Why we chose a homebirth

As some of you may know, my husband and I chose a midwife for our prenatal, labor, and postnatal care at home. We haven't once doubted or regretted this decision... in fact, it has been one of the biggest blessings in our life. I'm going to share some of the initial reasons that we were turned off of hospitalized care.

1. You deliver the baby on your back. This position, known as the lithotomy position, is the most dysfunctional position ever invented for a laboring woman. It actually makes labor slower and more painful, it works against gravity, and it makes the pelvis smaller.

2. You cannot move around to wherever you want, eat, drink, etc. They say you can, but then you find out that you do have to be hooked up to fetal monitering contraption for at least 20 minutes out of the hour... 

3. Cesearean rates are the through the roof. Do you want to walk into a hospital knowing that you have close to 50% chance of going through surgery? That's what the rate was in my state - 46%. When in sharp contrast, the World Health Organization says that any cesearean rate over 15% poses more harm to mothers than cesearean's life-saving qualities.

4. Interventions of birth are not tested for long-term effects. And historical precedent is awful. Just to name a few >
In the 1950s, every pregnant woman was X-rayed to see the size of her pelvis. Then, years later, they had to stop because they found out it was giving the babies cancer.
In the 1990s, the drug cytotec was used to induce labor for women with a vaginal birth after cesearean. Finally in 1999 they found out that it was the cause for many ruptured uteruses... and, unfortunately, many dead babies.
Episiotomies (a large cut into the perineum to enlarge the vagina at the time when the baby is crowning) were once done routinely. Just recently has there started to be an outcry against them. They are no longer done routinely - however, you'd want to check your practicioner's episiotomy rate. There is much evidence now to prove that they are never needed and not in any way helpful. (see http://www.efn.org/~djz/birth/obmyth/epis.html for more info)


Makes you think about the effects of the very common interventions that are done on a regular basis to 90% of women in hospitals.

My point, however, in talking about my choice for childbirth, is not to convince anyone to have a homebirth with a midwife. In fact, that may not be the best for you - that is something your husband and you should decide. My motive is to get out there that there is more than one way of giving birth. Research your options. Weight the risks. Know what you are doing. 

If we believe that we are parents at conception - not at birth - then do we not have a responsiblity to do what is best for our child when it is in the womb as well as when it is outside of it?

This is ultimately my challenge. Most people in our culture today (including me a year ago) would do more research on what computer to buy, what car to buy, etc. than researching their options on bringing their children (God's unique creation!) into the outside world in the safest and most beneficial way. 

Purpose in Blogging

Hok, so....

I've been really pondering why I have a blog. I think I created it for the sole purpose of having a pretty page about myself. That's a lame reason, so I figure that if I have this page, and if people donate their time to look at it... well, I think I owe them something more than just a pretty page.

So here is the start of a blog with a purpose. I will try my darndist to be insightful.

Next blog coming soon.

<3