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#31
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
I live in Ontario, where midwives are regulated and licensed and
covered by health insurance - and low risk women can use midwives for home or hospital births perfectly legally. When you are the patient of a midwife, you do not see any doctors unless something really henky starts to happen - in which case, the doctor is called in for a consult, and if the problem is serious and ongoing you get transferred over to the OB, with the midwife as support. You should realize that midwifery managed pregnacies and births have an absolutely STELLAR safety record here - its actually better than the record for OBs managing similar low risk pregnancies - since women using midwifery services end up with fewer interventions, less surgery, less drugs, shorter hospital stays, and a much lower complication rate. Never mind that they are very satisfied customers and are usually thrilled with the kind of support they've gotten. Your comment that you liked having had all kinds of tests etc. tells me you overestimate the value of a lot of those tests in improving pregnancy outcomes. A lot of them - and ultrasound is a prime example - do next to nothing in terms of changing the way things shake out in the end in terms of healthy mom, healthy baby. Midwives here can and do order standard tests. Of my three kids, I had the first with an OB, the second with a GP/midwife combination and third with midwives. All three were hospital births (#3 was planned for home, but I developed a platelet problem late in the game that made it prudent to be in hospital), and I had no pain drugs at all for #2 and #3. You seem to think that not having pain drugs is a result of some sort of martyr syndrome. I didn't do it so I could brag about it, nor do I enjoy pain and suffering. I did it because when I had them during my first labour, I hated what went with them - which included a C-section which was a direct result of the pain drugs and other interventions I had. I just didn't want to go there again, and believe it or not, with the right support, I did just fine with no drugs. It was quite managable, and a very positive experience - and being able to move around and respond to what my body was telling me to do was really amazing. Not only did my lunatic plan to try another route result in VBACs, but I felt like a million bucks within minutes of each birth, not drugged up and waiting hours for stuff to wear off. So, to each her own, but I've done it your way and I've done it the other way, and all I can say is don't knock it until you've tried it. Mary G. |
#32
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
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... A great book for you to read, to understand the options better, is "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth." Statistically, it's safer for the baby to be born with a midwife than with an OB in a hospital (assuming otherwise-equal, low-risk pregnancies, of course -- if you have a medical condition or a pregnancy complication, it's safer to be in a hospital). Everyone's different, and you're certainly not *harming* your baby by going to a hospital with an OB and drugs and all that, but your friend is statistically more likely to have a healthy baby. Mary S. mom to the Sproutkin |
#33
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
Fia wrote:
On 11 Sep 2003 08:28:27 -0700, (Cathy Weeks) wrote: It was only in the last two centuries that doctors took over birthing - and women started dying more often This would seem to be a tough statistic to prove. Nevertheless, it is known and there were studies, though they were, IIRC, done in England. I'd love to see such a study of these records, if one exists, though. If I get the time, I'll look it up (life is really crazy right now), but I do know one book that refers to them. It's by William Arney (I think that's the right spelling) and the title is _Power and the Profession of Obstetrics_. I've got a copy kicking around somewhere, so if I get a chance I'll post the details. Best wishes, Ericka |
#34
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
"LSU Grad of '89" wrote in message .. .
OK, this really so I will share IT HAPPY 911 2003 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 BANG HAPPY 911 2003 wait we all have been brainwashed with magic wtc not gone http://www.ijamming.net/NewFiles/wtc0.jpg --------------------------------------------------------- who said people can't fly. people having sex in the air because they know it will be the last time they see each other. http://www.twin-towers.net/jumpers.htm usa #1 song god bless a america for bin laden to test the america system because it needs to tested now and then to show all that it's all ****ed up but maybe uall america assholes will get it right at 911 #2. ------------------------------------------------------------ to the folks that lost so many of their brothers and sisters. lost not lost just rewind the video tape and their they are. WELL IF THE DUM STUIP FIRE BOYS DID NOT GO INTO A 600FT.TALL skyscraper THAT READY TO FALL DOWN THEY WOULD ALL BE HERE NOW. NEXT TIME I BET YOU THINK YOUR HEAD AND NOT WITH YOUR DICK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HAPPY 911 EVE USA HA HA HA http://www.stanley2002.org/Images/upsdFlag.gif ----------------------------------------------------------- Bush said Sunday night IM A PUZ DINGO USA A PUZ DINGO IM A PUZ USA A PUZ LADEN NOT PUZ DINGO ----------------------------------------------------------- why couldnT superman save the WTC his viagra wore off. SEE UALL IN 4 DAYS CHEERS, BIN LADEN |
#35
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
Naomi Pardue wrote:
Just out of curiousity, if a mother says, "No, you will NOT give me pitocin," what happens then? Then the bully doctor (if it is his shift) will come in and tell the woman: "If you were my wife, that is what I'd have you do." (particularly sickening if the woman is Muslim) Most women just do what they're told, anyway. No amount of gently telling the woman that she can do it will change her or the doctor's mind. It's pretty much policy. Jo -- Babies are Born... Pizzas are delivered. |
#36
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
"Ericka Kammerer" wrote in message ... LSU Grad of '89 wrote: risks, if only slightly. I know you don't mean to suggest it, but your comment above really is quite insulting in that it implies that women who choose midwifery care and homebirth don't care about their babies as much as you care about yours. I didn't say that to insult anybody, I just could not identify with her choice. I recognize that she cares very much - she's very intelligent. I just was wanting to know other opinions of the midwife thing. I have *never* met anyone before who did the midwife thing 100%. There is some risk with epidural, yes, but there are all kinds of risks with pregnancy in general. Historially women have died quite often giving birth, correct? My whole point is that wouldn't it be safer to have your bets hedged by giving birth in a hospital ? So far in this thread, people have quoted namless statistics. I always felt that not naming sources was pretty lame. (not talking about you here....) All in all, I want to stres that my statements here were initially to try and understand the midwife/home/no doctors/less technology route. *Not that it is worse * I repeat-- Not that it is worse, but that I DONT UNDERSTAND IT. Instead of getting some kind direction from open minded people, I get attacked....? Some midwives can write prescriptions and some can't (depends on the kind of midwife), Thank you. but why would that even matter? It matters, because this person is adamant about not ever seeing a doctor. You can get perfectly good non-prescription prenatal vitamins that have everything the prescription ones do. And if a midwife can't write prescriptions for something that is actually needed, then she refers the woman to a specialist who can do so. There's the doctor...and now you begin to make sense. So what I am saying is that I HOPE my friedn does go to a doctor if her midwife tells her soemthing needs to be checked out better than she (the midwife) can do. That makes sense. You see, when she and I were having this conversation she acted as if hospitals and doctors were evil. I just didn't understand the fervor. Like it's a religion or something. I can definitely agree with her decision not to have doctors strapping her to a bed and not lettign her drink anything for hours of labor. I agree that hospitals are barbaric in many ways. But I never went through that. I had a neat scheduled C-section (not by choice). I guess I have been thinking that hospitals were the only responsible choice. Yes, I had been thinking that, but alot of posts here have changed my mind, and so I got what I came for, albeit attacked for doing so. and sensible as long as she's having a normal pregnancy. And if her midwives are worth their salt, if she shows any evidence of NOT having a normal, healthy pregnancy she will consult with an OB and will change plans as necessary to accommodate the situation. I guess this is where my own trust in a midwife would break down. If I did the home birth mid-wife thing, I would want the extra assurance that the midwife was true blue....somehow I am still a snob about this and I want to figure out why. I think it's simple ignorance of the professionalism of midwives, training they receive, etc. Looks like I still ahve to work on this, but I am closer to overcomign my "snobbery" for lack of a better term. I respect my friend's decision. Truly I do, it's just one of those things where I am having difficulty identifying with it. Maybe I am so afraid of the natural process of giving birth that I think the risks of a birthing disaster are much greater than they really are ? It may be a natural thing, but.....I have had 2 friends with high risk births and pre-eclampsia, and it seems like the extra insurance of havign a birth in a hospital is worth the discomfort of a horrible hospital (metal beds, nurses who demand you breast feed RIGHT NOW at 2 AM and interrogate you like they're the breast police because you defied their desire to stuff a bottle in your helpless babies' mouth - can you tell that I did not have a pleasant experience in the hospital ?!?) I definitely understand her desire to NOT be in a hospital...I just hope that everything goes wonderfully (and I am 99% sure it will.) L. |
#37
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
"Fer" wrote in message . ca... repeat performance. My OB was 100% behind me. I refused to be monitored internally, I refused drugs, I basically told them in no uncertain terms that I was to be left alone! I was having a baby not ill! My OB came in on his day off to be there for the delivery of my daughter and it was a wonderful experience! Dr. Ivey I hope you are enjoying your retirement! Good for you ! I think in my friends' case, then, she is doing the best thing for her. She is not a very outspoken or defiant type, she is easily swayed soemtimes. I agree that you have to have a strong will to fend off the hospital vultures. I instructed DH very carefully about what I did and did not want beforehand, and he was determiend to fight for it,. but when youre really tired, you tend to let them do what they want to you - which is why a home birth - or say a non-hospital birth would be preferable. You've got me thinking about our gameplan for the post-C-section of my next one, edd 4-28-04. I have a good OB, but you are absolutely right that they can switch on you and of course the OB isn't going to be there for the days after the birth. I had one Nazi nurse who was a total bitch to me, and anothe rwas a fruitcake who kept waking me up to pray/massage/chant over me (no kidding). There was only one that was normal and behaved professionally and with kindness. Grrr....it's all coming back. L. |
#38
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
"Jenrose" wrote in message s.com... "LSU Grad of '89" wrote in message ... short time for the euphoria and less pain in the future. A c-section is the ultimate of this--okay, you feel *nothing* for the birth, but then you have to recover from major surgery. With a newborn. Yuck. Okay if you need it, but to choose it? That's like drinking yourself drunk to cure a headache, only to get the hangover 10-fold the next day. Ever had one ? Ever had a C-section ? I did, it was not painful, no more than your epesiotomy was. I was walking the next morning, no problem. Never had any problems with it, was able to take care of my newborn fine. It DID affect when my milk came in, though. I think it took 5 days becaus e I had a C-section, even though I was in labor before the C-S. L. |
#39
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Midwives & Home birth vs. an OB & hospital ?
"Daye" wrote in message ... On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 01:47:07 GMT, "LSU Grad of '89" wrote: Hope this isn't a flame starter, I just cannot identify with the natural at home no doctors thing I am not going to flame you. If you feel this way, then you make the decisions for your pregnancy and your birth that you feel comfortable with. Just remember, you can't make decisions for other people. Yes, I agree. If you read my othe rposts, I am better eduated about it now. Unfortunatley, the way I stated my feelings was not guarded enough, and people take offense although none was intended. As for the pain of labor, I suppose it can be painful, beautiful and a wonderful experience - just like breast feeding is for some. I think the important thing is just what you say above - to each her own, and I have not made any decisions for others, I just wanted to understand it better. Thanks for not flaming me. L. |
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