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Many women are choosing to have their babies at home either with the help of a qualified professional (doctor, midwife, etc…) or even just on their own. I have a couple friends who have gone this route and swear by it and, having had three children of my own in the hospital, I can understand their argument. I have felt ignored and pressured in the hospital setting and I made some choices (or felt forced into some choices) that I would go back and change if I could. The problem was that my last child was very high-risk and I was afraid to take a chance on taking a more laid-back approach to her birth but a lot of expectant mothers are willing to take the risk which is causing a considerable debate – are at-home births safe?
With the number of caesarean section births skyrocketing in hospitals, many are wondering if this is because doctors are pushing women into bypassing a natural birth in order to save time. This, of course, is putting the health of the baby and the mother at an unnecessary risk since c-sections are considered a major surgery. Many are heralding home births as a way to take the control out of the doctor’s hands while putting the mother in charge of her own birthing experience.
The Today show took a closer look at the issue to find out if these at-home births present any real risks. They talked to a couple were inspired by Ricki Lake’s documentary, The Business of Being Born, which challenges the need for medical intervention during pregnancy and childbirth. The couple sought the help of the midwife that was prominently featured in the film and, after a healthy pregnancy, the labor lasted for four days and, despite their concerns, the couple trusted the midwife. Their baby girl died after being suffocated by her umbilical cord.
Of course, this is just one story in millions but the segment is still very interesting.