Reply To: Ladies would you consider homebirth?

Think of birth in 1800’s Poland. Transylvania. These mamas had other kids around in the house. They could not hide the facts of life. They obviously weren’t inviting the kinderlach to cut the cord or be present at the birth of their new sibling. My point is for the folks who argue they don’t would not want to expose their other children to it, this use to be a natural part of family life, in the shtetl life. The circle of life and death was real and all around them and today we lack that. Its like we’re allergic to the idea of it and its not as gross after all.

We have a industrialized mentality in that we are far removed from birth and trust in our bodies and witnessing and being around the circle of life and death. We are separated by the sterile walls of modern medicine. Its a topic best left for the medical experts. Some of us are uncomfortable with the idea of accidentally spilling bodily fluids in our wall to wall carpeted homes.

Would it damage a kid to be sent out to a neighbor so mommy can geborgen a nia pitsy baby? It wouldn’t damage a teenage girl to run to the car, for the midwives oxygen tank, if asked, or to fetch more plastic bedcovers. This was the way it use to be. (minus the car and o2 tank)

But what Health was saying is correct. In fact if listen to what Ina May Gaskin has to say about birth and fear (she is America’s Pioneer in Midwifery, having revitalized it) she compares the act of birth to other natural bodily functions which also operate by the Sphincter Law. Any sphincter like opening that operates involuntarily to let out, needs privacy. WHich is why we have private toilet stalls and don’t go in public. Have ever seen a 2 year old quietly disappear behind a corner to make, its just instint.

Having said that, compare that to the hospital situation. Its a wonder anything can naturally open up without fear. Its possible a lady can have 2-3 interns/residents plus her doctor, and 2 nurses, and then an anesthesiologist all standing around looking at her. WOuld you like that even if it were only to have a BM? I wouldn’t be able to produce.

This is the theory behind why we see some ladies who remained at home in labor for a while can proceed to 5 or 8 cm dialated say, but then get to the hospital and then close back down. Fear.

THen the Doctors may say its time to add pitocin to get things going. But wait! SHe was laboring fine at home. What happened? WHy did things stop? Staying on the bed is one inhibitor as the body needs natural movement for comfort measures to help with pain, for example. And walking speeds up the process. Thats why ladies are recommened bed rest for premature labor.

Pitocin induction usually means that epidural is the next step, as this is almost an indescribable an unbearable, unnatural pain. This is not natural labor from Hashem. Its from man and his medicine. Very violent contractions.

I thought I would put this up for everyone. I found some world statistics for maternal mortality.

I already put up the link above.

Number of Maternal Deaths per 100,000 births

Italy 3.9

Canada 6.6

U.K 8.2

United States of America 16.7

USA ranked the lowest in this particular article.