Birth Interference

I find it extremely ironic that where physicians have long touted their belief that birth is safest in hospitals, the new homebirth study proves the opposite, home is indeed the safest for mother and baby. Why? I am glad you asked because at first glance that doesn't make sense. When a life-threatening problem does arise, it makes logical sense that having the equipment, medicine, surgical facilities and expert staff available to handle the problem. However, very few births are ever life-threatening and most life-threatening circumstances can be predicted prior to birth based on mother's health.

Which leaves us with almost all women giving birth normally and without complication... As proven by the homebirth study. So why do women who birth in a hospital have higher complication, cesarean section and worse outcomes? Another great question! Because medical professionals view birth as a catastrophe waiting to happen and instead of allowing women to birth, they feel the need to control the process which greatly impacts the birth process.

Birth is a physiological, emotional and even spiritual process. As a child growing up I observed many births of farm animals, mostly cattle, on the farm my parents own. I learned quickly that if a mother is disturbed during labour either her labour would stop to await a quiet time where she could birth without disruption, become complicated because of the cows fear. If the birth was imminent, the calf would be expelled quickly with often the bonding process impeded where the cow may reject the calf, a life-threatening situation because a calf who does not consume colostrum rarely survives.

Humans, as mammals, are not different. Sure we have a conscious which sets us apart from all other mammals, but birth is an instinctual process designed perfectly to ensure the survival of our offspring. Only rarely does the birth process not work as it should, though variations of normal are far outside of the medical parameters doctors prefer. Look at postdates pregnancy. My sister gave birth to her daughter at a full 43 weeks gestation with a "term" baby (meaning she did not show "overdue" symptoms like dry skin, etc.). She had the support of a midwife or she would never have reached her true due date, having faced induction weeks prior. That is only one example... There are hundreds where doctors opinion outweighs mother's knowledge and instinct... fetal monitoring, movement during labour, birth position, privacy, vaginal exams (like any dilation assessment will in any way tell caregivers when a mother will give birth... unless there are notes in utero they are reaching for that tell when baby will be born that I didn't know about), and so on.

Which brings me back to my point... why are women safer birthing at home? Can I ask you a question in return? How can women birth naturally, as their bodies are designed, when there is constant interference from well-meaning caregivers? My answer is easy, avoid them. How? Birth at home of course... the homebirth study proved that by avoiding the interference and fears of hospital-based caregivers, birth happens with much less problem and with better outcomes because it is viewed as a normal process.

However, I don't see birth leaving the hospital any time soon despite the risks. Obstetrics have long sold their "benefits" to birthing families and the fallacy of that advertising will not be questioned any time soon.