NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/misc/kids/31204

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-29 | 3.3 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!opl.com!cass.ma02.bull.com!mis.mi04.zds.com!ryonkers
From: [e-mail] (Russell Yonkers)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Homebirth vs. Hospital birth
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 29 Dec 92 15:24:59 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Organization: Zenith Data Systems
Lines: 52

[e-mail] (Paul Grun) writes:


>But what if things start to go wrong?  I have no statistics, but when
>things *do* go wrong, (which they do, sometimes, and without regard
>for the health of the mother) there is frequently _very little time_ in which
>to intervene.  An ambulance ride would be too long.  So, ask yourself;
>is a home birth worth it compared to the potential for a disastrous
>delivery resulting in the death of the baby and/or serious injury (or worse)
>to the mother?

The first important point to understand is that when things go wrong there is
almost always time for an ambulance ride!  And in the cases where there is not
then a trained lay midwife would be just as capable of handling the situation
as a doctor.  Part of the reason for this is that lay midwifes will not (as
a rule) take on the high risk pregnancys (ie diabetic mothers etc.) where
problems are the rule and not the exception.

We have 5 kids.  The first one was born in a hospital by cesarian.  The second
was a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarian) in a hospital.  The third was our
first attempt at home birth and the last two were home births.

I can catagorically say that I feel home birth to be the optimum choice.
If we are to ever have another child I and my wife would want a home birth
again.  I feel that it is vital however that it be attended by a trained lay
midwife.  The midwife's that we used (they work as a team) have attended
over 1000 births and have never had a baby die.  They have had a few times that
the birthing of the baby needed special attention (ie mouth to mouth to get
the baby breathing) but with thier training and experience I feel that they
are even better equipt to handle most all situations then any doctor.  Part
of the problem is that most doctors are trained in how to handle problems
and see many situations a preludes to problems and handle them that way.
Midwifes on the other hand see the birthing experience in a more positive way
and can usually prevent the problem before it becomes a problem.

I don't wish to sound to conspiritorial but I also understand one of the
reasons that doctors and hospitals talk so hard against home birth is
because they of course are losing a great deal of income from each home birth


My wife has a very good list of books that openly discuse all the issues
and if anyone would like a copy of the list feel free to email me and
I will send it to you.

Finally,  The most important thing to remember is that the parents have to
feel comfortable with the home birth decision.  It is not right for
everyone.  If you feel more comfortable going to a hospital then by all
means do so.  Home birth means in part taking partial responsibility for
ones health care and the decisions involved in the same and not relying
completely on the health care establishment to take care of us.

My email address is [e-mail]