LSU Grad of '89 wrote:

OK, this really bothered me so I will share it in hopes that I am just too
used to the "modern" way. A woman at work is having hr first child, she's
~5months and has had no visits to an OB or Doctor. She is completely relying
on a midwife. She will have a natural birth at home with the midwife and
husband in attendance.

GASP!

I just can't identify with it. I LIKE knowing I've done tests and
ultrasounds and stuff to make sure - with modern technology - that my baby
is progressing fine. I just don't believe that a midwife can catch
everything - right ?

Wrong. Midwives are trained experts in normal (and variations thereof)
of pregnancy and birth. For the most part, considering where midwifery
is regulated, midwives have access to everything doctors do-- labs to
send their clients to for blood work, radiologists or techs for
ultrasounds, and on. Midwife doesn't equal sub-par practitioner or dark
ages medicine.

Hope this isn't a flame starter, I just cannot identify with the natural at
home no doctors thing. Give me an epidural, no problem...Mother hood is
demanding enough without being a hero when you don't need to. Vicki is
right - no one hands you a medal after labor and says "you get a gold medal
for having the most pain !"

Well, the only one I know who deserves a gold medal is my husband who
competed in the Olympics But seriously, your friend cannot identify
with you and your desire for a medically and technologically managed
pregnancy and birth. That's why she's chosen to give birth at home.

However, I completely understand that each person has a right to their own
method, and just because I cannot identify with this, it doesn't mean it's
wrong. I just have this nagging feeling that if it were me, I'd be concerned
that I wasn't doing the best I could do for my baby. I can't help worrying
for her but I don't know why...

Well don't be because she doesn't need your negative or doubtful energy
surrounding her (really, I'm not being rude). It's doubtful you're the
first person who has expressed this about her or to her. Thanks for
your concern (I accept on her behalf G). She may be equally as
worried for you to be walking into a hospital where intervention lurks
behind every procedure. Besides, having a baby at home is not a simple
feat. She has likely accepted more personal responsibility for her
choice to birth at home than many women do for their choice to hand over
care to doctors and hospitals for their births.

I guess I can't imagine going through an
entire pregnancy without ever seeing a doctor when one has insurance and
access (can mid wives write prescriptions for prenatal tablets ?) My friend
works where I do and has excellent insurance...

You must be channeling my dad! He was the first one in his family to
be born at a hospital, so he equates it with "making it" in the world.
Midwives can get insurance reimbursement, usually as out of network
providers. Certified Nurse-Midwives (many of whom practice out of
hospitals) have prescriptive authority. Aside from that, there is no
reason a prescription has to be written for a prenatal vitamin-- there
are 800 brands for sale in any given Whole Foods Market or other health
food store.

Anyway, you're right, it's all about choice

Kris, mother to 4 children, all born with midwives attending; three at
home and also a student midwife who attended the home water birth of a
9lb 2oz baby girl yesterday morning