| Author |
Messages |
|
Archived User
Posts:0
 |
| 04/30/2006 12:53 PM |
 Quote
 Reply
|
And then one last question for today:
I am interested in comparing assisted homebirths with unassisted homebirths. How would I set up a gathering of data? What criteria should I include? I assume I can only reach mothers on-line so perhaps this would remain too anecdotal?
What is your personal idea about unassisted birth?
Thanks,
maria.
ps.: please delete the empty folder :-) By: maria |
|
|
|
|
Archived User
Posts:0
|
| 05/12/2006 1:08 AM |
Quote
Reply
|
I apologize, but I don't know anything about proper ways of gathering data. I don't do research; I just collect it. You are right, though, that data collection has to be done properly, or it isn't valid, and then you've wasted a lot of time and effort without getting anything truly useful in return. I would imagine there are courses that teach about how to conduct research if this is something that interests you.
Here is what I think about unassisted home birth: There are things that can go wrong at a birth that can be put right (or stabilized until the mother or baby can be transported to a hospital) by someone who has the skill, knowledge, and certain basic equipment and medications. The research bears this out. There are studies that report higher perinatal mortality rates at home births where there is no qualified attendant compared with when there is. That being the case, why not load the dice in your favor and have a qualified person with you?
On the other hand, conventionally managed hospital birth also poses considerable risks. I can see why a woman would choose to run the risks of unattended home birth in communities where no qualified home-birth attendant is available rather than subject herself to the risks she would run if she has no option for safe, effective care in the hospital.
The situation with VBAC is another example. Many women with prior cesareans now face the appalling choice to submit to major surgery or have the baby at home, often with no home birth pracititoner present because of the devastating consequences for the practitioner in the current climate should it be discovered that she is attending VBACs.
-- Henci
P.S. I deleted the empty message, but just so you know, people can delete or edit their own posts. Click on the post, click on the "edit" option, and there is a drop-down list on the message that includes "delete." By: Henci Goer |
|
|
|
|
Archived User
Posts:0
|
| 05/13/2006 10:37 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
Would you elaborate about what things could go wrong in a homebirth that would require an experienced attendant? Meaning, should the mother not be educated in such a way that she could handle the common things that can occur, like hemorrhage, nuchal cord and shoulder dystocia? There are probably as many poor midwives out there as bad OB's.
Also, would you refer me to those studies? As far as I know the unassisted 'scene' is pretty much under the radar. I am not aware of any studies like this.
And last, what does 'no qualified attendant present' mean? Does that mean no attendant at all or an unexperienced one?
Thank you very much!
maria. By: maria |
|
|
|
|
Archived User
Posts:0
|
| 05/17/2006 10:00 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
I do not think she or her partner could. The Big Three are shoulder dystocia, a baby that doesn't breathe, and hemorrhage. If getting onto hands and knees doesn't relieve shoulder dystocia, it takes skill and knowledge to dislodge the stuck shoulder. A baby who doesn't breathe may need suctioning. Hemorrhage requires administration of medication. In addition, properly trained midwives have practiced under the watchful eye of preceptors. They have almost certainly been present at birth emergencies and likely dealt with them before going out on their own. They are unlikely to lose their heads, something that would not be true of the couple. Finally, while I agree that a bad midwife is worse than no midwife at all (ditto for doctors), a good one or even an OK one is MUCH better than none at all (also ditto for doctors).
The clearest example of the potential effect of lack of a qualified birth attendant is Schramm WF, Barnes DE, and Bakewell JM. Neonatal mortality in Missouri home births. Am J Public Health 1987;77(8):930-935 in which the excess neonatal mortality came from births attended by non-professionals.
-- Henci By: Henci Goer |
|
|
|
|
Archived User
Posts:0
|
| 05/19/2006 12:02 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
That study is 20 years old however! So much info is available online these days that was not back then.
I am not saying you are wrong, just saying that information is available nowadays to women if they want it. I for one, feel very confident handling the 3 Gig Ones you mention with my husband's help. But this is just me and my body. I don't get huge babies so that helps.
I do not believe that giving birth is inherently a flawless physiological process, but I do believe that even an assisting midwife should let the mother be in her process to assure the best outcome possible. So many problems occur because of stepping in from the outside. So many women are so fearful!
I do realize there are exceptions, but they are rare in general.
maria. By: Anonymous |
|
|
|
|
|