Are hospitals the safest place for healthy women to have babies? An obstetrician thinks twice
I absolutely support homebirth for for low risk women and birth centers
for medium risk ones. I like the laws in the Scandinavian country (don't
remember which one) that say a midwife must be present at all births,
even c-sections. The research just plain supports this!
Showing posts with label childbirth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label childbirth. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Low-risk pregnant women urged to avoid hospital births | Life and style | The Guardian
Low-risk pregnant women urged to avoid hospital births | Life and style | The Guardian
Hospitals
are not safer than out of hospital births and never have been. The
first and simplest reason is that there are germs in hospitals that
don't exist anywhere else on the planet. Infections are much higher in
hospitals and, by the way, are the leading cause of death among new moms
in the US.
But besides infection, hospitals are run
by men or women trying to prove themselves to men. They are run by
doctors who have been trained to push pills and do surgeries; to view
every patient as an illness, an emergency waiting to happen if it isn't
already.
Midwives are generally women, trained by women
not usually in competion with each other, but cooperation. They are
trained to view birth as a natural bodily function that seldom needs
help. A birth is not an emergency until it proves to be.
God
created our bodies to give birth and women have been doing it for 6000
years without the help of men and their tools and pills. Because of the
Fall , there is occasionally the need for help (and thank the Lord we
live in a time when that help is available!), but it is uncommon. Most
of the time, time is all that's needed to get a healthy baby and mommy.
As
our country moves to socialized medicine (and that is what BO care is
all about) the costs will be examined and out of hospital birth will
begin to be encouraged. Right now, the Dr union keeps the competition
down, but eventually the money involved in hospital births will make the
alternatives more attractive to the politicians and bureaucrats in
charge of such decisions.
Hospitals
are not safer than out of hospital births and never have been. The
first and simplest reason is that there are germs in hospitals that
don't exist anywhere else on the planet. Infections are much higher in
hospitals and, by the way, are the leading cause of death among new moms
in the US.
But besides infection, hospitals are run
by men or women trying to prove themselves to men. They are run by
doctors who have been trained to push pills and do surgeries; to view
every patient as an illness, an emergency waiting to happen if it isn't
already.
Midwives are generally women, trained by women
not usually in competion with each other, but cooperation. They are
trained to view birth as a natural bodily function that seldom needs
help. A birth is not an emergency until it proves to be.
God
created our bodies to give birth and women have been doing it for 6000
years without the help of men and their tools and pills. Because of the
Fall , there is occasionally the need for help (and thank the Lord we
live in a time when that help is available!), but it is uncommon. Most
of the time, time is all that's needed to get a healthy baby and mommy.
As
our country moves to socialized medicine (and that is what BO care is
all about) the costs will be examined and out of hospital birth will
begin to be encouraged. Right now, the Dr union keeps the competition
down, but eventually the money involved in hospital births will make the
alternatives more attractive to the politicians and bureaucrats in
charge of such decisions.
Monday, December 1, 2014
The Well-Rounded Mama: Labor Length in "Obese" Women: Dig Deeper
The Well-Rounded Mama: Labor Length in "Obese" Women: Dig Deeper
Another interesting article on labor and fat women.
c-sections are not natural and do carry increased complications. They should be avoided whenever possible!
Another interesting article on labor and fat women.
c-sections are not natural and do carry increased complications. They should be avoided whenever possible!
The Well-Rounded Mama: Increase in Cesarean Rate in Morbidly Obese Women Over Time
The Well-Rounded Mama: Increase in Cesarean Rate in Morbidly Obese Women Over Time
Way too many c-sections are preformed in all groups, but in fat women more than any other, the rate has skyrocketed! The only reason for this is basic fat-phobia.
Way too many c-sections are preformed in all groups, but in fat women more than any other, the rate has skyrocketed! The only reason for this is basic fat-phobia.
Monday, November 10, 2014
The Well-Rounded Mama: Practice Variation in Cesarean Rates: Not Due to Maternal Complications
The Well-Rounded Mama: Practice Variation in Cesarean Rates: Not Due to Maternal Complications
It matter where and with whom you give birth. A c-section is not natural and NOT healthy except as a last resort. Do your research!
It matter where and with whom you give birth. A c-section is not natural and NOT healthy except as a last resort. Do your research!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Dont wake the mom and epidurals
The First Hour Following Birth: Don’t Wake the Mother! - by Michel Odent
God is so good to provide for a baby and mother's needs this way!
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/firsthour.asp
A new study of homebirths vs hospital births
400+ Certified Proffesional (non-nurse)midwives, 5000+ moms
"Results; 655 (12.1%) women who intended to deliver at home when labour began were transferred to hospital. Medical intervention rates included epidural (4.7%), episiotomy (2.1%), forceps (1.0%), vacuum extraction (0.6%), and caesarean section (3.7%)[c-section rates in the general population at this time were nearly 30%]; these rates were substantially lower than for low risk US women having hospital births. The intrapartum and neonatal mortality among women considered at low risk at start of labour, excluding deaths concerning life threatening congenital anomalies, was 1.7 deaths per 1000 planned home births, similar to risks in other studies of low risk home and hospital births in North America. No mothers died. No discrepancies were found for perinatal outcomes independently validated.
"Conclusions; Planned home birth for low risk women in North America using certified professional midwives was associated with lower rates of medical intervention but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality to that of low risk hospital births in the United States. ...
"Individual rates of medical intervention for home births were consistently less than half those in hospital, whether compared with a relatively low risk group (singleton, vertex, 37 weeks or more gestation) that will have a small percentage of higher risk births or the general population having hospital births (table 3). Compared with the relatively low risk hospital group, intended home births were associated with lower rates of electronic fetal monitoring (9.6% versus 84.3%), episiotomy (2.1% versus 33.0%), caesarean section (3.7% versus 19.0%), and vacuum extraction (0.6% versus 5.5%). The caesarean rate for intended home births was 8.3% among primiparous women and 1.6% among multiparous women. ...
No maternal deaths occurred. After we excluded four stillborns who died before labour but whose mothers still chose home birth, and three babies with fatal birth defects, five deaths were intrapartum and six occurred during the neonatal period (see box). This was a rate of
2.0 deaths per 1000 intended home births.[the US average is around 7 deaths per 1000 births] The intrapartum and neonatal mortality was 1.7 deaths per 1000 low risk intended home births after planned breeches and twins (not considered low risk) were excluded. The results for intrapartum and neonatal mortality are consistent with most North American studies of intended births out of hospital11-24 and low risk hospital births (table 4).14 21 22 24-30 ...
"When the author compared 3385 planned home births with 806 402 low risk hospital births, he consistently found a non-significantly lower perinatal mortality in the home birth group. The results were consistent regardless of liberal or more restrictive criteria to define low risk, and whether or not the analysis involved simple standardisation of rates or extensive adjustment for all potential risk variables collected.22"
Read the whole report of the study here http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7505/1416<
The Dangers of Epiddurals
Avoid epis (for birth) if at all possible. The best way to avoid epis is to avoid induction. Induced labor hurts more necessitating more pain relief. Avoiding epis also lowers your risk of c-section.http://www.sarahjbuckley.com/articles/epidural-risks.htm
God is so good to provide for a baby and mother's needs this way!
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/firsthour.asp
A new study of homebirths vs hospital births
400+ Certified Proffesional (non-nurse)midwives, 5000+ moms
"Results; 655 (12.1%) women who intended to deliver at home when labour began were transferred to hospital. Medical intervention rates included epidural (4.7%), episiotomy (2.1%), forceps (1.0%), vacuum extraction (0.6%), and caesarean section (3.7%)[c-section rates in the general population at this time were nearly 30%]; these rates were substantially lower than for low risk US women having hospital births. The intrapartum and neonatal mortality among women considered at low risk at start of labour, excluding deaths concerning life threatening congenital anomalies, was 1.7 deaths per 1000 planned home births, similar to risks in other studies of low risk home and hospital births in North America. No mothers died. No discrepancies were found for perinatal outcomes independently validated.
"Conclusions; Planned home birth for low risk women in North America using certified professional midwives was associated with lower rates of medical intervention but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality to that of low risk hospital births in the United States. ...
"Individual rates of medical intervention for home births were consistently less than half those in hospital, whether compared with a relatively low risk group (singleton, vertex, 37 weeks or more gestation) that will have a small percentage of higher risk births or the general population having hospital births (table 3). Compared with the relatively low risk hospital group, intended home births were associated with lower rates of electronic fetal monitoring (9.6% versus 84.3%), episiotomy (2.1% versus 33.0%), caesarean section (3.7% versus 19.0%), and vacuum extraction (0.6% versus 5.5%). The caesarean rate for intended home births was 8.3% among primiparous women and 1.6% among multiparous women. ...
No maternal deaths occurred. After we excluded four stillborns who died before labour but whose mothers still chose home birth, and three babies with fatal birth defects, five deaths were intrapartum and six occurred during the neonatal period (see box). This was a rate of
2.0 deaths per 1000 intended home births.[the US average is around 7 deaths per 1000 births] The intrapartum and neonatal mortality was 1.7 deaths per 1000 low risk intended home births after planned breeches and twins (not considered low risk) were excluded. The results for intrapartum and neonatal mortality are consistent with most North American studies of intended births out of hospital11-24 and low risk hospital births (table 4).14 21 22 24-30 ...
"When the author compared 3385 planned home births with 806 402 low risk hospital births, he consistently found a non-significantly lower perinatal mortality in the home birth group. The results were consistent regardless of liberal or more restrictive criteria to define low risk, and whether or not the analysis involved simple standardisation of rates or extensive adjustment for all potential risk variables collected.22"
Read the whole report of the study here http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7505/1416<
The Dangers of Epiddurals
Avoid epis (for birth) if at all possible. The best way to avoid epis is to avoid induction. Induced labor hurts more necessitating more pain relief. Avoiding epis also lowers your risk of c-section.http://www.sarahjbuckley.com/articles/epidural-risks.htm
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thoughts on homebirth
There is a common accusation that homebirthers are more interested in having a good experience than in their baby's safety. This is actually an incredible insult. It is an accusation of such extreme selfishness as to be criminally dangerous.
The truth is that every homebirther I have ever met was way more concerned about safety than the "experience."
The evidence shows that for a low-risk pregnancy home is almost always safer. Period.
It is just coincidence that it is also a much more pleasant experience than a hospital birth.
In other words, what is safer for baby is also nicer (and safer, by the way) for mommy.
(Now, high risk pregnancies may actually need our medicalized hospital births, but that is a small percentage of the population. Yes, some babies who die or are injured at home wouldn't be if they were born at the hospital. But we aren't told of the many children that are injured or killed by the procedures at the hospital who would have been fine if born at home.)
The truth is that every homebirther I have ever met was way more concerned about safety than the "experience."
The evidence shows that for a low-risk pregnancy home is almost always safer. Period.
It is just coincidence that it is also a much more pleasant experience than a hospital birth.
In other words, what is safer for baby is also nicer (and safer, by the way) for mommy.
(Now, high risk pregnancies may actually need our medicalized hospital births, but that is a small percentage of the population. Yes, some babies who die or are injured at home wouldn't be if they were born at the hospital. But we aren't told of the many children that are injured or killed by the procedures at the hospital who would have been fine if born at home.)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Friday, November 4, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Ob vs Mdwife
This is about right on the difference between an appointment with an OB and an appointment with a midwife.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Only women can be mothers. Have we forgotten this fundamental?
E-Mail Newsletters
"Once a lady went to visit her friend. During the visit the children of the friend entered the room and began to play with each other. As the lady and her friend visited, the lady turned to her friend and said eagerly and yet with evidently no thought of the meaning of her words:
“Oh, I’d give my life to have such children.” The mother replied with a subdued earnestness whose quiet told of the depth of experience out of which her words came: “That’s exactly what it costs.”"
"Once a lady went to visit her friend. During the visit the children of the friend entered the room and began to play with each other. As the lady and her friend visited, the lady turned to her friend and said eagerly and yet with evidently no thought of the meaning of her words:
“Oh, I’d give my life to have such children.” The mother replied with a subdued earnestness whose quiet told of the depth of experience out of which her words came: “That’s exactly what it costs.”"
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Is Breastfeeding a Medical Issue? | The Stir
Is Breastfeeding a Medical Issue? | The Stir
"Imagine if Mom has her baby in the hospital, chooses to breastfeed, and then has a one week postpartum appointment at the lactation consultant's office, covered by insurance. How many moms would that help?"
Great idea.
"Imagine if Mom has her baby in the hospital, chooses to breastfeed, and then has a one week postpartum appointment at the lactation consultant's office, covered by insurance. How many moms would that help?"
Great idea.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Christian Maternity Hospital Will Offer Free Care
Christian Maternity Hospital Will Offer Free Care
Praise the Lord! It's about time!!!
Can't wait till they come to my town.
Praise the Lord! It's about time!!!
Can't wait till they come to my town.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Should Providers Refuse to Treat Overweight Pregnant Women?
Should Providers Refuse to Treat Overweight Pregnant Women? - The Unnecesarean -
Ummm, ok so what? These docs are telling their fat women to go homebirth???
A recent study found that there were actually no more complications in fat women than the skinny. The normal perception of greater problems is due to self fulfilling prophecies; the doctor expects problems so he is more likely to induce, continuous monitor, do frequent internal checks, and jump to c-section sooner all of which CAUSE more complications. If the docs would just shut up and sit still, most complications in woman of ALL sizes wouldn't happen in the first place and everyone would be happier.
Ummm, ok so what? These docs are telling their fat women to go homebirth???
A recent study found that there were actually no more complications in fat women than the skinny. The normal perception of greater problems is due to self fulfilling prophecies; the doctor expects problems so he is more likely to induce, continuous monitor, do frequent internal checks, and jump to c-section sooner all of which CAUSE more complications. If the docs would just shut up and sit still, most complications in woman of ALL sizes wouldn't happen in the first place and everyone would be happier.
Monday, May 16, 2011
New Campaign Outlines C-Section Risks - NY1.com
New Campaign Outlines C-Section Risks - NY1.com
Uhhh, the problem isn't that mom's want the convience of the earlier birth, it's that doctors are so cavalier and even manipulate women into these inductions. It's the doctors doing it!
Uhhh, the problem isn't that mom's want the convience of the earlier birth, it's that doctors are so cavalier and even manipulate women into these inductions. It's the doctors doing it!
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