What if Something Goes Wrong?

I'm going to point out here that something could go wrong in ANY pregnancy and birth scenario, whether you're low or high risk, a hospital or home birth. You're "expecting", nothing is for sure, and that element of pregnancy is scary! Pregnancy is a 9-month long prayer. 

 This is the first question that people ask: "What if something goes wrong?"  It's the first question I asked a good friend who was having a home birth (before I began having my own at home).  What if something goes wrong? I'm going to quote my friend Sarah, because her explanation is perfect and accurate then I'll share a few statistics:

"The vast majority of birth emergencies have some notice - meconium when the water breaks, baby's heart rate doesn't recover after contractions, baby's not descending properly. That's why it is very important to have an experienced midwife present at the birth to spot when things are going wrong and transfer to the hospital. In respect to a vbac birth, even the dreaded uterine rupture doesn't happen without signs occurring first that a competent midwife would notice and get you transferred to the hospital. Some emergencies have no notice - cord prolapse is one of the very few. But in that case the procedure is the same - turn over on all fours to take pressure off of the cord and have a c-section NOW. If you're at home, your midwife calls, they prep the surgery room while you're in route, and oftentimes surgery can occur as quickly as if you were at the hospital to begin with. I've had 6 homebirths and loved them all, but I truly believe that women should have their babies wherever they feel safest. It is so important that a laboring woman feel safe, cared for, and protected so that she can do the important work of birthing her baby. For many women, that location is the hospital. For me, it was home."

If for you, like Sarah, that safe place is at home, science says it's a-okay. Studies have consistently demonstrated that home birth is a good option.  The bottom line of these studies is that women have fewer interventions at home without an increased risk to mother or baby (see here and here for where I got my info: peer, reviewed, scientific research. These were large studies conducted with sound methods).  

I want to point out that these studies don't say that home-born babies are healthier than hospital-born babies, more successful, richer, or more likely to find a cure for cancer.  Some hard-core homebirthers will throw these types of things at you, but they are a) ridiculous and b) not backed by research. Home born babies do not have some sort of "organic" advantage that will enable them to get into Yale, be President, or save the world.  Studies show the outcomes for hospital and home births are the SAME. The means to that end is what differs: less interventions, my friend. 

A few stats:

12.1% transfer to hospital rate (for various reasons, including to simply get an epidural)

C-section rate: 5.2 % (compare with 31% , which is the current U.S. National Avg for full-term pregnancies)

Only 1% of babies required transport to hospital after birth

The conclusion: "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."  

What the heck does that mean? It means that home birth with qualified midwives has less interventions with the SAME outcomes as hospital births. Meaning mom and baby are just as likely to be healthy and happy after a delivery at home as at the hospital.  It also means that our bodies are more awesome and capable than we give them credit for. And that a good midwife is well worth her fee!

These studies tell me and you that I'm not putting myself or my baby at any increased risks by choosing to have my baby at home, and that's really why I'm writing this blog.  I want people to know that it's not a crazy idea. In fact, it's is a very valid option for many women.  Including me.