Two babies have been born in my family this month and it gets my Fiance and I talking about when we have children. The hospital wouldn't let my sister-in-law roll on her side and gave her an episiotomy. My cousin was given a c-section and they didn't even try labor, her doctor said that her hips were too narrow? Every time I say that when I have kids I want to have a home birth my sister-in-law says that you have to bring the baby to the hospital after the birth. She said she learned that at lamaze class. She keeps saying it and I don't think it's true. Has anybody hear of having to bring the baby to the hospital after a home birth. Of coarse you bring the baby to get a check up by the pediatritian, but why go to the hospital? Another this is everybody seems to think that I'm crazy for wanting a home birth, what can I do to reverse this? My Fiance is excited to set up a pool inside the house, lol.
2007-03-14 07:36:38 · 10 answers · asked by kadan 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
A home birth is a GREAT option for healthy, young, low-risk women with uncomplicated pregnancies. NO, of course you don't have to take the baby to the hospital afterward. You can just go to the pediatrician the next day or two.
The midwife whom you hire to attend the birth at your home can administer the eye ointment, give the vitamin K shot, and make sure the baby is OK. They are prepared for emergencies with oxygen, etc., and can also check the baby's blood type.
Home births involve no pain meds, typically, so you need to take a natural childbirth class to learn how to cope. Bradley is the best class for this. You should also hire a doula to help coach you through your labor.
To learn more about home birth, read the book by Ina May Gaskin, "Guide to Childbirth" and the book by Henci Goer,
"The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth."
Even if you decide for a hospital birth, you would probably be better off hiring a midwife to attend the birth, and you can write a birth plan that states you DON'T want an episiotomy, you want to be free to assume whatever position feels most comfortable during labor, you don't want an IV, etc.
2007-03-14 07:59:35 · answer #1 · answered by EmLa 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is your decision so don't let anyone make you feel like a bad person for it. Just do your research and find a good midwife to see you thru. You can only have a home birth if you have an uncomplicated pregnancy so just prepare yourself that something may come up later on which makes home birth not an option. Babies do not need to go to the hospital afterwards, unless there is something wrong. The midwife can actually come to your house a few days after delivery to check on you and the baby. As they say, be an informed consumer, know all your options and then choose what is best for you.
2007-03-14 07:43:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of women who choose to have a home birth for exactly the reasons that you stated here. Hospitals do a lot of intervention during labor and birth to speed things along. In a normal birthing experience there is little need for restricting birthing/labor positions and doing an episiotomy.
If you like the idea of a home birth, I would suggest that you start looking for a mid-wife that specializes in that type of setting. There are mid-wives that will attend the birth and offer their assistance and expertise if needed. They can also check the newborn to make sure that all is well and there will be no need to take the baby anywhere right away. Another plus of having an experienced mid-wife is that if a problem does arise, she will spot it quickly.
Do your home work on what it takes to have a successful home birthing experience and good luck!
2007-03-14 07:50:12 · answer #3 · answered by Mom23 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you have a planned homebirth and all goes normally, NO, you don't have to take the baby to the hospital. You just call your family doc/ped and schedule a checkup for the baby sometime in the first week.
The midwife will be able to give your baby vitamin K and eye ointment if you want those things administered. She will also probably be able to draw blood for you if you want the newborn blood screening done. If she doesn't do those things, by some chance, your family doc/ped can do them. No hospital necessary unless there is a complication!
2007-03-14 07:43:07 · answer #4 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
First, good for you for saying no to the nonsense your relatives went through.
Second, your sister-in-law is, well, wrong.
I'm planning a home birth; there'll be two midwives there -- one for me, and one for the baby. The primary one -- the one I'm seeing for pre-natal care -- will also come to my house a couple of times after the birth to check me and the baby over. That's not what I specifically asked for or anything; just standard practice here.
What on earth does she think they do to babies at hospitals that midwives can't do at your house...??
"My Fiance is excited to set up a pool inside the house..."
Check how much weight your floors can handle first...!
As for everyone thinking you're crazy -- well, first, you're not; don't worry about it too much.
But -- try http://scholar.google.com/ and search for stuff like "safety of home birth." You can print out a wealth of studies on it that'll make them look like the nut jobs; it should be fun.
Edited to add: I encourage the "I enjoy risking iatrogenic complications, as well as the drama involved when interventions done at hospitals turn doctors into 'heroes' who eventually 'save' mothers and babies from their own bad doctoring" crowd who's been answering to go and do their own research at scholar.google.com, too. Even if it wasn't thoroughly safe, shame on you for trying to frighten somebody and otherwise crap on their childbirth choices.
2007-03-14 08:19:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You'd have to put me in the column with the "crazy for wanting a home birth" folks. So many things can go wrong, why take the risk? The birthing units are set up to be very comfortable now. I brought a few things and "felt" like I was at home. The nice thing is, that "homey" environment can quickly turn into a medical unit at a moments notice should something go wrong. This can't happen at home and you might waste valuable time getting to a hospital if something goes wrong with you or your baby.
Good luck whatever your choice! :)
2007-03-14 07:49:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
There are several treatments given to newborn babies in the hospital. Lamaze classes and doctors tell mothers who deliver at home to bring their babies to the hospital for these treatments, to check their umbilical stump and to check their blood for typing and probably some other stuff.
The important thing is that when it is time to plan for your birth you work with your doctor or midwife to decide a course of action. Your doctor will know your hospital's policies and routines.
2007-03-14 07:42:38 · answer #7 · answered by Kat H 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Giving birth at home sounds wonderful and many people have done it with no problem but with childbirth too many things can go wrong, ie, the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck or they baby facing upward making it difficult to get it out. It is not a risk you would want to take with your childs life.
2007-03-14 07:41:54 · answer #8 · answered by titania 4 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Home births, especially the first time around can be risky to mother and baby. I would strongly advise against this. I bet they do need to go to the hospital just to be watched over for any problems that could arise.
2007-03-14 07:46:01 · answer #9 · answered by Maria b 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
If babies were meant to be born at home, we wouldn't have maternity wards.
My point is: What if something goes wrong? What if there's an emergency and you're not able to make it to the hospital on time? You're putting not only your baby, but yourself as well at a huge risk if *ANY*thing goes wrong. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't risk it.
2007-03-14 07:44:36 · answer #10 · answered by adrian♥ 6 · 0⤊ 6⤋