What do you think of Unassisted Childbirth?

Question

Having your baby at home without a medical professional, if all goes well.

Do you think this is a good idea?

If not, why?

Thanks

Answer 1

I think it is a great idea if it isn't your first and if there have been any problems. If your previous babies have also had no problems. Make sure you have a qualified professional to assist you. Good Luck.

Answer 2

No, I don't think it's a good idea. I am a fan of homebirth but only with a midwife present. If you are an untrained person, you really don't know for sure if all is going well. A trained midwife knows what to look for as far as signs of fetal distress in the womb and complications with labor. She would also be trained as to how a baby should be acting when born (and would know what is abnormal), and in first aid techniques if there were something wrong with the baby.

There is of course always the possibility that you would have a completely uncomplicated labor and birth and all will be fine (my sister did this accidentally - the midwife didn't show up until the baby was already born), but it's a huge risk to take.


Edit: Did some of the rest of you miss how she said UNASSISTED homebirth?

Answer 3

I think in our culture we medicalize childbirth a lot more than most people need. True, there are some women who are high risk and need to be under the care of an obstetrician or perinatologist, but many women who see MDs during their pregnancies and could be cared for just fine through a pregnancy and delivery by a midwife. We forget that many women are healthy and that pregnancy and birth are normal parts of life.

UC isn't for me. It certainly has challenges-what to do if the cord is compressed or wrapped in such a way that someone doesn't really know how to untangle it? What if the baby is in a breech position that is preventing healthy movement through the birth canal? (I know that many breech babies can be delivered vaginallly without a problem, but others can't.) It's great for some people, but I think quality pre-natal care is very important too and should be a part of pregnancy whether someone chooses UC or not. I think that having someone there with a better view of the birth canal and delivery to catch the baby, and so on, but that can be all sorts of people.

Answer 4

With my last pregnancy, I had a midwife and labored 5hrs at home with only my hubby. We made our way out to the birth center when we decided it was time to go. When we got to the birth center, I was already crowning. I labored for 15 minutes and baby was born. And the midwife still wasn't there...she was attending to a laboring woman across town. My midwife's assistant (who is also a Doula and lactation consultant) caught our dd and she breastfed immediately.

I am planning a home birth for this pregnancy with the same midwife and Doula. Also for this pregnancy, I want my hubby to catch the baby. I want my hubby and I to basically have an unassisted birth, but I want our midwife there in the background. She's agreed to this for several couples I know.

So...I like the idea of an unassisted childbirth, but there is always a slight risk of complications. So this is our solution.

Answer 5

Woooh, hold up wait a minute,

Have you had a baby before?

I think that could be extremely dangerous without a professional of some sort there.

However, if you feel that you can handle this and you have someone there with you, not completely by yourself AND your not at risk, it may be okay. I hope you atleast will have an OB present or available. Id ask my OB first to see what they think. Also, having a baby at home can work if you do it right. My mother had me at home, but she hired a nurse midwife.

Answer 6

I'm all for DIY projects, but this is a little too extreme for me. That's a human life there - a tiny, defenseless, vulnerable baby. How can you even tell if it's in trouble until it's too late? If it was my kid, I'd want the entire Mayo Clinic loaded on the cargo planes and circling overhead, ready to drop whatever equipment the OB/GYN called for, on a moment's notice.

If you want to use ductape or superglue to patch up a cut while in the back woods, that's fine with me. But don't risk the life of a baby unnecessarily.

My guess is (if you're asking because you're pregnant) that if you go through with this, you'll look into those little eyes, and say, "I was such a fool for risking any damage to you". I hope it works out like that, anyway.

Answer 7

For those who say "there are things that can go wrong such as breech, umbilical cord around the neck, etc.." EDUCATE yourself on what to do! I am having an unassisted birth in a couple of months, and am fully prepared. Too many "unanswered questions" people seem to use to defend hospital/midwife births, when all it takes it research to answer those questions and prepare yourself to have a BEAUTIFUL birth!

Answer 8

if all goes well? How can you know that all will "go well" before you get started? Things happen, that you have no control over at all, and I would hate for you to carry around the guilt of never knowing if something could have been done if a professional had assisted you. Just think about it a little more...for Baby's sake!

Answer 9

A friend of mine tried that and ended up almost dying on the way to the hospital. This of course is only one case but she had a healthy pregnancy with no complications.
This is only my opinion but here it is - You wait nine months to meet this wonderful little person you have been feeling fluttering around your belly, you've pledge the rest of your life to care of this little person, now there's a place that can make sure to the best of their abilities that this little person will make it into the world and you will be around there to watch it grow - would you not want to go to this place? OK hospitals are not perfect but this is not the 16th century and you have a whole lot of great medical equipment and personnel at your fingertips, seems a shame to let all their knowledge and hard work go to waste. Just my two cents!

Answer 10

i admire anyone that does that... i however would never do it. i do desire ''natural'' childbirth, but my daughter probably wouldn't be as healthy as she is without immediat medical intervention... she was breech, 9 weeks preemature, and not breathing at birth... i think if you are having a good pregnancy, and live close to a hospital it can be an option. but it is not something i would recomend... i know women have been having babies for thousands of years... but the infant death rate has dropped because of the life saving things you have access to in a hospital...

Answer 11

no i think home births are OK but you definitely should have a midwife because there can be many thing that go wrong like cord around baby's neck breach position or a rip or tear from you which can cause excessive bleeding respiratory problems many things so you should research this very well before you decide