As I was pondering what would be a suitable topic to write about as a farewell to 2015, I realized that this is the month in which the Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. We all know the picture of the Nativity: no fancy delivery rooms, no midwife in attendance. Just the newborn Jesus surrounded by his mother, his father, the Three Kings, as well as a few of the usual dwellers of a stable. I was always taken by the Renaissance old master’s paintings and sculptures where a smiling Virgin Mary is looking with adoring eyes to her little newborn son.
Over 2000 years have passed since that time. Babies are still being born and mothers still look at their new baby with adoring eyes. The human touch associated with the arrival of a new baby has not changed. The surroundings, however, have changed dramatically. Pregnancies are safer and better taken care of, babies are healthier and while we are still not perfect, we look at this new century for progress that, not too long time ago, was considered science fiction.
Until 1900 prenatal care was unknown. One never went to the doctor because you were pregnant. Labor and delivery was always attended in the home. We improved maternal care and decreased maternal morbidity and mortality. The newborn care is the best in recorded time. Thanks to these advances, the public started having a sense of security and felt that women have given birth since time immemorial and the act of birth, after all, was a natural process. As a result many women started migrating back from hospital delivery to home delivery.
Mind you, in principle there is nothing wrong with home delivery. You are in your own environment, surrounded by family, and once delivered you can enjoy your new baby that does not have to be taken away to the nursery. Psychologically you do not feel that you are ill in the hospital. You are at home and well. As such, your recovery is faster and you can even make your own cup of coffee when you so desire.
Should you contemplate a home delivery?
The advocates of home delivery have some rules, like your pregnancy must be normal to the end, to qualify for home delivery. There is no question that this is a good rule. But does it assure you that labor and delivery will be normal?
Once labor starts many unpredictable events may happen, even if your pregnancy was absolutely wonderfully normal. Labor can stop progressing normally for a variety of reasons. The placenta may separate from the uterus before its time, with heavy bleeding, threatening the life of both mother and baby. The uterus can rupture, a life threatening situation when one only has minutes to intervene. Babies can get stuck in the lower pelvis. The baby may also come in an unfavorable position for normal delivery.
How does one handle such situations at home?
The story is that should anything go wrong, one can transfer the mother to a hospital. That’s all well and good if the situation allows for enough time to do that. Most serious delivery problems do not have the luxury of time. Like a sudden drop in the baby’s heart rate, or a cord prolapse, and many other catastrophic events.
Sure. If you decide for a home delivery what are the chances of that happening to you?
Not many. But do you want to play Russian roulette with your life and that of your baby? As usual, statistics do not help. A 1% risk is an acceptable risk. Otherwise no one would be driving or flying in a plane. But if it happens to you it’s not 1% anymore. It’s a 100%.
Fortunately, just like most pregnancies are normal so are most labor and deliveries. But that is not a statement you can depend on. Understand that when you decided to have a home delivery, you accepted its risks. If something does not go as you expected, do not blame others.
For every one of our grandmothers that had 7 children, all healthy, and delivered at home, there are others that were not so lucky. We just don’t hear about them, or don’t want to hear.
Happy Holidays!
SILVIO ALADJEM MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist and Maternal Fetal Medicine (high risk obstetrics) specialist, is Professor Emeritus in obstetrics and gynecology at Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, in Lansing, MI. He is the author of “10,000 babies: my life in the delivery room” now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other book stores. Dr. Aladjem published extensively in Scientific Medical Journals and wrote several textbooks in the specialty. Should you wish to contact him, you may do so by email at: dr.aladjem@gmail.com
You can read more of Dr. Aladjem’s posts on Imperfect Women by clicking here. Dr Aladjem also answers questions of medical interest related to pregnancy in a recurring post here at Imperfect Women. You can read more details about this feature and ask a question by filling out the form here.
My sister in law just gave birth in her apartment and was happy with the way she delivered. I was too nervous to do it anywhere but a hospital in case there were any complications.
Not a bad idea. I had some complications throughout my pregnancy so ti was not an option for me.
This is a good and well-rounded post! I know women who have done both – I think it’s a personal decision for each family. Good stuff!
Home deliveries are becoming more and more popular in my area. They weren’t very popular when I had my kids though. This is great information for people who are considering it.
It’s not for me because I”m a worry wart, but in theory, I love the idea because it would be so much calmer and more restful. I know people who’ve done it have loved it.
Personally I wouldn’t chance it. I want a team of doctors and nurses present just in case.
I never thought of a home delivery. However for 3rd child they asked me to come in sooner. Suggesting I could have had him at home.
No way would I do a home delivery. I want to be in the hospital where the Doctors and Nurses can take care of the baby for me after I gave birth. My Hubs sure wouldn’t help … at least I don’t think he would. What am I saying?? I am way too old to have another baby, but if I could… HOSPITAL!!
I have to say I would have never tried this. You just never know when something can go wrong 🙁
I think it is a valid point that for that 1% they are 100%. Interesting way to look at it!
That’s how they did it many years ago. As a nurse, I think a hospital is a safe way to go in the case of complications.
This is really interesting. We didn’t consider a home delivery. It sounds like you would have to take plenty of precautions just like at a hospital.
I really, really, REALLY hope I get to have a home delivery. I have a need for one much more than a want, but I really hope it happens.
I would love the comfort of my own home, but I would definitely be a little scared!
I have had several friends have a home delivery and loved it. Me on the other hand, would not even consider it! I would be too worried about all the what if’s, if something did go wrong.
I have several friends that have delivered at home and they say it’s a wonderful experience. It wasn’t in the cards for me due to high blood pressure but have enjoyed hearing about theirs.
One of the best things about modern life is that we can choose to have births happen at home or in the hospital. It is nice to have options that enable a person to be comfortable and at ease.
I have a sister who delivered at home, and she loved it, she said if she was to do it again she would.She said
the benefits of doing it at home was that she was comfortable in her tub, surrounded by her family .
@tisonlyme143
I think it’s a personal decision nice article. .
I’m not sure I could give birth at home (if I ever gave birth) I think I would worry to much. x
I have a friend who’s currently pregnant and was thinking of home delivery. I’ll have to share this with her.
Home deliveries sounds nice. I am a bit on the nervous side though.
To each their own! I was perfectly happy giving birth without any medication in a hospital setting! 🙂 It worked for me…and glad I didn’t consider any other option as my youngest son had a difficult delivery but with my fantastic OB, I was still able to deliver him naturally!
We all have too make out own decision for me i could not do it anywhere but a hospital in case there were any complications.
This was very interesting. I know several women that have had home births. Thanks for all the fascinating information.
My friend had a home birth last year. It was a beautiful experience. If i had any more children i would try it.
I think a home birth for your first baby might be a little risky. You never know what can happen. If it is not your first and you are not far from a hospital why not try.
I believe everyone should give birth however and whereever they feel the most comfortable. I’m not against homebirth, I just felt a lot safer having my 3 children at a hospital and trusting mine and their care to professionals.
I gave birth to all 3 of mine in the hospital, and personally glad I did. My last, my daughter, barely waited until I got there, though, and I thought for a minute I might have to have her in the car. She was feisty then and she’s feisty now.
Great article. I did not do a home birth for either baby. I wanted that doctor and hospital right there with me!
I thought about a home birth with my 5th, but since I was high risk for my own medical reasons it wasn’t a possibility and that ended up being a good thing as we ended up with an emergency c section… I am thankful I have given birth in the hospital for each of my 6 kids. Security in knowing that there are medical staff to take care of any all emergencies that may arise.
My grandma had 10 children all born at home & all are so healthy as well & lived for long. But I think with so much health issues around we all fear for any complications & go ahead with out taking any risk.
I was high-risk due to medical reasons and there was no way I could have ever attempted an home delivery. I am sure people who do opt for home delivery don’t make that decision lightly.
I would have liked home delivery. I was just too chicken in case something went wrong.
When I was having babies, a home birth was not on my radar. I am not sure I even knew about home births. Years later, I have read a lot about it. I would love to have done that with my babies.
I’ve always worried that if something should go wrong during the delivery, being away from the hospital would be detrimental. I had difficult births so I am not sure if this would have been a viable option for us.
i love the home deliveries we try doing this sometimes
Nope. Not for me. Lol. I prefer being in the hospital where there are people who know what they are doing. I’ve had 3 completely normal pregnancies and 2 of them required more intervention then I would have had at home. Plus, I prefer pain medication. We are currently trying to conceive again and though I surely won’t qualify as low risk enough for a home delivery because of my age and previous c-section, I wouldn’t want one anyway. I do know a woman who had both of her children at home and had no complications and was very happy with it. Just not for me.
This was a great article leaving you with alot to think about. My daughter in law had one of her babies in a birthing house which was right next to a large hospital. This worked out well. Thank you so much for this great article
When I had my first child over 41 years ago, I just turned 18 two weeks exactly before I had her. I was nervous & alone. For me, part of the comfort and confidence was my hospital delivery & the much needed rest after she was born. My second baby was born with the cord wrapped around her neck, she was 9lbs. 11oz., 21 inches long and you could NOT see her neck! I was so glad that the doc & nurses were there! They saved her life! She was on oxygen for the couple of days and I couldn’t hold her. She was in the ICU. Thank God she is fine and a mom of 5 kids!! The next two were great pregnancies and deliveries, but a couple of days after giving birth to them, I got blood clots in my legs. After my last baby, the doctor strongly suggested that I quit having babies for the fear that a blood clot might kill me. So for me, there were bumps in the road, no matter how great you take care of yourself!
Lots to think about if you’re pregnant or planning on having a baby anytime soon! Lots of different options these days! It’s nice to be informed about your options!
One of my BFFs is a midwife— so I always hear the PROS of midwifery/home births, VS the CONS of hospital/birthing centers. I will say that during her 15 years of doing home births, she hasn’t had a single case of any complications associated with it, however, I do know, like you stated, 100% of births do not go without ANY sort of complications or risks. Both my maternal Grandmother and Grandfather both had siblings (including a set of twins) die during homebirths back in the “old” days, due to complicationbs, so who is to say those same complications couldn’t arise today with a home birth? Good post!
I had my first child at the hospital. Then had my second child at home.I would have liked to have my last two children at home as well, but I ended up being high risk for both, so I had to have them in the hospital, but if I wasn’t high risk for both, I would have had them at home as well. I was more relaxed at home then in the hospital.
I had one at home and 3 in the hospital, the home birth was the best by far! Second best was the water birth in hospital now that we live in a state where midwives aren’t allowed to attend home births. Its a choice each woman needs to make for herself, I wish I still had that choice in our state.
Massive respect to the ladies who are able to do it at home…I, however, needed my drugs.
Our dear friends have delivered all 5 healthy children at home with the aid of a mid-wife. They advocate home delivery ONLY IF the mother is healthy enough and has a very experienced mid-wife. I believe it is a choice of the new parents whether or not home delivery is an option. It has to be in the baby’s best interest.
Yes yes yes!! While Im so envious of the power and assurity those who deliver at home I would not be able to do it!! The thought of something going wrong and my selfish choice being the choice between life and death of myself of my child is just something I couldn’t bear!! I am loving birthing centers and am so excited to see them popping up everywhere!! I great comfortable atmosphere with the tools to handle an emergency!!
I think it would be incredible to have a home birth. I have always been fascinated by it. BUT, I never would just because I don’t feel like I could take that chance of something happening to me or my baby. A girl I went to college with just died in childbirth. I would want doctors right there with me, especially with the history of complications my family has.
During my pregnancy I watched so many deliveries on tv and read so many pregnancy books that I was sure I could deliver my own baby no problem.
oh my goodness.. no way!! way to scared if anything were to go wrong.. if I was in a hospital it would of been helped/treated faster. I don’t know ..not for me!!
basically a midwife is NOT a doctor!!!