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Studies have shown
Respiratory distress among newborns was 17 times higher
in the hospital than in the home.
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Studies have shown
In 20 other countries, more babies survive their first
months of life than in the U.S. |
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Studies have shown
Strict and expensive infection control procedures have
still not eliminated hospital-caused infections.
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Is Home Birth for you?
Studies prove that for low risk women, home birth is not only safe, but also safer when you take into account the common interventions in a hospital setting. Studies done comparing hospital and out-of-hospital births indicate
fewer deaths, injuries and infections for home births supervised by a trained
attendant than for hospital births. No such studies indicate that hospitals
have better outcomes than home births.
Prenatals with me usually last 45 minutes to 1 hour. Getting to know the family that I serve is as important as the clinical portion of a prenatal appointment. It is important to me to have a personal relationship with my clients.
At home, I am with you throughout active labor, and up until 4 hours or so after birth. I am there personally, not relying on machines alone or dependent upon a third party to monitor you and baby. I watch how you are doing, listen to baby, and make sure that your needs are constantly met, even if that means doing nothing at all.
I believe that birth is best when left alone. Barring any emergencies, there is no need for a Midwife to have her hands in any part of a birth, unless the family specifies a need in a certain area. I do not do routine vaginal exams, and in fact for most births I do none at all. I feel that parents should experience the empowerment of catching their own baby - "qualified" hands are not needed to do so. I believe that waterbirth is the best transition for mom and baby in birth, and encourage clients to consider doing so. I believe that fathers should be highly involved in the pregnancy and birth process, and birthing at home provides the best possible involvement. I believe that children should be involved in the birth as well if mom so desires. It shows children that birth is a normal process of life, not anything to be feared.
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Ten Reasons to Birth at Home
10. You remain an autonomous woman throughout labor and birth. You're
not treated as a sick person, you don't have to put on a hospital gown,
and you're not told what to do.
9. Your husband/partner can take breaks as needed, and he's in his own
home. He doesn't have to wander the halls to look for a vending machine
or a cafeteria. He can even play video games. ( The big plus to my
husband )
8. You can eat and drink as you wish. You are not restricted to ice
chips, you are actually encouraged to eat healthy, protein-filled
snacks and meals.
7. You don't have an IV. In a home birth, you drink as your source of
hydration. There is no IV placed in your hand, and you are free from
that cumbersome IV pole.
6. There are fewer complications at home. This is from multiple studies
done over multiple decades. At home, fewer ( next to zero )
episiotomies are done. In the hospital, some have a nearly 80%
episiotomy rate. At home, fewer babies need help breathing at birth (
17 times LOWER risk at home ). At home, shoulder dystocia is less
likely, even for those HUGE babies. ( even though the HUGE babies are
not the ones at more risk for this, despite the myths ) At home, fewer
moms hemorrhage. At home, fewer moms tear.
5. There is never a risk of mixing up babies. There is only one brand
new baby at home ( well, 2 if twins ), and you know he's yours.
4. There is never a risk of mixing up medications. There are no
medications, but even if there were there would be no possibility of
getting someone else's meds, and dying.
3. There are no drugs. Now, this may seem like a bad thing to some
women, but it's a good thing for EVERY baby. A baby born without drugs,
is a healthier baby. You don't put baby at risk for drug-related
conditions at birth, when there are no drugs to begin with. And without
an epidural, you're not at risk for the myriad complications to both
mom AND baby that come with one.
2. As many, or as few people can be in the room with you when you
birth. From children to grandparents and anyone in between. And, anyone
you wish can catch the baby. It makes birth what it should be - a
family event.
1. You are giving your baby the greatest gift of all - a
non-interventive, drug-free, peaceful, safe birth...and on your terms,
not a surgeon's. There are no birth do-overs, so why not give your baby
the best birth possible? | |
