Midwives provide an alternative birthing option
August 27, 2012 at 1:30 am in Grand Forks Herald
Katelyn Brinkman has given birth to three children, all at home and all with the help of a midwife. The youngest, Jarrik, arrived three weeks ago at her Mayville, N.D., home with her husband, Michael, assisting and sons Wesley, 1, and Matthew, 3, nearby. Continue Reading
My wife and son would both be dead had we not been at a hospital.
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In this case I’m correct, as I usually am. The 33 hours of “regular birthing” resulted in nothing but my son becoming lodged in the pelvis. Emergency surgery was required, with about 8 hands inside of my wife, including one pushing him back in from below.
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I am glad your wife, the mother of your child, received the care she needed. I hope all is well with her and your son. I had triplets when I was thirty-eight. I would never have thought to have them at home.
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I would have been at a very high risk of a stroke had I not been at a hospital. I had pre-ecclampsia and after a very long labor, my BP was dangerously high.
To each their own, I just hope that people who give birth at home sans medication because it’s natural also forgo the dentist and pull their teeth out in the kitchen using no anesthesia because that’s how that used to get done too…
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It sounds like problems were arising throughout your pregnancy, in which case your midwife would’ve assessed you as high-risk and thus discouraged you from giving birth at home. In fact, many women these days would not make viable candidates for a home birth because the rates of obesity among pregnant women is so high, leading to complications like stroke, pre-eclampsia, and prolonged labor. This is why obese women are advised to lose weight before getting pregnant and why a whole-foods diet consisting largely of veggies and healthy proteins is recommended by any reputable doctor or midwife. A woman who is serious about having a home birth will work from before conception to try to ensure as healthy a pregnancy as possible so as to avoid the trauma and intervention of a complicated hospital birth.
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Holy ignorance, batman. Pre-e is not caused by obesity. I gained 22 lbs during pregnancy and am a size 4! Weight has nothing to do with it, it’s a reaction many first time mothers have, especially if they’re in their 20s (I was 28). Eating whole grains will not prevent it and often (as in my case) it doesn’t show up until the very end of the pregnancy. But thanks for the laugh, I haven’t rolled on the floor like that in months!
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18023357
Obesity is a risk factor for preeclampsia.
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I’m not going to say that having a home birth is always a good idea, or always a bad idea. Giving birth is going to be a different experience for every woman, every time.
However, I will say that if this article has you thinking of having a home birth, I would fact check a lot of Katelyn’s conclusions. She’s drawing a lot on emotions, and not much on facts. Yes, if you are induced, you are more likely to end up with a c-section. But it’s not as if a doctor is going to force the pitocin on you, you get to control that decision. You also get to control who your doctor is, whether or not to have an epidural, etc. Just make sure your wishes are known in advance, and be prepared to be flexible!
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Terin, it’s one of a dozen risk factors. http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/pre-eclampsia-eclampsia-causes-treatments In my case, family history and first pregnancy were the only factors that fit.
Being obese also puts a woman at greater risk for breast cancer, but that’s not to say that all cases of cancer are caused by being fat because we all know likely far more fit women who’ve been afflicted. I think you’re taking “risk factor” too literally as “cause.”
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Most children used to be born via midwives back in the day. My grandmother bore many children in this fashion. Many children were also lost in those days because of someone lacking the correct knowledge on how to address specific situations in birth.
Ultimately the choice of the womans is between her and her husband. Just remember choices have consequences no matter which path you take.
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To me, an alternative birthing option would be abstinence. Makes more sense than rolling the dice and hoping the witch doctor in the home knows the proper spirits.
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