tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post6517418389009143291..comments2024-03-24T12:47:49.253-04:00Comments on Dou-la-la: Letters to a young homebirtherAnnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01019907275666753543noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-75546968844896612082009-12-06T22:42:02.459-05:002009-12-06T22:42:02.459-05:00I know I'm late commenting on this but I just ...I know I'm late commenting on this but I just found this blog. I think this was a good letter and hope your relative found it helpful. One thing that I always do when describing to people why I choose homebirth over hospital birth (my whole family is obsessed with the worst case senarios) is break it down into something non birth related (and usually abstract) so they understand the statisical nature of it. One example I've used:<br />You have two boxes in front of you and you must put your hand into one. The left box has a 1:100 chance your hand will be hit with a hammer. The right box has a 1:75 chance your hand will be hit. Even though it makes sense to choose the right box (homebirth/midwife/birthcenter) there is still a chance you might get hurt, but you've choosen the situation that puts you at the least risk of that.<br />It doesn't make any sense to choose the left box (hospital) just because I MIGHT get hurt on the right box, I'm MORE LIKELY to be hurt on the left one! With birth we don't have a choice of a 'perfect choice' any choice we make has some statisical likelihood of injury/death, the 'right' choice is a balance between what makes a woman comfortable and what is least likely to cause injury/death. Of course, I'm overly logical, so to me, the 'facts' on a matter ARE what make me comfortable. :)Jesprenhttp://www.tigaseren.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-71612160518648140952009-11-15T15:36:10.136-05:002009-11-15T15:36:10.136-05:00I just read your story, such a great one! Thanks f...I just read your story, such a great one! Thanks for sharing that! If you ever do decide to write out the aftermath and want to share, let me know. I'd love to read that too.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01019907275666753543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-17983164757468819482009-11-13T15:40:04.357-05:002009-11-13T15:40:04.357-05:00I did have a transcendent experience :-) I had to ...I did have a transcendent experience :-) I had to find the strength within myself because I didn't have any one else helping me through it. I have my birth story on my blog although I have yet to write about the aftermath because it is still too painful.Idyllic Youthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06733596439392388621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-27490670703612214602009-11-11T23:57:35.899-05:002009-11-11T23:57:35.899-05:00Deanna, glad to be of service, in some small way! ...Deanna, glad to be of service, in some small way! <br /><br />Thanks you guys. I'm always hyper-conscious of the often fine line between making a strong case for something and standing by your beliefs, and being overbearing and pushy. I'm sure I won't always succeed, but I'll always try.<br /><br />Morgan, I hope so too! Perhaps, if she's inclined, I can have her guest post her birth story.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01019907275666753543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-54435339371411447372009-11-11T15:43:41.903-05:002009-11-11T15:43:41.903-05:00I like how you handled this. I think that you can ...I like how you handled this. I think that you can definitely support your position with out trying to "talk someone into it."roadrunner201https://www.blogger.com/profile/06108866769358292786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-15537623121922691432009-11-11T15:20:30.661-05:002009-11-11T15:20:30.661-05:00That's great that she found a midwife. Doing ...That's great that she found a midwife. Doing a birth at home with a competent, skilled, and compassionate midwife sounds wonderful. <br /><br />I hope she feels more comfortable with her decision as the time gets closer, and that she and her baby both have an awesome and safe birth!Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12652107321069740503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-292187533786842972009-11-11T14:51:15.568-05:002009-11-11T14:51:15.568-05:00Anne, I think your information was fantastic, and ...Anne, I think your information was fantastic, and actually answered some of MY questions about home birth - like what if I start bleeding or what if there's a prolapsed cord? Thank you. I hope the information helped your family member.Fun Mama - Deannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13482181499301423093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-13841970351898595352009-11-11T13:03:41.402-05:002009-11-11T13:03:41.402-05:00"Midwives like the one I had give midwives ev..."Midwives like the one I had give midwives everywhere a bad name." I couldn't agree more! I'm so sorry you got such crappy treatment. Midwives are definitely not all created equal, that's for sure - it is always worthwhile to interview any potential care provider thoroughly.<br /><br />I hope you have a positively transcendent experience next time!Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01019907275666753543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741036541041672560.post-36879853100183608822009-11-11T09:19:07.773-05:002009-11-11T09:19:07.773-05:00I wish I would have talked to my midwives more. I ...I wish I would have talked to my midwives more. I chose mine because there is only one birth center where I live and my health insurance would only cover hospital or birth center midwives, not homebirth. My midwives treated me fairly inconsistently with how I would expect midwives to operate. There was one midwife and one student midwife present. The head midwife kicked out my support team except for my husband (who happend to be drunk and fell asleep) she then left the room leaving me to labor for 5 hours ALONE! After the baby was born, the cord was tractioned 12 minutes pp and that led to a pph If that wasn't bad enough the midwife let me bleed out fo 2.5 hours and never once checked to see if I tore (had a second degree tear when I got to ER). I lost 4 pints of blood and received 3 blood transfusions. I developed an infection and spent the first 9 days of my daughter's life in the hospital hooked up to 17 wires or IVs. I am still pro home birth and believe that if I had been choosier about a midwife that this would not have happened to me. I know that sometimes these things happen but I really feel that in my case it was mis(or over) managed birth. I will definitely be having a home birth next time around. I have been assured by other midwives and an OB that I am not high risk because of previous pph. I just want women to research their midwives just like they would OBs. I made the assumption that midwives all followed a mother centered model of care and I was wrong. Midwives like the one I had give midwives everywhere a bad name.Idyllic Youthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06733596439392388621noreply@blogger.com