Deanne says,

<< I, personally, would never choose to have a home delivery.  I think they
are
 for pizza.  Had I delivered my third child (of 6) at home, both of us would
 have died.   However, I respect those of you who choose to advocate it or do
 it, as long as you know what kind of Russian roulette you are playing, and
 you don't try to talk me into it, or act like I am insane for preferring a
 hospital birth with level III backup next door. >>

Let us keep in mind that there are risks inherent in having a baby whether it
is at home, in the hospital, or in a birthing center.  Many of us who have
worked in MCH for many many years (more than I care to think about in my
case) know that many of the problems that babies have had after birth came as
a result of being born in the hospital, and would have been prevented had
they been born at home with a competent nurse midwife.  The point is, each
mother needs to be informed about ALL the advantages and disadvantages to
each place of giving birth -- hospital, birthing center, and at home.  None
of them should be chastised, or accused of playing Russian Roulette should
they choose one over the other.  What I object to is the fact that women are
NOT truly informed about the risks in (pick one:  epidurals, hospital birth,
circumcisions, CNS depressant drugs, separation of mother & infant, etc etc),
but are warned/threatened with dire consequences should they choose an
alternative to the above.  Women are often told they are "stupid" if they
don't have an epidural.  Women are threatened with stories of hemorrhage or
death if they choose a home birth (BTDT:  the physician who told me he hoped
I would hemorrhage when I chose to birth Timothy at home, and he hoped he was
in the ER when I came in bleeding to death; the VP of nursing who threatened
me that if I chose a home birth, I could lose my job at the hospital, and I
could be assured that I would never get a position there of anything beyond
staff nurse regardless of my qualifications; etc etc).  I am concerned that
the "informed consent" is all one sided -- I'll inform you of ALL the risks
of being out of the hospital -- I'll scare you to death, but I'll be very
choosy about telling you about the risks of any of the "routine" hospital
procedures that I might inflict upon you or your baby.

Please don't tell me I'm playing Russian Roulette when I choose one set of
risks over another set of risks.  In point of fact, I am going to play
Russian Roulette right now as I get in my car to go to the hospital to see
clients.  While the chances that i get to the hospital and back safely are
pretty good -- I'm taking a risk that just around the corner may be some
driver who isn't careful, and who may smash into my car --- but I am going to
take that risk anyway.

Jan B. -- narky in Wheaton

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