Birthing at Home
(Page 3 of 4)
That's right. It's safer to have a baby in England, Sweden,
the Netherlands and about ten other countries where normal
deliveries at home are considered "standard", than it is to
have a baby here in the United States where intricate and
almost-mechanized deliveries are rapidly becoming the norm.
To put it another way: complications during birth can and
do take place . . . but not nearly as often as the Nervous
Nellies would like us to believe.
RELATED CONTENT
THERE IS NO LAW STATING THAT BABIES MUST BE BORN IN
HOSPITALS. Don't let anyone con you into thinking there is.
Such a law would be unconstitutional. Home is a groovy
place to give birth and having a baby there minimizes the
trauma for all family members, especially other children.
After much thought and five babies of my own I've come to
feel that I much prefer the joy, sense of oneness with
husband and baby and the risks of home delivery to
the "maybe safe" alternative of the cold, de-humanized,
antiseptic and unsatisfactory delivery increasingly offered
by the medical profession. After all, it's not MY fault for
desiring a good experience . . . it's THEIRS for not
offering one.
Thank God that a few wonderful hospitals and doctors are
now waking up to the growing need for more awareness of the
vital human values inherent in the birth experience. These
enlightened souls are actually trying to provide hospital
safety without sacrificing human warmth and, in some
countries, mobile emergency maternity units—that
contain all the equipment which might be needed and that
are parked outside the home during delivery—have been
built. This trend should be encouraged and, I'm sure, will
develop in response to people's demands. You can help this
"liberation movement" by writing letters to hospitals,
doctors, departments of health and newspapers presenting
your views.
So kiddies, to sum up ole Gran's advice: If you intend to
have a baby at home, study and prepare and have all
necessary supplies ready beforehand. If you have to visit
every doctor within 50 miles to find one you dig and that
digs natural childbirth, do so. If you can't find such a
doctor, at least keep on going to the best one you can
find for your regular checkups and hunt up someone who
can train you, your husband and a close friend in one of
the good (such as Lamaze) delivery techniques.
If you're a longhair, ward off any showdown with the Public
Health people right in front by keeping your pad
scrupulously clean and by complying with the laws regarding
birth certificates.
