewhere else in the hospital that they can be while you're actually giving birth. Having them IN THE ROOM while you push the baby out can't be the only option. I'm sure hospitals have plans for this kind of thing, and if not, try harder for other options. Relatives? The father? Other friends? Maybe look for a daycare by the hospital? But really, check with the hospital first. I'm no mother, but I am an older sibling. That would be traumatizing. Births are kind of gross if you think about it, all the blood and screaming and whatnot. It would be scary for a younger child and really gross for older kids. They don't need to see that. I am very glad that I did not have to see my mother give birth to my younger sister. 5 and * are both young enough that they really don't need to yet know where babies come from or how they get out, nor would they really understand. They shouldn't have to see you in pain with the baby coming out and all that.

Answer 4

There are pros, but I would seriously consider going to a hospital. I had a perfectly normal pregnancy, but my delivery was rough - I was pushing for over 2 hours and the midwife had to bring in other nurses to get me in all sorts of positions to help out; also, my son had pretty severe complications right after birth (he wasn't breathing and had inhaled his first poop - I cannot remember the proper term). I had a midwife deliver my baby in the hospital, and when my son was born, she immediately handed him over to the doctors and he was sent to NICU. I had considered an at-home birth, but now I am so happy I chose the hospital, who knows what could have happened?

Answer 5

Being an NICU (neonatal intensive care) nurse, I can tell you that there can be complications during the delivery of a normal, healthy baby. The biggest problem is that usually during an at home birth, the baby is not hooked up to any monitors to see how he/she is handling the birth. The results can be devistating. Do keep in mind that this is a very small percentage of births, but things can go wring. If you decide to do it at home, get a VERY experienced midwife that can direct you to the hospital at the first sign of distress!!!

Answer 6

If you are having a healthy pregnancy there is no reason why you shouldn't have a home birth with a qualified midwife. But just in case you want to make sure you are in easy reach of a hospital just in case. There is also the option of a birthing ceneter. A homelike setting next to the hospital (or within it).

Answer 7

I think that there are concerns if anything goes wrong. Your midwife will still go to the hospital with you. You can have a water birth at some hospitals, if that sounds like something you would like, and you would still have the medical staff there to help if needed.

Answer 8

After reading the NICU Nurse response...i HAD to write in my two cents...i had two babies at home ...the baby IS monitored...by the midwife and nurse or asst. with a stethoscope or a Dop-tone. And they DO know just how well baby is doing. Homebirth is far and away the choice for me. Hospitals have protocol and standards they have to follow, despite what might be the best answer for one individual mother or child. The individual attention made the difference for me.

Answer 9

my cousin had a healthy pregnancy and was having a home water birth and lost her baby because of the lack of medical equipment, go to a birthing center, don't do it at home. her baby girl was air lifted to another hospital where she died 8 hours later because the cord got pinched around her foot and cause massive brain damage. she got to hold her baby after she had already passed away.

Answer 10

At home: all can be less stressed, more familiar environment, less sanitized looking, baby gets used to home sooner. Hosp. emergency equip available and on hand right there, less chance of infection, surgery avail. if needed, doctor right there if anything goes awry, no wait to get to the labor room, family can also be present, and siblings can also be there if it is in the hosp policies for home-type birthing. Sorry, 6 of one, half dozen of another for pros and cons. Best advice is go by what your doctor says is best for you and baby.