Featured
Unassisted ChildbirthBy Emily Jones
What is unassisted childbirth? Put simply, unassisted childbirth, or UC as it is sometimes referred to, is giving birth without the assistance of a paid birth professional. Everyone has heard stories of unplanned UCs - the woman who births in the car before she gets to the hospital, the teenager who gives birth in a bathroom stall at a school dance, and many other similar stories. What not everyone has heard, though, are the increasing numbers of stories of planned UCs. With the medical community and government in the United States increasing restrictions and pressure to limit women’s birthing choices outside of the hospital, more and more women are turning to a more “radical” idea: planned unassisted childbirth.
Women's Health
Research
A Nashville Midwife Lists Homebirth StudiesBy Danell Swim
A list of studies which illustrate whether homebirth is safe, or hospital birth is safe. Click the link for a full list. Quite impressive!
Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America
Johnson and Daviss, British Medical Journal, June 2005
“Conclusions: Planned home birth for low risk women in North America using certified professional midwives was associated with lower rates of medical intervention but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality to that of low risk hospital births in the United States.”
Answers to questions about the BMJ CPM 2000 study
Outcomes of planned home births versus planned hospital births after regulation of midwifery in British Columbia
Janssen et al, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Feb. 2002
“Interpretation: There was no increased maternal or neonatal risk associated with planned home birth under the care of a regulated midwife.”
Outcomes of intended home births in nurse-midwifery practice: a prospective descriptive study
Murphy and Fullerton, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sept. 1998
“Conclusion: Home birth can be accomplished with good outcomes under the care of qualified practitioners and within a system that facilitates transfer to hospital care when necessary. Intrapartal mortality during intended home birth is concentrated in postdates pregnancies with evidence of meconium passage.”
Editorials
Due Date for VBAC: Not an Expiration DateBeing a woman with a prior cesarean, I’ve become extremely supportive of women who choose a vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC) like I did. It seems that my support is often falling on deaf ears, as time and again, women are coerced into repeat... Read more »
C-Birth: The Trendy New TermNow that 31% of babies are born by caesarean section, more women are becoming increasingly defensive about their choice to have primary and repeat c-sections. And because so many women now make this choice, there is a massive movement to normalize caesareans. When... Read more »
A Necessary EvilOne statement I think nearly everyone can agree on is that we are grateful to live in a time of such medical technology and advances that so many lives can be saved, and the quality of life can be improved. Even natural childbirth advocates, as strongly... Read more »
Internet News
FairLady on Dads in Delivery RoomShould reluctant fathers be coerced into witnessing their children’s birth? Absolutely not, says a growing body of medical opinion. Michael, who is a competent, loving and assured father of three, attended the delivery of his first-born child because... Read more »
Tragic Induction Nearly Kills Mother - Baby in NICUMelissa called us yesterday at about 1:35 p.m. to let us know that she was going to the hospital to have labor induced. This had been something they were trying to avoid but given the circumstances, it was the most prudent thing they could do. I was out... Read more »
“Long Labors” from Australian MidwifeI have spent the past few days with a woman (hence no blog entries) and have had lots of time contemplating the modern obstetric attitude labour length and the active management . Active management of labour was brought in initially by Odriscoll in 1973... Read more »
Birth News
Teen Walks to Hospital With Baby Still Attached by Umbilical CordXochitl Parra’s newborn was attached to the umbilical cord during a four-block walk to St. Mary Medical Center after the 17-year-old gave birth Wednesday in her home. With her baby boy resting peacefully in her arms, Parra on Friday described the... Read more »
Butcher of Bega Faces more Accusations (warning: Graphic)Horrific new allegations involving the deaths of 15 mothers and babies have been levelled against the New South Wales doctor dubbed the “Butcher of Bega”. Nicknamed for the southern coastal town in which he allegedly mutilated and sexually... Read more »
Brangelina Settle in France for BirthBrad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have flown to France to prepare for the birth of their rumoured twins. The couple and their four children arrived in Nice this week via private jet, with three nannies and two security guards in tow. Their time in France will... Read more »
As Doctors Get a Life, Strains ShowU.S. medicine is in the middle of a cultural revolution, as young physicians intent on balancing work and family challenge the assumption that a doctor should be available to treat patients around the clock. Walter Cheng, 32 years old, is in the profession’s... Read more »
FLDS Woman Gives Birth at HospitalThe count of FLDS children in Texas custody increased by one Tuesday after a female whose age is in dispute gave birth to a boy at a San Marcos, Texas, hospital. Pamela Jeffs delivered a healthy boy around noon at Central Texas Medical Center, where she... Read more »
Health News
French Women Continue to Drink Alcohol While PregnantMore than half of women in France continue to drink alcohol during their pregnancies, according to a new French study. However, the researchers also found that most of these women are uninformed about the risks to their babies’ health. “Our results... Read more »
UK: Number of Drug Addicted Mums Doubles in 5 years!The number of babies born to drug addicted mothers has almost doubled in the last five years, it has been revealed. Last year there were 1,970 women who were addicted to drugs at the time of the birth, compared to 1,057 back in 2003. Of those 1,970 women... Read more »
Thin pregnant women at higher risk of severe vomitingWomen who are underweight when they become pregnant have an increased risk of severe, potentially dangerous nausea and vomiting, researchers said. Many women suffer morning sickness in the early months of pregnancy, but a small percentage have a condition... Read more »
Study: Low-Glycemic Diet Inconclusive in Preventing Gestational DiabetesOne of the more troubling threats to a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy is a metabolic disorder known as gestational diabetes mellitus. The condition affects an estimated 4 percent of mothers in the United States, and up to 14 percent worldwide. Pregnancy-related... Read more »