Soaps.com - MESSAGE BOARDS

I had both my kids at a hospital, with doctors. But now I'm watching baby week on Discovery and now they are spotlighting a couple that chose home birth. I wouldn't reconsider my choice b/c of family history. In fact, here in AL home birth is no longer legal b/c of infant mortality rates. Because of the care my mom got when she was carrying me I would like to go so far as to either outlaw midwives period or make their perspective patients watch videos of what can happen when things go wrong. If someone wants to use a midwife I have no problem with that but I do think that they need to see a regular Dr at least 3 times during pregnancy.
I was wondering what ya'll's thoughts were.

and yes, i do agree even if a midwife is selected, a person should definitely see a licensed doctor to ensure all is well throughout the pregnancy.

I don't have a problem with midwives at all. They go through extensive training. I know a few personally. They are very very selective over which patients they accept. Many times patients lie to get a midwife and as soon as it is found out a good midwife will drop them. A midwife doesn't want problems they cannot solve. They want healthy babies. Midwifery is just like any other medical thing...you have to research who you want in charge.

I think it is a personal choice to have a home birth or hospital birth. I chose hospital because its safer and the DRUGS!! But I think its up to the parents they know the risks involved with having home births. Women deliver healthy babies everyday in worse conditions than homes. Also about the doctor I think its a personal choice if you take care of yourself while youe pregnant and feel good I guess you don't have to see a doc if you don't want to!

I had my kids in the hospital with no drugs! Hurt like He!! but it ws worth it! I personally wouldn't have wanted to have my kids @ home. Too many things can go wrong!! We have an excellent baby hospital in RI!!

My kids were both considered high risk....I couldn't have gotten a midwife if I wanted to. I couldn't even go to a birthing center (those really nice fancy schmancy hospital sections). But I do know that midwives can be at the hospital if you want them to be.

Many women choose to have babies at home (most are the "granola" types) because they feel more comfortable. I wouldn't do it, I would be thinking about the mess and everyone I know being over wanting to see everything....just icky to me. But I stand by midwives. It is a hard job.

I was born on one of the largest Air Force bases in the world, and my mom never had any trouble with her previous pregnancies, she did, however, run a few days past her due date. Policy for pregnant women back then in the late 70's was to let the ladies see a PRN/ Midwife. With me she was 26 days past due, as a result I was dehydrated and that caused injury to my cerebellum, which didn't result in palsy, but something simular. I was so severly past due until the dr later told my dad that the umbilical cord broke off in his hand when he touched it. So if some one is running that late I think they should be reffered to a dr.

Then one of my Husband'a cousins and his wife, used a mid wife and she left the baby in the birth canal too long w/o oxygen. That child does have cerebral palsy, she is 6 and will start first grade in the fall. She started walking at age 4, it's been a long hard road for her.

Edited to add : Most military bases now contract out their OB/Gyn work. I have a friend whose husband is in the army and she has had 3 kids stationed @ 3 different bases and the base hospitals don't have a matunity ward any more.