homebirth, is it safe?

First, let us look at the evidence:

Olsen (1997) examined several studies of planned homebirths with hospital backup compared to planned hospital births. Nearly 25,000 births in 5 countries were studied. Fewer home-born babies were born in poor condition. Mothers were less likely to have had labors induced or augmented, or to have had c-sections, forceps, or vacuum extractor deliveries. There was no difference in survival rates for babies born at home, and no maternal deaths in either group.

An analysis of 4500 home births and 3300 hospital controls indicates that a woman who is appropriately screened for home birth is putting herself and her baby at no greater risk than similar mothers who deliver in a hospital. Chamberlain, et al, 1999.

976 planned home births were compared to 2928 planned hospital births in Australia. Planned home births appear to be associated with less overall maternal and neonatal morbidity and less intervention than hospital births. Woodcock, et al. 1987

Aidan McFarlane, a British physician, notes that while 68% of hospital mothers experience postpartum depression , only 16% of home birth mothers do.

"It has never been scientifically proven that the hospital is a safer place than home for a woman who has had an uncomplicated pregnancy to have her baby. Studies of planned home births in developed countries… have shown sickness and death rates for mother and baby equal to or better than hospital birth statistics for women with uncomplicated pregnancies." World Health Organization.

“No evidence exists to support the claim that a hospital is the safest place for women to have normal births.” National [U.K.] Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, 1994.

Sources: A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Korte and Scaer, 1992. Alternative Birth: The Complete Guide by Carl Jones, 1991. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Simkin, Whalley, and Keppler, 2001. Recent research on homebirth safety is available on-line. For links, see www.aboundingjoy.com/insstats.htm; www.geocities.com/Wellesley/5510/studies.html; www.gentlebirth.org/ronnie/homesafe.html#safety;  www.changesurfer.com/Hlth/homebirth.html., http://transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/birthed/birthplace.htm

Then, let us look at a few more interesting tidbits:

Did you know that 90% of the people in the world today were NOT born in a hospital?

Here are some names of Famous People who have had a homebirth:

Cindy Crawford, Lisa Bonet, Pamela Anderson, Meryl Streep, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Demi Moore, Carol King, Mrs. Michael Landon, Jade Jagger, Mrs. Woody Harrelson, Lucy Lawless, Lindsey Wagner, Mare Winningham, Kelly Preston, Liberty Phoenix, Tania Joy Gibson, Tyne Daley's daughter, Tracey Reiner, Ellie Scheider, Knute Rockne, and Mihai Bagiu's wife Kris(Olympic medalist)

Famous People Born at home:

Everyone in the Bible (think about it, this includes Jesus, Abraham, Moses, Paul, Peter, etc. ), All the Kings and Queens of England (including the present one...Dianna was the first princess to birth her babies in the hospital), Mohammed, Buddah, Mother Theresa, Chaucer, Guttenberg, John Wesley (all the Wesleys, lol), Martin Luther, Albert Einstein, George Washington, Mozart, Daniel Boone, Pocahontus, Sitting Bull, Ghandi, Picaso, Emerson, Disney, The Wright Brothers, JFK, Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra, Richard Nixon, Sir Elton John, Ann Landers, Elvis Presley, All of our Founding Fathers in the US, Duke Ellington, Bach, Beethoven, and Many More!!!

how do I find a homebirth midwife?

Please feel free to contact me at Jennifer@Mybirthbydesign.com for information concerning homebirth options in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. You can also find other contact information for me here. Or, visit my favourite links page for links to other websites that list midwives by state and specialty.

what about waterbirth?

Waterbirth is a wonderful, pain relieving, soothing to the tissues, food for the soul type of experience. I have heard waterbirth referred to as an "aquadural" and I whole heartedly agree. The side picture is me in my first waterbirth in 2002. I have personally had two of my five children at home in the water. I also offer a waterbirth tub up for rental.

Waterbirth is a safe and effective means of giving birth. It makes the birthing mom feel more buoyant and helps to ease the pain of her contractions. The freedom of movement in the water is liberating during birth and the warmth encompassing a mom is analgesic in its effect on her back, bottom, and belly. The warmth of the water also helps her perineal tissues to expand and be supple for birth, minimizing the chances of tearing. Infection rates are no different than a land birth as long as the tub and water are clean.

Babies born in the water do not take their first breath until brought to the surface, because it is the abrupt change of temperature and environment (air hitting the lungs) that causes the baby to take its first breath. That abrupt change does not occur until after the baby is brought to the surface. Also, the baby is still connected to its mother via the umbilical cord and so continues to recieve oxygenated blood from its placenta.

Here is a brief history of waterbirth, as we know it...Hydrotherapy, more commonly known as water therapy, has been used for years to aid muscle relaxation. In 1803, in France, the first documented underwater birth occurred. Exhausted from a long labor, a woman went into a hot tub to relax. Her baby was born very soon afterwards in the tub. In the former Soviet Union, Igor Charkovshy started to experiment with water births in the 1960's. In France,from 1978 to 1985, Dr. Michel Odent attended waterbirths when the laboring women were reluctant to get out of the water.

Waterbirth is a great and viable option that should be available to all birthing women. If your birthing facility does not make use of waterbirth, write them and demand changes! Better yet, have your baby at home in a waterbirth!

For more information, check out my favourite links or my client information page.

 

Disclaimer:The materials provided at this site are for informational purposes and are not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.