Was My Last Home Birth Illegal? (I Need Your Help!)

I am a board certified OB GYN. I recommend VBAC as much as possible as I agree in the right setting it is safer than cesarean section . But remember each pregnancy is different and cannot be merely placed in a category of itself . The reason for the previous cesarean is important and can give us insight to success rates . For example a previous cesarean for breech position shows 80% VBAC success vs failure to dilate past 3 cm = 30%. The type of incision also makes a difference in risk. I believe it’s worth the try if the patient wishes as I have seen success in all circumstances .
The American College of OB GYN has found that home births are more dangerous (slightly) than hospital births . I would NEVER condone a home birth on a VBAC patient . Why would you risk it? I advise patients to come to the hospital and we will be hands off if she wants . In my hospital we are a bit more progressive with a nice birthing suite with hotel like facilities. At least if something happens she can quickly be attended to. It is unfortunate that your state is not more progressive in recommending and providing a safe VBAC environment. All that would be required is excellent education to risks and benefits with excellent consent forms to those patients wanting to take the risks beyond what we feel is normal. I shudder to imagine that you would deliver a VBAC BREECH at home as I have seen the catastrophic results of those types of deliveries . Babies have died and that is sad.
I take offense that you would make the claim that I am less trained than a midwife . I guarantee that your midwives would be very happy to see me if your baby’s head were entrapped in the cervix or if her patient were bleeding to death. I can deliver a baby in less than 1 minute by cesarean if needed! Many excellent maneuvers are available for a hemorrhage . anesthesia availability as well as blood products and sophisticated meds are often needed to save the mother’s life .
I agree that we can take a step back and allow a more natural labor process especially in the low risk moms but when bad things happen time is of the essence in the pregnant laboring patient .

I as well have had home births…5, in fact, and some without midwives as they (licensed) are only allowed to operate within the city 1 hour away. I am glad that I had the opportunity for both!

There are a lot of women in my province in Canada who requested midwives outside of the city when the health authorities were first doing consultations. Since then, even more rural hospitals have been shut down or no longer do in-hospital births. To be accepted by the midwives, you have to meet mysterious criteria as well. Many low risk women get refused here. High risk (the conventional medical idea of high risk) is definitely out. Due to my age alone, most of mine were high risk (according to them). All my pregnancies were good…no issues except when I saw a doctor (they were pushing drugs that were harmful to both of us and trying to strike fear into me by lying to me…I have printed proof on that). Inducing was pushed. I did not comply. All of my births were largely good, no need for their interventions or meds. The cord issue was manageable…BTW…water birth facilitates a nice summersault out of the cord wrap.

Anyway, some of these women I spoke of earlier are up to 3 hours from a hospital. We (a collective “we”) have no access. More are opting to do homebirths without any trained help because of the situation they have been placed in. It is very much a health authority created movement.

I had traditional midwives for my first baby. I prefer these if having a midwife. They are knowledgable, most having done many births in many situations worldwide…and some specialize in difficult births. Mine had over 750 births between them. You could choose whom you were most comfortable with, which is important.

I feel that EVERY woman should prepare for birth at home & have an alternate hospital plan. It is unwise not to have two plans in place. Some babies come fast. Sometimes weather or road conditions or other things interfere with a safe transfer. Women need to read, read, read, ask questions, question everything, know the risks, know how to deal with emergencies (example: cords can easily be dealt with…we did twice) and know how to recognize a problem. A great resource to start with is midwiferytoday.com.

There will always be those who will oppose, either not knowing all the aspects of home birth, nor changes that have happened since the “old days” that make it safer, or having experience that does not show the good side as they work in emergency and only see the worst cases…hospital birth or otherwise. There is also fear. There are many reasons there will be opposition. But, women need to have choice. Choice to birth where THEY feel safe, with those who make them feel safe & loved, with much knowledge and comfort.

I do believe that fully alone is not a good choice. I believe there should be the husband and other knowledgable people present.

We do not choose this path because it is “fun” nor because it may seem romantic. Often it is chosen out of need, & often convictions (not necessarily religious).

If one chooses home to birth, it is imperative that she has excellent support, and knowledge. Very important.

I could talk on this forever.

I welcome a response from the author privately if she so wishes, but will not be replying to others comments here…Life is busy with 5 kids. lol

I would like to wish you, Mom, a hearty congratulations! May you stand strong with those who chose an alternate path. We are many and growing! It is a hard path to choose, but one of which to be proud.

Funny you posted that link because that is the one I was looking at the other day to cross-reference Katie’s stats. If you look at the very first graft without reading how it was taken it says that the US ranks 6.1 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births. Finland (The country with the best record) 2.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. Then when you read the article they have more graphs, why? the reason is because most European countries do not include deaths when the delivery is under 24 weeks gestational age. SOOOO…. now the numbers change when you compare apples to apples… Finland is 2.1 and the U.S. is 4.2 with Canada worse at 4.9 death per 1,000 and England close at 3.2 death per 1,000. Now everyone is saying how awefull U.S. birth rates based on ONE PERCENT difference of England and two percent difference of the ideal country in the world!!!= Finland. Crazy how stats work… Now do you know how Finland does healthcare? I don’t… I don’t know if their population smokes as much as the american women do, or drink as much or have as big of a drug issue. I don’t know if their whole population has insurance because I do know for a fact ours doesn’t and Obamacare didn’t change that. I don’t know what their population attendance rate on prenatal care is like. I don’t know if they get a huge influx of illegals that come only to have their babies with no prior prenatal care and their outcome is factored in. I’m sure you know all this or you would have not posted willy nilly but I don’t know these variables to compare a country I have never been to to ours where I live. But I do know that we are one percent away from England which some people here think is faaar better and we are better off than Canada according to YOUR link. Assuming that any of these countries report the same as the U.S. and keep diligent records of every death especially when they have it at home. So who is making sweeping statements Sarah? Also if you read further you will see that the U.S. is better when the moms had to deliver under 24 weeks gestation, do you think they had them at home? nope. The U.S. was “compared favoribly with most European countries” according to your link when moms delivered 24-31 gestational age. Do you think they delivered a 6 month gestational age at home? nope. The U.S. death rate was 2nd highes between gestational age 32-36 and the highest death rate when delivered after 37 gestational age. OH WAIT!! so the gestational age when they are willing to deliver at home because they are term is when the U.S. numbers look the worst. CRAZY! read your own link Sarah!
In case you want me to break it down further and tell you where the U.S. ranks after 37 weeks gestational age. Finland 0.97 deaths per 1,000 live births and the U.S. 2.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. I hate talking stats which is why I have avoided it thus far because what is 0.97 of a baby?!