Home Births Safer for Low Risk Pregnancies
September 2, 2009 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under health of the baby, pregnancy
It surprised me to see a DVD copy of the documentary “The Business of Being Born” available at one of my local county libraries. I put it on hold for 25 cents (have I mentioned how I think the public library is one of the best inventions ever?!), picked it up a few days later, and finally got to watch it with my husband the other night. The movie completely spoke to my disappointing experiences with hospital births and my very satisfying home birth. I wish everyone — pregnant or not, male or female — would watch the movie! The problem is that the type of people drawn to the movie in the first place already believe the viewpoint presented there and the movie is preaching to the choir! Those who don’t already share the viewpoint that home birth is a wonderful, safe, empowering choice for women seem to think that the movie is extreme and biased. How do we convince the very people who need to see the movie that it is well worth seeing?
Photo by Anselm
One way would be to point to the scientific studies that back up the safety of home birth. I was so happy to see news of a study showing that home births are safer than hospital births for low risk pregnancies. Yes! Shout it from the rooftops! Do more studies! Spread the word!
Have you seen the movie? What are your thoughts? Have you heard word about when the book the sequel will be released?
P.S. My husband read this post and wants to say the following: “People who are planning a hospital birth can benefit from watching the movie too because it points out common mistakes that hospitals make such as pushing epidurals and other pain medications and unnecessary interventions such as pitocin. The movie can help women and their partners manage the care in the hospital and avoid common pitfalls in hospital births that taint the experience.” (I love that man — he reads my blog AND agrees with me!)
I watched this a few months ago, after having a c-section with my daughter. I was so impressed with the fact that they really geared the movie toward having a better birth, whether it’s at home or in the hospital. I am planning a home birth with my next child, and I am so excited about it! I really feel like I was cheated with the birth of my daughter and things could have turned out very differently.
I loved the film and wish I had seen it prior to my first baby. If there ever is a second, a lot of things will be different, that’s for sure!
Is it safe to have a home birth if you have had a c-section previously?
I watched it early in my pregnancy just out of interest and because I was home alone and you could watch it on Netflix for free. It totally changed my view on hospital and homebirths. While I did end up having a medicated birth, I felt much more “in charge” of my birth experience and really thought the movie was awesome.
I loved the film, though I agree it is not perfect. It is a great warm-up to anyone willing to consider doing things a different way. I have seen it twice – the second time with my husband. It finally helped him see that you don’t always have to do what the doctor says and that they may not always know what’s best for you. We’re hoping for an unmedicated hospital birth because where we live, there are not a lot of options. It also kind of made us want to live somewhere with more choices – birthing centers, etc!