I also want to add that I was thanking my lucky stars for being in a hospital with my 3rd baby. My first 2 children were born without a hitch – I was at a hospital, but only for about 2 hours for each of them, and didn’t even have an IV in…no drugs, born totally natural. With my 3rd, (also born naturally) if he was born at home or 100 years ago he would have been a stillborn and I would have also died. Every birth is different. You have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. IMO, being at home just puts risk on the baby if something happens and you can’t get to a hospital quick enough.

You can still give birth in a hospital and also be an active patient. If you have a good Dr. it’s definitely possible. Also, if you have a good Dr. you would NEVER give up your patient rights. And if you think your hospital is full of “sick people” find a new one. That is what being an active patient is!

I am right with you Angela, I am still there mentally a year later. For the lady who is putting it all in the hands of her medical staff needs to be ready then for a c/s. hospitals are for sick people. you should watch “the Business of being Born” produce by Ricki Lake. The hospitals and birth has changed drameticly and its b/c we give up all our patient rights to the doctor’s. We need to start standing for our rights as patients.

TeeTee,
You may want to consider your own health as well. To make a blanket statement such as “all that matters in the end” is your baby’s health not only discounts your physical and mental health, but is potentially setting you up for a rough post partum time if you are not ok for some reason but your baby is healthy.

Healthy babies are very important. I’m grateful every single moment of the day that my two girls are healthy, but I’m tired of the health of the baby being placed paramount to the the health of the Mama.

Physically or mentally unhealthy Mamas have a hard time taking care of babies, whether the baby is healthy or not. That is a fact. Take it from someone who has been there.

Congratulations to Laila and Curtis on this new arrival.

they often say easy pregnancy difficult birth. difficult birth easy baby. easy bith difficult baby.

Congrats to Laila and her husband!

I do think it’s interesting that she was so definite on having a natural homebirth and that she would breastfeed, when the truth is that you can make plans, but you never know what’s going to happen in childbirth and after. In my opinion, you need to keep your choices in mind, but go with whatever gives you the safest outcome. The important thing is to end up with a healthy baby and healthy mom–childbirth isn’t all about the mother, it’s about the baby, too. Obviously. I’m due in a week and a half with my first, and I’m hoping for a nice, easy birth in the hospital, but I have no idea how it’s going to go. However, I trust my medical team, and I’m sure it will all be fine. Just like Laila and Curtis.

I think what Sally C said was right on point. You have to be open minded about childbirth. None of us have control of when the baby decides to come nor how s/he gets here. To be staunchly against homebirth or a hospital birth is naive and selfish. Birth is really about the baby, not about us adults. I am due the first Monday in October and would like for my child to be born naturally, but anything can happen. I must be open-minded and just pray that my child is born HEALTHY. That’s all that matters in the end.

Congrats to Laila and family!

Cyndy-I totally agree. Hospitals are the place to go for medical emergencies! Thankfully, I had a successful homebirth and did not need any medical assistance. I know that’s not always the case, which is why hospitals are definitely a good thing for those that need (or want) them.

I’m all for natural births…but I think this is just is a perfect example of the fact that hospital births are not necessarily barbaric or impersonal….and if things don’t go according to plan, there is no better place to be.