I think it's absurd to judge how and where a woman chooses to deliver. As long as they're educated and not taking unreasonable risks, why should it be a matter of judgment? There is not a preponderance of evidence showing anything 'better' about either option.

Some of the comments following the story were really...I don't know...nasty?

I know several women who have chosen home birth with no problems, and of course many who have chosen hospital delivery. I thought it interesting that they picked a woman who is a bit of a renegade to tell the story. She must be more interesting than one who's prudent.

All I can say at this point is I'm glad that one special person had her baby at the hospital last week.

Not knocking home births...just saying.

Sometimes...things are fine...other times...they're not. I say err on the side of caution.

Did she? Hm. I wonder how she feels about it; she was so looking forward to the homebirth stuff. Was the hospital as dreadful as Yoo thought? Hm...

I wish I knew more.

*edit* Just got to the very very end of the article. 76 hours of labor? f**k that! I don't care if that's "normal," no way!

My mom was in labor with my younger brother for 3 days, he has so many learning deficits and some brain damage from it. It used to be 'normal' for women and babies to die in childbirth, too...

All my babies were born in hospitals and I had epidurals with each of them. There is no shame in not wanting pain, and likewise there is nothing foolish about wanting it to be natural. For me, please kill the pain. I am a wimp! My son was almost "natural" I got the epidural very late in the game. I never had to endure extraordinary long hours of labor. My son was the hardest as we was my biggest.My middle daughter was the easiest and fastest labor. She was 4 weeks early so she was tiny. It's a choice. I don't make judgments I simply choose the one that I feel most comfortable with.

Since it was brought up...

I'm okay with having transferred to a hospital; it was necessary in our circumstance. One of the key aspects of homebirth is knowing when to transfer and being okay with transferring. I'm not against hospitals, just against being in one if I don't need to be. Lotus needed medical assistance, and I'm at peace with that.

Zach and I are planning on having an only child, but if we change our minds, we will be planning another homebirth. There is nothing that I regret about Lotus' birth. Laboring at home was much more enjoyable than laboring at the hospital would have been, and had I labored at the hospital, an unnecessary c-section would have been strongly pushed on me (the nurses and I discussed this and they agree - it's best that I arrived pushing). Not all homebirths end up bad (and not all hospital births end up good).

As for pain relief, I won't knock anyone for wanting it. I was in labor for two days and pushed for six hours. It f**king sucked, but I'd do it again for my baby. I screamed bloody murder when she was crowning, but after her body was born, I had this amazing natural high that can't compare to any drug. It was amazing!!

I'm not up for reading the actual article right now. Now that I have finally given birth, I'm going to take a break from reading about it constantly :p

It also use to be normal for doctors to not wash their hands between patients, and thus spread infection (childbed fever). It also use to be normal for women to not understand basic hygene themselves (more infection). I could go on, and will when I get around to writing a book, but yeah. I don't wanna keep typing right now :)

I had one child in the hospital and two at home. There is really no question in my mind about which is the better option, but I think each woman should choose what she feels most comfortable with. However, I think that choice should be made after all the information and risks are presented to her. Many women don't even realize homebirth is an option.

As for the "pain" during a homebirth, it is really not that bad as long as you stay comfortable and relaxed. I look back on both of my homebirths as being very peaceful, relaxing and empowering.

I'm glad to see all the viewpoints and especially glad to hear INY's. Lotus is such a pretty name... Hope all three of you are doing well.

Please read this blog and see what can happen in the safety of the hospital. Imagine if this happened at home.



and



Delivering a baby is not a game.

Both home and hospital have their risks.

Every mother should know the risks of both places and make the decision herself.

You should really research both sides thoroughly before jumping to conclusions.

I've worked in a NICU for 5 years and I have never seen a baby have a poor outcome from being born in a hospital. On the other hand I have prepared 2 bodies of babies born at home, who would not have died had they been born in a hospital.

I think my research is done, Thank You.

And would you consider my research on hospital birth "done", if I'd read this story? Of course not. Extreme examples don't define either homebirth or hospital birth.

I've known more than a few women who went the homebirth route, and not one of them considered delivering their child a game. On the contrary, they are some of the most informed laywomen I've met about labor, birth, and newborn care. They deserve much more respect than they usually receive from the medical community.

All I know is that if I birthed at home and something had happened that would have required medical attention, I would never have forgiven myself, no matter how minor. I never doubted, even for a moment, that I needed to be at the hospital when I gave birth. I commend moms who do the home thing, but it's not for me.

As it turns out, I can't deliver at home because I'm against self c-sections.

I had both my babies in the hospital, my choice. I wanted to be near medical personnel and equipment if necessary. I was in labor for 42 hours the first time, needed a C-section because infection was setting in. The second time, labor was 24 hours, and no C-section needed. But I was glad to be at the hospital, just in case.

I have a friend who is a trained doula, specializes in hypnotic birth. She had both her babies at home, in her bathtub. I think that's great.

Every mother needs to do what is best for herself and her baby, but also needs to be flexible enough to know what that is.

It wasn't "normal" for women to die. It's not like hospitals came along and somehow women stopped dying. Most maternal deaths are caused by infection, not birth. It usually comes from people meddling and sticking instruments or fingers inside the mother. That goes with 3rd world countries and hospitals.

My sister and I both got pregnant at the same time. Both had very similar pregnancies - weight gain, sickness, body type, bone structure, pelvic arch, etc. Both our babies were both 9 pounds. We both went to 42 weeks.

We were both induced - me with castor oil and brisk walking, her with pitocin. I delivered at home, in the tub, naturally, after 22 hours. She delivered in a hospital, and was c-sectioned after 12 hours. After all, it was shift-change and whoever is present collects the fee.

98 percent of women can give birth just fine. Over 1/3 of women are butchered in this country and told they can't give birth.

My birth experience was the best event of my life. For my sister it was the worst.

It's not sometimes things are fine and sometimes things are not. Birth is not a dangerous task. The majority of the time - as in - 98 percent - things are fine if a doctor doesn't jump the gun after 12 hours and slice you open.