AMA: Ricki Don't Know 'Bout Birthin' No Babies

76. Dixie girl, maybe you should attempt to do some actual research on the subject?

Posted at 4:32PM on Jun 17th 2008 by Danielle

77. Wow, why is letting someone have a choice such a big deal? Why are you guys so offended by someone wanting to give birth at home. It doesn't affect you, Nobody is telling you that you have to give up your hospital birth. You don't understand why someone would want to avoid the hospital, fine, but take away someone else's right to choose that?

Posted at 4:42PM on Jun 17th 2008 by Ginny

78. Danielle, my research was my son's birth...and common sense.

Posted at 4:46PM on Jun 17th 2008 by dixiegirl

79. They do need to shut her up, she is promoting something she knows nothing about as far as the dangers. Give you babies the best care possible. IN A HOSPITAL!!

Posted at 8:09PM on Jun 17th 2008 by stacey

80. Diane, obviously you don't realize that maternal and fetal death rates have INCREASED in the last 100 years, starting at about the time doctors insisted on mothers delivering their babies in hospitals.

Dixiegirl, I should introduce you to the woman I know whose son died while she was in labor in the hospital being wheeled to the OR for failure to progress - he was in absolutely no distress and his heart was beating up until the moment they removed the fetal monitors but was dead by the time they cut her open. The most recent studies on the subject show that homebirth with a qualified attendant is SAFER than a hospital birth (the British Medical Journal recently published such a study, look it up). Women and babies die in birth, it happens, it's a fact of life, and you won't prevent any of them by insisting women should birth in one place or another. All the AMA is attempting to do is flex its muscles and protect its pocketbook, it has nothing to do with concern for women or babies. I guarantee if they find some way to outlaw homebirths and midwifes you're going to see the maternal/fetal death rate SKYROCKET.

Posted at 5:16PM on Jun 17th 2008 by Lisa

81. dixie girl,
"thank god" for your epidural?
Wonder if your doped up baby, too drugged by your epidural to nurse after birth (and get the collostrum that boosts immunity that you only produce for an hour after birth) was so thankful.
face it. you are one of the ignorant masses.

Posted at 4:46PM on Jun 17th 2008 by rose of sharron

82. I see a lot of stories about hospital births that went terribly wrong...and in these stories people seem to be implying that had they had the baby at home...the same things wouldn't have gone wrong?

Hospitals won't be able to fix every little thing that could possibly go wrong with a birth, but that doesn't mean that you wouldn't have died anyway at home, and at least if you're at a hospital they can try to save you, and do save many mothers. A midwife will never be able to do a blood transfusion, an emergency c-section, life saving procedures on a baby who comes out not breathing. Thats not to say there's anything wrong with them, or that they can't be a valuable addition to the birthing room, but it is stupid not to have a child in an environment where if something DOES go wrong, trained medical professionals can save you and your baby.

My mom would have bled out and died having my second brother if she hadn't been in a hospital (a hospital by the way, she researched to ensure she wouldn't be mistreated, and some of these hospitals do sound pretty heinous).

Most of the supporters of midwives here seem to be all about themselves. It was "my" favorite delivery, it was "my" favorite birthing experience. God forbid your baby's heart had stopped beating and "your" favorite birth turned into a nightmare because the midwife, through no fault of her own...didn't have the equipment or skill to save them.

Clearly there are some really f-ed up hospitals out there that you people have visited, but rather then write off hospitals and play russian roulette wtih your baby's life...just research better hospitals. A stressful birth and a live baby sound a lot better to me then a calm and peaceful labor and a dead baby...and possibly a dead me.

Posted at 4:46PM on Jun 17th 2008 by kaeth

83. And Dixiegirl, I just saw your epidural comment - might I assume (and you know what they say about assuming) that means you were laboring and pushing flat on your back? Might want to research that a little, back laboring/pushing is notorious for malpresentation of the fetal head, causing the baby to get "stuck", and also compresses the major arteries in your body, causing the baby's heart rate to drop. I'm guessing had you birthed at home, you wouldn't have labored on your back and would have pushed that baby out well before he was in any distress.

Posted at 5:16PM on Jun 17th 2008 by Lisa

84. Ginny, most of the people who see home births as too risky still defend a person's right to make that decision.

Posted at 4:54PM on Jun 17th 2008 by dixiegirl

85. dixie girl i'm sure they told you that your pelvis is "too narrow". the truth is that flat on your back is the worst position to try to push a baby out in. and one that does not allow the pelvis to widen to allow an easier passage. let me guess, your dr told you that you needed an emergency c-section right?? ridiculous. do research. real research. while i get that homebirths are not for everyone, it is a very safe alternative to intervention laden hospital births.

Posted at 4:50PM on Jun 17th 2008 by hospitals suck

86. kaeth...you said it perfectly!

Posted at 4:57PM on Jun 17th 2008 by dixiegirl

87. rose of sharron...you're ignorant and just trying to get a rise out of people. Not working!

I breastfed my son as soon as I was out of recovery (if I had delivered at home I wouldn't have been able to breastfeed at all, he wouldn't have survived). I breastfed him for months and he was and still is an angel. Sorry, your hateful assumption is wrong.

Posted at 4:58PM on Jun 17th 2008 by dixiegirl

88. Dixie girl, I am the mother of 3 children. One born in a hospital, which was a cesarean, caused by the medical interventions put in place by the hospital itself. If I was not in a hospital, I would not have had a c-section, and two born at home.
It is amazingly clear that you are part of the ignorant masses. Maybe you should do some
real research instead of letting one experience be what you consider "research".

Posted at 4:54PM on Jun 17th 2008 by Danielle

89. My first was born in the hospital. I almost died. I knew I shouldn't have attempted to give birth in an American hospital. They SUCK! The doctor sliced my perineum for no good reason whats so ever! I protested against it but he argued his way right at it and through it. I suffered for a freaking year over that 4th degree cut! Apparently, thats standard. All doctors do it. He even used forceps when I said not to. Had I said, "no cesarean" he would've done that too I'm sure. They're power hungry. This was 8 yrs ago. My son still has scars from the forceps. So, I chose to deliver the rest of my children at home. I've given birth at home three times. My ass stayed intact even with a 10lb 5lb 22in baby girl whom I delivered in the water in two minutes! All three homebirth babies surpassed all their milestones and have perfect beautiful shape heads. They're very healthy and very happy. If I have anymore, they too will be born at home. I HATE American Hospitals! And to the nurse who says, "Have your babies in the hospital. Its the safest place BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS CAN GO WRONG!" I believe you when you say, "so many things can go wrong". I have no doubt that you've seen SO MANY FREAKING THINGS GO WRONG IN HOSPITALS! Thats why American Hospitals scare the hell out of me!

Posted at 5:05PM on Jun 17th 2008 by Chava

90. hospitals suck...no, wrong! We did not do the emergency C-section because my son woudn't fit out of my narrow pelvis...we tried for hours and weren't ready to stop until he was born. The emergancy C-section came when his heartrate plummited thru the floor because the cord was wrapped around his neck twice. I guess the "evil hospitals" are responsible for that too right?

Some of you home birth guys are pretty judgemental, and quick to make assumptions.

Posted at 5:02PM on Jun 17th 2008 by dixiegirl