2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

Yes, out of hospital birth is safe, but every study you read about the subject will alway add the caveat that that it is safe for a select group of women.  These studies, done all over the world, specify that breech, twins and VBACs do not fall under the low risk group, and are not considered to be safe for out of hospital birth. 

Midwives who practice in hospital settings can safely care for women who have these three factors, while providing the safety net in the case of the rare but potentially disastrous complications.

In your interview, you should ask the representative of AndaLuz how many bad outcomes they have had in the last 5 years, (neonatal deaths, and close calls for mothers) related to caring for women who are seeking out of hospital birth and who have the three factors listed above.  Also make sure you include their homebirth practice. If she denies any such problems, then her veracity should be seriously  questioned.

Full disclosure: I am a CNM at OHSU.  I was also an out of hospital midiwfe for over 20 years.  I did not care for women with twins, VBACS or breech presentations because of the documented increase in risks of poor outcomes for these conditions.  Honestly, we have seen the results of these practices in the transfers that come through our doors, and have mourned with the parents who have lost thier babies as a result.  Yes, birth is nromal, and most of the time the results are wonderful and ideal, but there should be a threshold for the types of risks a provider is willing to accept for the safety of mothers and babies. 

This is not a witch hunt.  This whole issue is an attempt to prevent the disasters we have seen as a result lack of respect for the potential risks involved for certain conditions.

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
view in context