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!)

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Quote graphic by boroda003

To reduce breastfeeding to milk is like reducing sex to semen.

– Rachel Myr, Lactnet list facilitator, named “Midwife of the Year 2008″ in Norway, as quoted in Lactnet

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

The average uncomplicated vaginal birth costs 68% less in a home than in a hospital, and births initiated in the home offer a lower combined rate of intrapartum and neonatal mortality and a lower incidence of cesarean delivery.

“The Cost-Effectiveness of Home Birth.” J Nurse Midwifery. 1999 Jan-Feb;44(1):30-5. Gee, what a novel concept — care that costs less but has a better outcome!

I did an informal survey of sources online to determine that the average hospital birth costs around $8,000 in the United States, depending on exactly where the mother lives. That does not include the additional costs of an epidural or cesarean section, nor does it include the prenatal care from a physician, which costs anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000. For the sake of discussion, let’s say the total cost of prenatal care and physician-assisted hospital birth is approximately $10,000. Compare that to my prenatal care and home birth with a midwife, which cost a total of $4,300. That’s $5,700 — nearly 60% — less! And I was far happier with my home birth experience than my two hospital birth experiences.

Guess how much of that $4,300 my insurance company covered? $2,947.08. Compare that to what the insurance company theoretically would have paid for physician-assisted hospital birth: $8,000! By that token, the insurance company should have been paying ME to have a home birth. My choice of home birth saved the company over $5,000. And the irony is, I had to fight to get the company to cover a home birth at all. Because there were in-network midwives who could attend births at a hospital, the insurance company initially denied my request for a homebirth. I had to have my midwife write a letter to the company stating that I had a “medical need” for a homebirth (basically we argued that I had had such bad hospital experiences — with a fourth-degree tear and a failed epidural — that for my mental health I needed a home birth!) Luckily, the company agreed to pay, although I had to pay 25% co-insurance, rather than 20% co-insurance for an in-network provider. In the end, I wound up paying about $450 less out of pocket for a homebirth, and had a safe and satisfying birth.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

1. Never having to get in the car during labor or soon after the birth.

2. Getting to (being encouraged to!) eat and drink during labor.

3. Being able to open the windows for fresh air.

4. Resting completely undisturbed after the birth. No one woke me or the baby to check vital signs or for any other reason.

5. The baby was never separated from me (as my other children had been for a bath, a blood test, or a hearing screen).

6. No one ever tried to offer my baby a pacifier, glucose water, or formula.

7. My baby did not get dehydrated from the dry hospital air, and in fact she regained her birth weight in 3.5 days rather than the typical 10-14 days.

8. My older children got to participate in the birth and never had to be separated from me or my husband.

9. No one questioned my choices about vitamin K injections, antibiotic eye ointment, vaccinations, or co-sleeping.

10. I knew every person who interacted with me and the baby during labor, delivery, and the post-delivery period. I felt comfortable (and, well, at home!) throughout the entire experience!

For those who have had a home birth, what do you see as the advantages? Were you happy with your experience?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Please take a moment to vote in the new poll!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3