This morning on ABC they did a feature on DIY births. They spoke to one mom having her fourth baby about her decision to have an unassisted birth as well as Jennifer Block, author of Pushed. I love that they pointed out that women are choosing this type of birth because they are fed up with hospital policy. There are some opinions given on the show that I completely disagree with, but they ask, and I’m asking – what do you think?
What I thought of the piece: What I thought of the piece:
It was pretty fair, but they I thought it was strange that out of the four possible “emergencies” that can happen at home if you do it alone, only one of them was an actual emergency! Studies have shown that breech birth is safer if delivered vaginally. A cord around the neck happens in at least 25% of births and is not an emergency at all. The cord doesn’t even have to be moved in most cases and doesn’t choke the baby as it isn’t breathing air yet. And significant tearing is actually far less common at home unassisted then in the hospital were “purple pushing” is the norm. It isn’t an emergency either and most women who go unassisted would have no problems seeking medical attention to repair a tear. Only the risk of hemorrhage was a real example of an emergency. I’m surprised they didn’t say more things that truly are emergencies, like shoulder distocia.
Also, Dr. Frank Chervenak said; “The few hours of labor are the most dangerous time during the entire lifetime of that soon to be born child and because of this I would argue all soon to be born children have a right to have access to immediate cesarean delivery and women who insist on denying this right are irresponsible.” I thought that was a crazy statement given that c-sections are on the rise and are far riskier than vaginal births. Also, this lumps in all home births, even midwife attended ones.
And when the lady at the end said, “The best of both possible worlds in my opinion is to have a nurse midwife at your side in a hospital. 97% of Certified Nurse Midwives do assist in a hospital not at home. Then you get the nurturing and advocacy and the back up if there are complications.” I really don’t like how they were lumping together unassisted home birth and midwife attended home birth. She also discredits any type of home birth or any other type of midwife besides a Certified Nurse Midwife. She also completely misses the point that the hospital is what is setting these policies, not the midwife, and that a lot of CNMs are not advocates nor are they nurturing. This compromise is ridiculous and I can’t believe she suggested it. The obvious compromise is a midwife attended home birth.
What I think of unassisted childbirth:
I’ve learned a lot from the UC community. I respect that choice, but I would not make it for myself. I think home birth midwives and any birth care providers could learn a lot from UCers. If I ever give birth again, it will be as close to a UC as possible, but with a midwife there
Hopefully I can find a midwife who is very hands off, and will sit in my living room while I give birth in a tub in my bedroom.
I did love the fact that they pointed out that the hospital system is what was driving these women to rebel and have an unassisted birth. I am glad there are birth advocates that go to the extreme side of the issue, because it makes home birth and birth center births seem like the “safer” more “sensible” options.
My comment on ABC site Here’s the comment I left at their site:
Indeed women are saying that the current system does NOT work. With 1 in 3 babies being born through major abdominal surgery, the argument that hospital birth is best falls short.I encourage women to research and weigh their options, pick ethical practitioners who use evidence-based practices, and consider the long-term effects their decisions have on their own health and that of their babies.
I am an university professor and hold a doctorate in my field. (I mention this to back up Block’s claim that professional women are indeed choosing homebirth.) I am planning a home vaginal birth after cesarean (HBAC) assisted by a midwife for Fall 2008.
Anyone who wants to know more about real women’s experiences with cesarean surgery should get a copy of “Cesarean Voices” published by the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). It certainly opened my eyes to traumatic birth, PTSD, and PPD, none of which I experienced with my own cesarean.
unassisted birth There may be a few women left on the planet who aren’t actually “rebelling” against the male-dominated hospital setting when they get pregnant. There are some women who can ignore all the social expectations of the present day, and just be a “woman”. By that I mean a female creature, one of the many females on this planet. It doesn’t take a whole lot of observation to see that giving birth is as natural as it gets. As a matter of fact, it’s at the core of the heartbeat of life. Maybe that’s why men want to control it. They are a part of it; just not a big enough part. I, personally, did not know what great forces I would experience when giving birth. That part was the greatest experience of my life. I am talking about the wave that rushes through the body when the baby is born. Push?? Something else was doing that for me. Sometimes I wonder if there’s something different about me that allowed painless childbirth. I do have two secrets that I believe contribute to the “painless” part, though. Number one is that I had no fear, no preconceptions, no worries whatsoever. I had total faith in life and my ability to participate in bringing forth life. Second, I drank red raspberry leaf tea. I drank it throughout my pregnancies and on the day of delivery. I have had five children at home. My labor lasts from 4 to 8 hours. I walk and rest during that time. I realize what’s happening – my uterine muscles are prepping for the big push – and I relax through it. The muscles have a job to do and I let them do it. Delivering the baby was not painful at all for me. Relaxing the bottom half of your body is quite possible. I also realize that red raspberry has properties that strengthen the uterus and relax the cervix. I was not afraid to be a woman. Why are so many others? I was raised a Catholic. I know the creation story. The Bible declares that women will bring forth children in pain. So why am I so different? I’ve asked myself that. And I believe, before the Bible, that I am a creature of God, just like every other creature on this earth, including plants and bugs. That I am no more special, but oh so special. Carrying a child and giving birth was one of the most beautiful, awesome experiences of my life, and it is a crime to rob women of this experience, which reminds them that they are part of the beauty of creation. I haven’t read Jennifer Block’s book yet, but will look for it today and pick it up.Janeen from North Carolina