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48 hours of labor vs 6 hours of labor; 15 minute office visits vs. 1 1/2 hour office visits; a pool of doctors, none dedicated to one mother vs. two midwives both dedicated to each mother.  A few of the stark contrasts between my hospital experience and my home birth with a direct-entry midwife.     Birth is a normal process that has been medicalized to the point of separating the mother from basic functions of her body.  There are no guarantees in the hospital nor at home that everything will turn out perfectly.  We should remember this when throwing around the word "dangerous" when we talk about homebirth.  I read the literature around birth (hospital and home)  extensively before making the choice to go with a home birth; the midwives I worked with in Corvallis educated me further.  I hope that more and more women are able to become mothers in the gentle way I welcomed my second child into the world. It was truly a joyful experience and we both thrived as a result!

posted 1 year, 10 months ago
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