The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
|
The federal government now says it's OK for pregnant women and young children to be injected with mercury in the H1N1 vaccine. However, if there were more mercury-free vaccine available, they would recommend that pregnant women and young children get that instead. Don't be fooled! Thimerosal is a form of mercury! Autism rates dropping in California—is phase-out of thimerosal the reason? [from 2005] Current thinking is that only genetically vulnerable babies will be affected by the thimerosol . . . maybe even as low as 1 out of 200 or 0.5%. But if it's your child, it's 100%. Read this mother's story about her children's recovery from mercury-related autism. |
I'm new here too and enjoying soaking up all the info. Though I haven't had a homebirth (yet), I was in your situation before my last birth. I really felt that I would be happiest, most secure, most comfortable at home. However, I caved to my own insecurities...I felt like since this was my first, I should go to the hospital where I could be "helped". Well, after quite a labor, I was "helped" right into the OR for a c-section.
I actually had what would be considered a great c-section in that I recovered in practically 24 hours, and had no psychological challenges with the final outcome of my baby's birth (who was a 9 lb, 12 oz and healthy babe).
My husband and I recently starting working on baby number two (hoping for a +HPT soon!) and this prompted some serious research into my future birthing options. I had been led to believe that I could try for a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)...but if I had a baby as big or bigger than my first, I would likely have a repeat cesarean. Or I could just schedule a cesarean. This from my OB/GYN.
I didn't think that was much of an option, and was highly considering scheduling a cesarean when I found the ICAN email list. I was actually more looking for a support group for those having cesareans, but what I found was a wealth of information.
With that information and looking back at my past experience, I realized that all the hospital/OB interventions had placed me in the position of having a cesarean, and that had I been at home, had the support of a midwife (and maybe a doula?) and been better educated myself, I could easily have delivered a baby even bigger than my first. In fact, it could have been a breech baby (quite common in my family) and I could still have delivered at home.
What I'm trying to say is that if you feel most comfortable with a homebirth,
go with your instincts! (I wish I had.) And if you decide that a hospital
birth is more for you, pass on all the interventions...even the OB if possible...
and educate yourself until you think you can take no more...I really thought
I was educated and boy was I wrong.
| About the Midwife Archives / Midwife Archives Disclaimer |