re: unassisted childbirth

If I thought I could do it safely, I would be all about it. It would require great prenatel care though.

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ If I thought I could do it safely, I would be all about it. It would require great prenatel care though.”

it definatly takes some planning and alot of researching. With my midwife, she is there for guidance.. and to check in every so often, but thats about it. So, whose to say a woman and her spouse could not deliver their 2nd baby on their own?

Quoting PenutHeadJo:“ it definatly takes some planning and alot of researching. With my midwife, she is there for guidance.. ... [snip!] ... in every so often, but thats about it. So, whose to say a woman and her spouse could not deliver their 2nd baby on their own?”

I don't think anyone is to say. I think a medical professional should be present though. Like I said, if I thought I could, I would. I can't though.

even if a midwife was in the next room and only came to help if needed would be such a better idea.
one woman had NO medical check-ups at all in the whole pregnancy she was going to wal-mart to check her blood pressure  

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ I don't think anyone is to say. I think a medical professional should be present though. Like I said, if I thought I could, I would. I can't though.”

but why should a medical professional be there? I am trying to understand why someone HAS TO BE there, if the pregnancy has been healthy and the baby is not breeched? Help me to understand your view, pleeease?  

I guess I know so many women who have done it unassisted and have been 100% okay and healthy with their babies that I think its fine for the mother to do.. 

Quoting PenutHeadJo:“ but why should a medical professional be there? I am trying to understand why someone HAS TO BE there, ... [snip!] ... who have done it unassisted and have been 100% okay and healthy with their babies that I think its fine for the mother to do..”

If the child is born not breathing, or with an unexpected condition...what are you going to do? The few minutes it takes for help to arrive could be the difference between life and death.

i would never do it...i think its a completely unnecessary risk to the babies health, how would you know if somethings wrong!?

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ If the child is born not breathing, or with an unexpected condition...what are you going to do? The few minutes it takes for help to arrive could be the difference between life and death.”

I guess those are some things, but I am sure a midwife or a mother who has done this before can explain what they would do if it did happen. 

Logically, I would think CPR and a oxygen tank may be a good idea to have with you when doing it unassisted. but I do not know for sure.

Its not like you have the baby and no one checks on it.. you do take it to a doctor to make sure everything is great with it, just like you would with a midwife.

Quoting PenutHeadJo:“ I guess those are some things, but I am sure a midwife or a mother who has done this before can explain ... [snip!] ... no one checks on it.. you do take it to a doctor to make sure everything is great with it, just like you would with a midwife.”

Well yeah, you take it to get checked after it's born...when everything is ok! You never know what is going to happen. What if the baby has shoulder dystocia and becomes lodged in the birth canal? What if labor has gone on for several hours and the baby's cord is being compressed? How would you know? How can you tell if your baby is distressed if you have no medical help? It just seems far too risky to me. I'm all for home births, but I think you should be responsible about it as well.

Quoting PenutHeadJo:“ I guess those are some things, but I am sure a midwife or a mother who has done this before can explain ... [snip!] ... no one checks on it.. you do take it to a doctor to make sure everything is great with it, just like you would with a midwife.”

it scares the hell out of me to think my doctor wouldn't be around...i watch so much discovery health..

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ Well yeah, you take it to get checked after it's born...when everything is ok! You never know what ... [snip!] ... help? It just seems far too risky to me. I'm all for home births, but I think you should be responsible about it as well.”

It trues that you never know.. but so many women have done it.. Maybe they just got lucky? 

Quoting PenutHeadJo:“ It trues that you never know.. but so many women have done it.. Maybe they just got lucky? ”

http://community.livejournal.com/unassistedbirth/414864

this woman had her baby unassisted, saw a midwife up till delivery, and after delivering the baby, got ahold of her midwife and get checked out.

It's just one story though.

Quoting PenutHeadJo:“ http://community.livejournal.com/unassistedbirth/414864 this woman had her baby unassisted, saw a midwife ... [snip!] ... up till delivery, and after delivering the baby, got ahold of her midwife and get checked out. It's just one story though.”

I have no doubt that people do it all the time. That doesn't mean everyone will have a safe and happy ending.

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ I have no doubt that people do it all the time. That doesn't mean everyone will have a safe and happy ending.”

true, but we don't hear the sad endings.. I like to think happily about every experience..

Quoting PenutHeadJo:“ true, but we don't hear the sad endings.. I like to think happily about every experience..”

Well before technological advancements, before health care and hospitals, all births were in the home. Some were assisted and some weren't. But we know, for a fact, that the mortality rate for both mother and child was extremely high. Thinking happily won't make the experience so. You have to use some logic as well.