It's hard to believe that just when there seems to be a greater awareness of natural childbirth, the medical world can still dictate to me where and how I deliver my babies. Something is very wrong with society's view of homebirth and childbirth in general. Yes, there are risks in all pregnancies and births. There are no guarantees in life or death except that both will occur. But childbirth is one of the most healthy and natural wonders of the world and should be dealt with in that manner.
For me, homebirth is the only way to go. My first child (now 2 1/2 years old) was born at home. For my husband and I it was an awesome and sacred, yet wonderful experience. I did not have to drive to an institution 30-40 minutes away where they specialize in "sick" people. There were no strangers at our birth. There were no bright lights or chemical smells. I was not interfered with during labor, not medicated, and there were no outside distractions. There was only the love and support of my close friends, family and qualified caregivers of our choice. Our family got to bond immediately and our child never left our sight.
We were totally comfortable in our own stress-free environment. I feel that this contributed greatly to my lack of fear and short labor (9 hours total). Better still was my joy at watching my husband with his brand new daughter on his chest, both sleeping blissfully! This is not to say that it was easy. It was the hardest thing I've ever accomplished. I feel an extraordinary sense of power and courage to have been able to have had a conscious and stress-free birth.
Unfortunately, times have changed since then. I'm fast approaching my second birth and am appalled at the lack of willing, qualified, available people to help us help ourselves give birth. Those who have received their degrees or certification cannot get or afford the insurance they need, to have hospital privileges if they also attend homebirths. The "lay" midwives are very reluctant to get involved because of an increased number of lawsuits filed against them. They therefore have to go underground. If they are not "legal" they won't be able to accept payment for services from insurance or government-assisted funding, and their prices are getting high. When you do find someone willing, you may not be able to afford her.
To have a safe homebirth you need to take complete responsibility for your prenatal care and birth. You need to be informed. You need to believe in yourself. You also need qualified (not necessarily certified) attendants to help you. If they take away our attendants, our risks will surely increase. Just remember that midwives and doctors are not God and should not be responsible for acts of nature or "God's will." Very rarely do complications occur in homebirths and rarer still at the misdirection of the caregiver. Interference with the natural process and our ignorance are usually the only culprits. If a problem does arise, that's what hospitals are for-emergencies. I do not feel that childbirth is an "emergency" or "illness." Society says it's okay for me to drive my children around when they're small and then let them drive themselves around at 16 years old, but I can't deliver my child at home because it's too "dangerous." We can all guess which has the higher risk of death or injury.
This issue can also be tied in with our current healthcare problems. The multi-billion dollar "baby business" must surely place a great burden on any healthcare system, as well as on the insurance business. The hospital wants $2700 to $3000 for a normal birth with no problems. In addition, the doctor asks around $2500 for his/her part of the prenatal and delivery. A friend of mine paid $14,000 for C-section delivery. Compare these figures with around $1500 total for a lay midwife (prenatal, birth, and aftercare), $1800 for a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), and $50 for supplies. It's crazy.
Society has brought a lot of fear into childbirth, and that's where a lot of the problems start. Women are also uninformed of their options and rights. We need to inform women that they don't need all of the equipment and unnecessary procedures to have a baby safely and happily. Those who do have problems-who are high risk, haven't done super nutrition or prenatal care, can't overcome the fear or pain-should go to the hospital for a happy, successful birth if that's where they feel most comfortable. If something out of the ordinary comes up before or during the birth, then by all means one should go to the hospital.
If a woman makes an informed responsible decision to have a homebirth, she should not be denied this option because of malpractice insurance's astronomical fees or medical bureaucracy. I made that choice and wouldn't have it any other way. All that the birth experience really is, is great preparation for the trials and tribulations of parenthood. Actual birth is the easier part. The harder part is yet to come.
BIRTH OPTIONS TASK FORCE GROUPS Hospital Options Task Force, Maggie Eaugallie (707) 887-7412 Birth Center Task Force, Roseanne Gephart (707) 539-9457 Malpractice Task Force, Mitch Genser (707) 584-5437 Choice of Providers Task Force, Janet Lipsey (415) 472-2452 Consumer Awareness Task Force, Joan Logan (707) 524-9713