Doctor Jailed for performing home birth

[mareng14]

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...me-births?bn=1

I felt this would be better off here than at CS. This sickens me. A woman's choice should be her own. As someone who would prefer a home birth, should I ever be blessed to get pregnant and it was medical feasible, I think other woman should be allowed the choice as well.

[HYHYBT]

from the article:

In Hungary, it is legal for women to give birth at home. But any medical professional who helps those women — such as midwives — can be criminally charged.

I really don't see any logical way to reconcile those. Does anyone happen to know (or know where to find) the rationale used in setting the law in such a way?

(Admittedly, it would be tough to outlaw home births, given that you would either have to make no exception for those who didn't have enough warning to get to a hospital, or else prove that they did.)

[crashhelmet]

from the article:I really don't see any logical way to reconcile those. Does anyone happen to know (or know where to find) the rationale used in setting the law in such a way?

(Admittedly, it would be tough to outlaw home births, given that you would either have to make no exception for those who didn't have enough warning to get to a hospital, or else prove that they did.)

The comment about Cesarean Births being common in the hospital make me think it's all about money.

[anakhouri]

That's bizarre. I know one person who did a home birth with a midwife in attendance. It does sound like it is all about the money. Otherwise why make it dangerous for a woman to do it at home?

I would never do a home birth myself (too paranoid, which proved wise as I ended up with am emergency situation and c-section on my hands) but if your pregnancy has been untroubled and your doctor/midwife says it's OK, go for it. But with a professional to talk you through it.

[fireheart17]

There's been a big hoo-ha down here as well about home births, especially after there was one case where someone died (not sure if it was the mother or the baby) and so on.

If it's a trouble-free pregnancy, then fine, I wouldn't stop someone from having a home birth. In my case, I would rather be comfortable in a hospital giving birth, should something ever happen. As long as they are getting scans and visiting their OB/GYN regularly, then it should be a viable option.

[SkullKing]

from the article:I really don't see any logical way to reconcile those. Does anyone happen to know (or know where to find) the rationale used in setting the law in such a way?

It could be that it comes from the idea that hospital births are much less dangerous than home births. And while your average woman might think a homebirth is better, a medical professional should know better, and not encourage a "dangerous" practice by his patients

Not that I agree, but I can see how it can make sense.

[gremcint]

If home births were outright illegal then every woman that can't get to the hospital in time would have to be arrested but having a doctor present suggests premeditation.

[BlaqueKatt]

It could be that it comes from the idea that hospital births are much less dangerous than home births.

and idea is all it is

home births with midwife as safe as hospital births

But there is a definite "establishment" bias against home births. And the issue is an emotionally charged one, she said.

"There is a political and economic issue about controlling where birth happens, but also a deep belief by physicians that it's not safe to have your baby at home," Greenfield said. "Doctors see every home-birth patient who had a complication, but we don't see the ones that have these beautiful, fabulous babies at home who may breast-feed better or have less hospital-acquired infections. There may be medical benefits," she added.

remember belief= acceptance of, or confidence in, an alleged fact or body of facts as true or right without positive knowledge or proof.


risks of home vs hospital study

[Anthony K. S.]

In Hungary, it is legal for women to give birth at home. But any medical professional who helps those women — such as midwives — can be criminally charged.

That reminds me of the way that some anti-abortion politicians will readily talk about prosecuting (if they could) the doctors who perform abortions, but not their patients.

No politician wants to be known as "that guy who wanted to throw pregnant women in jail."

But prosecuting doctors carries a lot less risk of losing votes, so that's where they aim.

[HYHYBT]

There's been a big hoo-ha down here as well about home births...

You'd think a big hoo-ha would make the births easier...

The comment about Cesarean Births being common in the hospital make me think it's all about money.

It would have made me think the same, except that the whole tone of the article struck me as being for the purpose, not of spreading information, but primarily of generating sympathy and anger. I don't trust articles like that to be accurate, much less fair, in their insinuations (such as the line about frequent Caesarians) unless it's a site I know well. Frequent compared to what, and according to whom? I agree already that trained attendants should be allowed at home births, and the more trained the better. An actual obstetrician would be great. But I also know that some people get... overzealous, let's say, about their preferred method and location for giving birth and its benefits (real or imagined) as well as the horrors (likewise) of options they're especially averse to.

Really, of course, that goes for a lot of other things besides. But this reads more like a fundraising letter than a news article, and I don't trust that.

[Andara Bledin]

Actually, due to a different thread on here a while back, I did a bit of research, and C-sections are awfully common in hospital births, and often as a matter of convenience for the doctors and staff rather than any issue of health or safety for the mother and child.

^-.-^

[fireheart17]

You'd think a big hoo-ha would make the births easier...

Har de har har. >.>

Actually, due to a different thread on here a while back, I did a bit of research, and C-sections are awfully common in hospital births, and often as a matter of convenience for the doctors and staff rather than any issue of health or safety for the mother and child.

^-.-^

I was thinking more induced labor just to "speed" things up.

Mum had a planned C-section with my sister and needed one with me because I was a stubborn little breech brat who couldn't be turned

But out of the list of people I know who have children....

-My cousin was induced for god-knows-what reason (she was interstate at the time)
-My 3rd cousin was vaginal for both of her boys, although very carefully monitored for both (there was an issue with her pregnancy)
-A friend of mine was vaginal and just went straight up with the epidural so she wasn't swearing or anything while she was pushing him out (her words)
-A girl I know was possibly induced, not necessarily C-section.
-The first C-section story I encountered was a friend of mine who now has a nearly 2-year-old girl and was very overdue (she was initially induced)
-Second C-section story involved a girl I knew from school who was also overdue by about a week, then wound up being induced, but complications arose and she ended up having a C-section.

I will say it though, all the babies are absolutely GORGEOUS

From what I gather, I suspect that those people got lucky and had decent OB-GYNs (my local clinic also has a service set up where a couple of the doctors liaise with the hospital so if you can't get to the hospital for an appointment, you can go to the clinic)

[tropicsgoddess]

Years ago, didn't most births happen at home? I think it's more on the money why this midwife was hunted down for helping mothers give birth at home to their babies. She was a TRAINED professional. It's not like she's some hack off the street with no licensing and/or certification helping out with home births.

[telecom_goddess]

Wow...When I had my first daughter I had her at home. The Naturopath I was going to had that as an option and I picked it because it was cheaper to do for one...as I had no insurance at the time. But I also had no issues that couldn't be handled. My daughter even had the cord wrapped around her neck and it ended up fine. The other two I had at a hospital because then I had state insurance and it was my only option at that time.

[HYHYBT]

Years ago, didn't most births happen at home?

Yes, but remember that the death rates were much higher then, too, both for giving birth and being born.