Dentist, Doctor, Optometrist, gynecologist.

[planetaryjim]

As my friend the oncologist, Dr. Doug Jackson (of e-gold.com) likes to say, "I don' know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!"

[KBCraig]

As my friend the oncologist, Dr. Doug Jackson (of e-gold.com) likes to say, "I don' know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!"

Our friend Ron Paul, the OB-GYN, knows a lot about birthin' babies. 

[Rochelle]

Hah, I'm not looking for an OB-GYN to birth babies, when it's time for that, I'm going with a midwife

Sorry, Ron Paul, here's one thing I do NOT want you doing.

[planetaryjim]

Midwifery is very wise.  Indeed, much ancient wisdom there, which is why the cabal of doctors tried to discredit midwives and get the state to make midwifery illegal.  Plus one karma for you, Rochelle!

[Rosie the Riveter]

Hah, I'm not looking for an OB-GYN to birth babies, when it's time for that, I'm going with a midwife

Sorry, Ron Paul, here's one thing I do NOT want you doing.

Right on -- I had tracey bowman from the birth cottage attend my home birth and she is wonderful, supportive and kind. Midwives are hands-down safer for normal low risk births than doctors and hospitals and they cost less too.

http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/midwives_doulas/catching-babies-newmexico.html

[planetaryjim]

Right on.  Plus, midwives would be less likely to rat out parents who chose not to get Socialist Insecurity Numbers for their children, or sought to avoid implanting chips when the state begins to demand that sort of thing. 

To me, the midwife represents the free market for health care services.  She is a source of knowledge and tradition, kindness, decency, and assistance.

[Rochelle]

I had tracey bowman from the birth cottage attend my home birth and she is wonderful, supportive and kind. Midwives are hands-down safer for normal low risk births than doctors and hospitals and they cost less too.

Yea, I wondered if you had a home birth considered that the birth cottage is in Milford--that seems a bit of a way to drive when one is in labor! I would rather give birth at home. My sister was a nurse in a hospital labor and delivery ward for a little while (she left becuase it was boring) and she used to always say how so and so tried to go natural, but it was just taking too long and she couldn't do it, and how another one had to have a c-section because nothing was happening (even if the baby wasn't showing distress signals) and the pelvis could have been too small.
It's sad though, you'd think I had said I was going to drink and smoke heavily during pregnancy when I mentioned to my family I preferred a home birth It's funny.

[John]

If I had thought of it at the time, I would have structured the title after this and it would have been 'Hamster! A Dentist!' but that wouldn't have made quite as much sense...

ROFL!

[Rosie the Riveter]

I had tracey bowman from the birth cottage attend my home birth and she is wonderful, supportive and kind. Midwives are hands-down safer for normal low risk births than doctors and hospitals and they cost less too.

Yea, I wondered if you had a home birth considered that the birth cottage is in Milford--that seems a bit of a way to drive when one is in labor! I would rather give birth at home. My sister was a nurse in a hospital labor and delivery ward for a little while (she left becuase it was boring) and she used to always say how so and so tried to go natural, but it was just taking too long and she couldn't do it, and how another one had to have a c-section because nothing was happening (even if the baby wasn't showing distress signals) and the pelvis could have been too small.
It's sad though, you'd think I had said I was going to drink and smoke heavily during pregnancy when I mentioned to my family I preferred a home birth It's funny.

My family reacted the same way -- I stood my ground, shared information with them and told them I was having a homebirth -- end of discussion.

Usually with a first birth women have plenty of time to stay home in early labor and drive somewhere, even 20 mins., when it starts to pick up. That said, I truly enjoyed the privacy and quiet of a homebirth for my third child. When you get to the point where you need to make the decision I'll be glad to point you in the direction of a lot of reliable information so that you can make your own informed choice.

[planetaryjim]

It's especially funny when you consider that 110 years ago, not having your child at home was regarded as dangerous.  Going to a hospital was something that pregnant mothers only did if there were an emergency, because hospitals were places of infection and death.  How times change.

Plus-ce que change, plus que le meme chose.

[cathleeninnh]

Not so much. They are still dangerous places. Loads and loads of illnesses and infections caught after admittance.

Cathleen

[Rochelle]

Not so much. They are still dangerous places. Loads and loads of illnesses and infections caught after admittance.

Yea, what I was going to say...

My family reacted the same way -- I stood my ground, shared information with them and told them I was having a homebirth -- end of discussion.

I chose the passive route and told them that seeing how I wasn't yet pregnant or going to be in the foreseeable future this wasn't relevant at the moment and refused to discuss it further They'll get over it I'm sure.

When you get to the point where you need to make the decision I'll be glad to point you in the direction of a lot of reliable information so that you can make your own informed choice.

Cool! Thanks

[cathleeninnh]

Being beyond childbearing a long time now, I am not in the know. The impression I get though is that natural or minimal interference births are not even as common as in my days. Every one of my peers hoped they wouldn't need drugs or surgery, and only a few did. The numbers today are staggering.

I got lucky. Number one was in a small town hospital with a GP and I got a shot a Demerol. Number two was a bit of a problem because it was a large city and a OB. Wanted to do everything under the sun to me. Luckily I was so fast, they didn't have time. By number three, I drove 30 miles to a birthing center. All they did was give me a bed and a steak dinner afterwards.  I should have been brave enough for home births, but never met a midwife. It was all so easy, I could have hired out.

Cathleen

[Rochelle]

It seems to be a matter of convenience nowadays, not to mention the fact it's easier to plan for your Family Medical Leave when you know the exact date you're getting induced and are going to have your c-section. Add to that the fact that most women feel like they're going to pop and want the DAMN THING OUT by the time they reach their 8 month (I'm quoting directly from my sister now ), the temptation is just too much. Rather selfish though

[Rosie the Riveter]

It seems to be a matter of convenience nowadays, not to mention the fact it's easier to plan for your Family Medical Leave when you know the exact date you're getting induced and are going to have your c-section. Add to that the fact that most women feel like they're going to pop and want the DAMN THING OUT by the time they reach their 8 month (I'm quoting directly from my sister now ), the temptation is just too much. Rather selfish though

It could be considered selfish b/c a woman may want the pregnancy over with whether the baby is fully cooked or not-- but from what I hear from my friends the recovery is so much more difficult with a c-section and I know from reading about c-sections that the operation is so much more dangerous than a natural birth. So.. is an elective c-section really a selfish choice? Maybe it's just a mis-informed choice because to be selfish I feel like there would have to be some benefit