Elective C-Section or Home Birth, which is safer for baby?

Question

What do people think is safer for baby in a low risk birth, a midwife attended home birth or an elective c-section?

Answer 1

The midwife-attended home birth is safer, statistically. Every c-section, even an elective one, is major surgery and with every major surgery comes certain risks.

The home birth has an even BETTER safety record than a vaginal birth in a hospital, and there is less likelihood for medical interventions, which subsequently increase the risks involved. Just the act of WALKING through the door of a hospital presents additional risk, including serious infection.

Here are some interesting facts: In 1900, the percent of women who died giving birth was only 0.7 percent. That was over 100 years ago and when all births were at home!

A British study showed that planned home birth with an experienced lay midwife has a perinatal death rate of 4 babies per 1,000 births. Hospital births, by contrast, carry a perinatal mortality rate of 10 babies per 1,000 births!

A study in the Netherlands done in 1986 on women who were having their first babies showed these results: out of 41,861 women who delivered in the hospital, the perinatal mortality rate was 20 per 1,000 births. And of 15,031 women who delivered at home with a trained midwife, the rate was 1.5 per 1,000.

There's no need to worry with a home birth. Every trained midwife knows when you need to be referred to a hospital.

Answer 2

Wow, that's a huge contrast. Why not a mid-wife attended hospital birth?

For a low risk pregnancy, home births are perfectly safe, if you make sure you have a midwife who knows what she is doing and has delivered many babies. I have three sisters who delivered at home.

Elective c-sections are never a good idea. That is a major surgery and it comes with serious risks! The risks are only worth it if there is more risk to a regular birth. But, since you said you were low risk, and it would be elective, why would you put yourself in a higher risk situation? Not to mention the fact that you will recover A LOT faster from a natural birth (at home or not) than from a c-section.

Elective c-sections are not recommended by the American college of obstetrics and gynecology.

Answer 3

Let me just say this: Had I opted for a home birth like my nutty, birkenstock wearing, granola eating sister, I'd be dead and so would my son. I had to have an emergency c-section (my son wouldn't descend and his heart rate dropped) and my son spent over a week in neo natal - he aspirated merconium and stopped breathing. While a c-section wasn't on my list of things to do - not even for convenience, my recovery was speedy and I had minimal pain. I was on my feet the next day and back to normal in a week.

I'll never understand the birth at home mindset. For those that believe in natural childbirth without drugs - fine - knock yourselves out but at least have it supervised in a hospital. you never know when something will go wrong. The stats on home birth being safer are just that - statistics. And we know how statistics can be skewed and falsified.

It all boils down to what you want to do. I wouldn't have a c-section unless it was an emergency if I were you. As for a home birth, if you fall into the high risk category, I would opt for a hospital.

Answer 4

Out of the two, a midwife attended home birth. But I'd prefer to be at the hospital in case anything went wrong.

Answer 5

Home Birth, hands down. Seriously, if anyone tries to research this, instead of just following the medicalized mentality, they will know that hime birth is safer.

Answer 6

I had three home births and wouldn't trade the experience for the world. My babies were born into a calm quiet environment with no bright lights. All of my babies also were very calm babies. I believe that a home birth is a very safe way to have a baby. I believe that when a child is brought into a stressful environment that they are stressed.

Answer 7

I don't think you have a choice in a C-Section. You have one because you are unable to have it vaginally. I would choose to go to the hospital and from there choose some options. I would not want to be at home and have something go wrong and feel guilty the rest of my life for not making a good choice. You can have a very safe natural birth at the hospital if that is what you are wanting. For safety reasons I would definately go to the hospital for delivery.

Answer 8

well I had all 3 of my kids at a Hospital where I felt self.I have not had a C-section I gave Birth to all 3 of My children naturally.

Answer 9

A home birth.

Answer 10

Home birth, definately. I dont understand people who chose to have a c section, I think they're crazy! lol