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"As for the danger of childbirth, you may as well go to the hospital every time you need to poop as it is a similar physiological process during which people sometimes die."

- i really hope you are joking.  

the physiology of labor & delivery is extremely dynamic and presents significant stress to mother and baby.  as most laboring women are young and healthy, they are able to tolerate these changes without difficulty.  however, for those mothers or babies with certain baseline medical problems or compromised organ systems, the physiologic stress of labor and delivery can be profoundly dangerous.  

not at all like taking a dump.

posted 4 years ago
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in my mind, the most important outcome is a healthy mom and a healthy baby at the end of labor and delivery.  

prioritizing a preconceived birth plan over the health of mom & baby seems foolish and shortsighted.  i understand that people want a birthing experience that is as non-interventional as possible.  who wouldn't want that? however, those who desire a "natural" birth despite significant risk factors (medical problems, VBAC, breech, multiples) must be prepared to accept 18th century outcomes for 18th century practices.   

to assume that an urgent/emergent transport of a home-birth gone bad results in no significant delay compared to an emergency occurring while birthing in the hospital shows poor understanding of hospital practice. a true emergency c-section (crash section) can occur within minutes....and when dealing with a hemorrhaging and unstable mother or baby in serious distress, minutes can make all the difference between maternal/infant death or disability.

everyone has their own threshold of risk acceptance.  for me, i would prefer a calm, peaceful, supportive birthing experience, but the absolute safety of mother and child will ALWAYS come first.  sure, breech babies can be delivered vaginally.  VBACs can occur without complication.  but, is the significantly increased risk of maternal and infant DEATH worth the home birthing experience?  

 i want a pediatrician, obstetrician and anesthesiologist immediately available to respond to any anticipated or unanticipated emergency.  

no question.

posted 4 years ago
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