Comments on: Home Birthing is Gasp Safe!

By: Midwives Versus Doctors: The Gloves Are Still Off

Midwives Versus Doctors: The Gloves Are Still Off — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:08:10 +0000

[...] how about this recent study, from the Netherlands? It showed that for low-risk women, giving birth at home or in the hospital gave an even rate of [...]

By: Stacie

Stacie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:37:11 +0000

Thank you sooooo much for posting this. So much negativity and misconceptions out there. I’m glad you brought some other statistics and views to light.

By: Democrats Want To Force YOU To Give Birth Naturally : Eco Child’s Play

Democrats Want To Force YOU To Give Birth Naturally : Eco Child’s Play — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:33:58 +0000

[...] United States is failing women and families when it comes to childbirth. Giving birth naturally is empowering and makes for a healthy, happy family. Of course it should [...]

By: Kick This: Another Pointless Device for the Paranoid Parent : Eco Child’s Play

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:43:52 +0000

[...] stillborn births are indeed a serious and tragic occurrence. But most pregnancies are low risk. It’s this kind of device that perpetuates the myth that pregnancy and childbirth are [...]

By: Where Attachment Parents Lose Ground : Eco Child’s Play

Where Attachment Parents Lose Ground : Eco Child’s Play — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:01:49 +0000

[...] because I loved their use of “Voldemort“). When I found a study that showed that “Home Birth Is-*Gasp!*-Safe!” I made sure people heard that. I don’t believe in fast food, and was intrigued when I read a [...]

By: Woman Has Hospital Birth, Dies of Meningitis : Eco Child’s Play

Woman Has Hospital Birth, Dies of Meningitis : Eco Child’s Play — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:31:47 +0000

[...] While many people around the blogosphere has been pointing to the death of homebirth advocate Janet Frazer’s baby with a gigantic, “See?…See?!” (followed by a “Na-na-na-na-boo-bo!”), this, too can be an example of how even hospitals can–gasp!–royally screw things up. [...]

By: Unassisted Childbirth: One Woman’s Story : Eco Child’s Play

Unassisted Childbirth: One Woman’s Story : Eco Child’s Play — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:05:58 +0000

[...] all alone because I was terrified of what would happen at the hospital. I did not consider a homebirth however, because of sanitary concerns and the “what if something goes wrong” [...]

By: adiaha

adiaha — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:54:38 +0000

Thank you for this insightful article Absolutely, for most women home birth is as safe as a hospital birth. I think that many of the issues that occur in US hospital births are all of the “litle” interventions, i.e. Potassium wash in the eyes to prevent the transfer of nasty STD’s. Uuummm, I keep meeting women whose 2 -4 week old children have conjunctivitis. I wonder how many of them will have to wear glasses.:(

By: Stephanie - Green SAHM

Stephanie - Green SAHM — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:32:06 +0000

I had really been hoping to birth naturally on my last pregnancy. My previous had been an urgent C-section that most likely saved my son’s life, so I don’t resent that one at all. My hoped-for natural VBAC turned into a C-section with a breech baby, to my OB’s disappointment. She’d thought she was getting that Friday off, as she’d delivered 3 that day already. I joked with her that the C-section was clearly her fault, bragging that she’d get a night off like that.

But more to the point, I think it needs to be the mother’s choice whenever possible. If you know there’s a medical issue, then let the doctors do what is necessary. Otherwise, let the mother decide what’s right for her. Our bodies are made for this, after all.

By: Cate Nelson

Cate Nelson — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:47:38 +0000

You know? I do appreciate some of the medical innovations that have helped us lower our infant mortality rate. But if these interventions were so fabulous, why does the U.S. have one of the highest infant mortality rate of industrialized countries?
(http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/parenting/05/08/mothers.index/) Certainly not because of those fabulous interventions.
I find it sadly funny how little we trust women’s bodies. If I have to make the argument one more time, “We’ve been doing this for thousands of years; I’m pretty sure our bodies can handle it,” I think I might scream!
When I was pregnant with Little L, my 3.5 year old (http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/04/16/from-pro-life-feminist-to-pro-choice-mama-my-transition/), I had an experience that is too-common for pregnant women. I was working at a resort hotel on Mother’s Day, and all day long I was complimented on how “wonderfully” I was carrying as people blessed my first child and wished me a “Happy 1st Mother’s Day.” Then, a woman in a horrible mood told me: “I hope you don’t plan on giving birth naturally.”
Actually, I do.
“Well, I could give you the phone numbers of quite a few women who would change your mind and prove that idea wrong.”
Huh: Well, I could give you a couple hundred thousand years of human history to prove you wrong.

I asked if she had children? Surprise: she did not. Luckily, she was more than willing to participate in and perpetuate the myth that we are unable to give birth naturally. How kind.

I did, by the way. My sons were born after naturally laboring for 5.5 and 2.5 hours, respectfully.
Not everyone can do that, I know. But we should certainly be given the encouragement and support to try!

Comments on: Home Birthing is *Gasp* Safe!