Are unassisted homebirths safe?

Question

Why do some women say you can't give birth in a hospital or use the assistance of an obstetrician or midwife? They say that they only correct, empowering way to give birth is at home, alone and unassisted. What do you do, though, if you have complications? Am I bad for giving birth in a hospital and getting an epidural?

Answer 1

I have no idea why they would want to do that. Sounds kinda stupid to me. That's like saying, "Oh, I'm having a heart attack. Well, I'm just going to sit and home and wait it out. I don't want to use this new technology they have to save my life." Anyways, there is nothing wrong with delivering in a hospital and/or having an epidural. New & improved medicine & technology is here for a reason. FOR US TO USE IT!

Answer 2

You are not bad. It is SOOO unsafe to do this at home unassisted. People have all heard success stories which can sometimes be encouraging, but trust me - those are rare!!! Many complications can occur that you just are not prepared for at home. Any kind of vaginal laceration or tear would need to be repaired at the hospital. If the placenta does not deliver there are major risks for infection. There are 100 other things that could go wrong. If you have complications you have to call an ambulance and get rushed to the hospital. Some people say "women used to have babies like that back in the day" - well, people used to die at a lot earlier ages also!! We have these medical advances for a reason and birth is such an important event for a family that it seems like every woman would want the BEST care possible.

Answer 3

I dont know anyone who said 'you can't give birth in a hospital', but I just read about 20 answers saying that you can't give birth at home. Who's the radical without leeway?
Who said you were bad? Why would you listen to anyone else anyway and let them have power over you?

I've had four homebirths, two of them unassisted. We obviously had a LOT of practice and back up plans in place. We had a very supportive midwife who actually trained us in emergency procedures (it's not that hard, people) JIC. I have had three hospital births, each one a nightmare with 'professionals' telling me to push when I'm not ready to, not to push because the dr wasn't there, making me lay on my back, forcing medication when I didn't want it and didn't need it.

Millions of people are born every day, and if there were SO many complications, wouldn't we hear more horror stories? And the whole one in four women needing csection is a crock, in America that is true because of the medical professional trying to regulate a natural process and make it fit into their time frame. However, in Europe, the csection rate is MUCH lower. How can you explain that in light of we're all humans with the same birthing process?

In the long run, please don't criticize. You say I'm crazy...and I don't appreciate it. I am quite educated, and spent a long time researching options and preparing a birth plan.

Oh, and one mother every minute in Africa dies? That is an impressive number, would you share the link where you found that? In fact, the mortality from childbirth occurs usually from malnutrition and poor water quality. The hospitals there are festering bins of infection and disease because they aren't CLEAN. Homebirths are dangerous because midwives are still operating under misguided ideas of proper care (dirty knives from family tradition, improper use of herbs, bathing in cow dung from the family herd) Not problems faced by the average american, wouldn't you say?

Answer 4

There are some people that feel very strongly about home birthing, along with home schooling, and nursing until the kid is in grade school. They will tell you that they are right and everyone else is wrong. Somewhat like the psycho Islamics and Christians that preach their way is the only way.

If something goes wrong with a home birth and there is not even a midwife the mother and infant risk DEATH. This is the reason 1 mother every MINUTE in Africa dies from childbirth.

You are not bad for giving birth in a hospital and having an epidural if you want one. By giving birth in a hospital you are protecting both yourself and your newborn from complications.

Congrats.

Answer 5

For the most part homebirths are alright, but I recently had a close friend loose their baby boy during a homebirth even with a midwife because they couldn't hear the babies heartbeat going up and the cord was around the babies neck and it was strangled to death. I wouldn't recommend it. Hospitals have a lot better idea of what's going on not to mention have the ability to do an emergency c-section incase of problems to keep the baby alive. I loved my hospital birth and would NEVER want a homebirth since.

Answer 6

First off-NO you are not bad..it is more natural to have a child at home...thats all...and for that fact, some hospitals like the one I had mine in are now sensitve to the babies needs more...most women do not understand childbirth, and doctors take advantage of that....such as getting an epidural is not good for you or the baby and when you have a baby doctors know as it comes down the entire nevous system it temporarily deadens from the mid-back to the knees to accomidate the baby coming out naturally. Epidurals were created by doctors to trick rich women out of money and that is all they are good for! When doctors saw it worked they started giving them to everyone and most women are afraid of the pain so they get one! I have studies hundreds of cases and it is rarely necessary to get one but I am sure your doctor didnt tell you that and women think they are saving themselves pain but in fact they have the pain of the needle, then the dope which is bad for mommy and baby and it didnt do a dang thing as far as saving you from pain and I KNOW this because I had both my babies totally natural one 6lbs7oz and my second 8lbs10oz and never once had pain associated with the baby coming out, just pressure...and I have a very low tolerance to pain and am a big baby when it comes to it. I had mine in the hospital but it was set up for a more natural childbirthing experience in a dimmly lit room and music playing. It is to me more important that the baby is put on your chest directly after coming out so you can sooth her or him and create a great coming out. I was up that day and felt wonderful hours after. I know with a Ep you are droggy for days after. Most peoples homes are not sanitary enough to have babies born in and going it alone unless you are well educated to birthing is pretty stupid. a midwife or housemother is not a bad idea, but I have seen and read about several cases good and bad on both sides of the hospital/home issue...Just thank God you have a healthy child no matter where it is born! Oh if someone is trying to make you feel bad about your decisions...tell them to walk a mile in your shoes and dont start talking until then...because until they do, they are not competent to judge anyone. Hope it helps...

Answer 7

An unassisted birth is most certainly not safe, why take the risk? Even though a woman can have the perfect pregnancy, it doesn't mean that she will have the "perfect" birth.

As someone who needed emergency c/sections, with the second actually being a planned VBAC, I'm grateful to the medical professionals who were available to save not only my children, but me.

Nobody is a bad person for giving birth in a hospital... it's actually the better thing to do in most cases. There are too many risks, and, well, why do that to yourself or the baby? Do not think of yourself as "bad"... think of yourself as being smart. :)

Answer 8

no you aren't bad for giving birth in a hospital or getting an epidural.

People who say that are old fashioned. Our grandmothers gave birth at home and there were many complications. Why should we not move ahead in time and medical technology and give birth in a hospital with an epidural if it is available for us? Are we trying to be heroes?? I think giving birth is being a hero enough and we don't need to prove anything to anyone.

Answer 9

I don't think that you should feel any shame in giving birth in a hospital. If something were to go wrong (God forbid), you would want to be around people who knew how to deal with it and help you and your BABY!! I know that some feel more comfortable in their own home, but if you chose to do that, I would say hire a nurse or midwife. Millions of babies are delivered everyday in the hospital, so there is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrased of. Good Luck!!

Answer 10

There are always people suggesting their ways are the best even when there are clear danger associated with it. While some many be satisfied knowing they did it all on their own - without assistance, those are the Lucky ones. In old days (pre modern medicine), 25% of women used to die from complications of childbirth.

Think about this:
What would you do if the cord get tangled on its way out? What would you do if you start to bleed excessively? Would you even be awake to call yourself a ambulance? Would you survive the time it takes for them to get to you and take you to the hospital? What would you do if the baby comes out and not breathing?

Would you even want to take the risk?

What's more important to you? The life of your baby and your own? Or someones opinion?