Evidence points to safety of home birth

[CTRedSoxMom]

http://www.obgmanagement.com/article_pages.asp?AID=8119&UID=

“DOES HOME BIRTH EMPOWER WOMEN, OR IMPERIL THEM AND THEIR BABIES?” ERIN E. TRACY, MD, MPH (AUGUST)

As experts in “normal” birth and home birth, we are concerned about the disregard for fact and evidence that is apparent in Dr. Tracy’s article, and we feel it is our duty to clarify the incorrect statements, offering published scientific evidence to back up our assertions.

We would like to make three main points:

1. Important data were overlooked
   Numerous scientific articles published over the past 20 years have documented the safety of home birth. One of the most notable scientific articles on the subject was authored by de Jonge and colleagues.¹ It includes retrospective data on more than 500,000 women and found no difference in the rate of perinatal mortality or morbidity between planned home birth and planned hospital birth.

   In addition, a study by Johnson and Daviss analyzed prospective data from 5,418 women who expected to deliver at home under the care of a Certified Professional Midwife.² The results: Planned home birth for low-risk women in North America was associated with a lower rate of medical intervention than conventional care (low-risk women in hospitals) but similar rates of intrapartum and neonatal mortality.

2. CPM credential requires testing, training
   In regard to the training required to attain the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) designation, it is necessary to pass a professional licensing exam in addition to undergoing training and credentialing to offer expert and evidence-based out-of-hospital care. The CPM credential requires the midwife to master clinical and didactic skills, demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge and skills, and perform competently under supervision.

   CPM certification is renewed every 3 years, and all CPMs must obtain continuing education and participate in peer review. The CPM credential meets the standards established for educational testing required by the American Education Research Association and the National Council on Measurement of Education. The CPM is credentialed through the North American Registry of Midwives and is accredited through the National Association of Certifying Agencies. The latter promotes excellence in competency for practitioners, including the Certified Nurse Midwife.

3. ACOG should work for women’s empowerment, too
   Dr. Tracy says that women who choose home birth “because of impassioned rhetoric about empowerment and choice may be deeply disappointed if it goes awry and transfer to the hospital is needed.” According to Johnson and Daviss,² only 12% of women who planned a home birth had to be transferred to a hospital. This leaves 88% of women impassioned and empowered by their safe choice. It also is worth noting that women who transfer to the hospital from a planned home birth in the United States often face a hostile reception from hospital personnel.^3,4 Perhaps their disappointment emerges from this disrespectful treatment. We are also curious as to why empowerment and choice are not considered indicators of quality of care for a professional organization—ACOG—that works to “serve as a strong advocate for quality health care for women.”

   We urge Dr. Tracy, as a member of ACOG’s Working Group on Midwifery, to review the current scientific research on home birth and professional midwifery to better understand the safety of home birth and the reasons “home birth isn’t going away.”

Geradine Simkins, RN, CNM, MSN
Maria Iorillo, CPM
Christy Tashjian, CPM
Angy Nixon, CNM, MSN
Audra Phillips, CPM
Pam Dyer Stewart, CPM
Regina Willette, CM
Tamara Taitt, DEM, PhDc
Sherry DeVries, CPM, CNM
Elizabeth Moore, CPM
Colleen Donovan-Batson, CNM
Dinah Warranch, CNM
Cristina Alonso, DEM
Michelle Peixnho, CPM
Midwives Alliance of North America

Follow the link for Dr. Tracy’s response.

References

1. de Jonge A,van der Goes BY,Ravelli ACJ, et al. Perinatal mortality and morbidity in a nationwide cohort of 529,688 low-risk planned home and hospital births. BJOG. 2009;116:1177–1184.

2. Johnson KC,Daviss BA. Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. BMJ. 2005;330:1416.

3. Cheyney M,Everson C. Narratives of risk: speaking across the hospital/homebirth divide. Anthropology News. 2009;50(3):7–8.

4. Davis-Floyd R. Home-birth emergencies in the US and Mexico: the trouble with transport. Social Science & Medicine. 2009;56(9):1911–1931.

[southernjess3]

aren't you the one that posted about how dangerous inductions are?? Are you trying to get everyone to birth the way you do?? I'm not in a mean tone..I'm just wondering why you keep posting "the best" birthing techniques, and saying some are wrong and dangerous..

[ToriBabe1221]

thanks for posting!

so many people are uneducated and just follow the 'norm'

[CTRedSoxMom]

Um, I have had 2 c-sections.

Nor am I posting anything about the "best" anything. Just information, articles, and things I come across.

Quoting southernjess3:

aren't you the one that posted about how dangerous inductions are?? Are you trying to get everyone to birth the way you do?? I'm not in a mean tone..I'm just wondering why you keep posting "the best" birthing techniques, and saying some are wrong and dangerous..

[southernjess3]

but it seems that it is in a way bashing the birthing methods some choose to do..thats not very nice..i can understand about this homebirth one..but the one saying that inductions were very harmful??...Thats gonna make some moms feel really bad..

Quoting CTRedSoxMom:

Um, I have had 2 c-sections.

Nor am I posting anything about the "best" anything. Just information, articles, and things I come across.

Quoting southernjess3:

aren't you the one that posted about how dangerous inductions are?? Are you trying to get everyone to birth the way you do?? I'm not in a mean tone..I'm just wondering why you keep posting "the best" birthing techniques, and saying some are wrong and dangerous..

[CTRedSoxMom]

I am not bashing anyone, I am providing information to help educate the women here, nothing more and nothing less. If you do not want to read these things, then don't click on them. It is nothing I am writing, these are all articles from other places.

I have never said inductions are harmful either, so I would appreciate if you do not put words in my mouth also.

Also, if simple facts make people feel bad, that sucks, but I am not sorry about it. A lot of people on this site say things that come off as hurtful to myself and other mothers here, but you don't see me pitching a fit everytime someone does. It is life. I have big girl panties and I can deal with it.

Quoting southernjess3:

but it seems that it is in a way bashing the birthing methods some choose to do..thats not very nice..i can understand about this homebirth one..but the one saying that inductions were very harmful??...Thats gonna make some moms feel really bad..

[serioussifL]

Good information, but I still prefer a medicated hospital birth. Bump for those who can use this info!

[CTRedSoxMom]

That is the joy of having choices!   :)
While it may not be for you, the next person may use it which is why I post it. 

Quoting serioussifL:

Good information, but I still prefer a medicated hospital birth. Bump for those who can use this info!

[MommySteph06]

Hoping for a homebirth with baby #4...whenever we decide to add a fourth. LOL   :)

The book "Pushed" by Jennifer Block is a good one for anyone to read who wants true, referenced information about maternity care in America today. It's not a homebirth book necessarily, but a book that opens your eyes about how screwed up lots of OBs are.

[Scribble]

It's a simple article educating people on another method of birthing that has been demonized and isn't well known. If that makes you feel bad about the birth you chose for yourself and your child, then there are obviously some issues that were there before CTRRedSoxMom posted this article.

Thanks for another wonderful article!CTRRedSoxMom

Quoting southernjess3:

but it seems that it is in a way bashing the birthing methods some choose to do..thats not very nice..i can understand about this homebirth one..but the one saying that inductions were very harmful??...Thats gonna make some moms feel really bad..

Quoting CTRedSoxMom:

Um, I have had 2 c-sections.

Nor am I posting anything about the "best" anything. Just information, articles, and things I come across.

Quoting southernjess3:

aren't you the one that posted about how dangerous inductions are?? Are you trying to get everyone to birth the way you do?? I'm not in a mean tone..I'm just wondering why you keep posting "the best" birthing techniques, and saying some are wrong and dangerous..

 

[DixieFlower]

I personally like your posts. From what I've read they are truely just informative. A lot of women do not know this information or what options they have. Heck, my son is only 9 months old and  I'm already trying to figure out how to have the birth I want next time. My job and how my DH responds to stressful situations somewhat limits my options but we shall see.