Feb

2012

Home Birth

I had my first four children in the hospital. Isaiah was our first attempt at home birth, and we have opted for it ever since.

Our midwife was interviewed on television (no doubt, by the very same person who did the two-minute video on our family two weeks ago). The clip above I believe gave a fair depiction of the viable option that many moms are considering nowadays.

The final words from the OB/GYN don’t surprise me. Doctors are naturally skeptical of most anything alternative. But her final assumption was interesting. “Are you willing to take the risk [to home birth].” Chris laughed when she said that and responded, “We’re not willing to take the risk going to the hospital!” Jessica’s point about the assumption that hospitals are sterile environments is one that mothers should consider.

What do you think about home birth? I’m curious to hear from you. Please comment below.

About Wendy Jeub

Yes, Wendy Jeub has brought 16 children into the world, and loves each and every one of them. So much so, she'd welcome more!

Susan

I had my first three in the hospital … and the last two were home births. I had very short (1- 4 hour labors and so it was much less hectic for me to relax at home instead of rushing off to the hospital. I had an awesome midwife. My babies were born in Ontario, Canada where we have the choice to use a midwife at home or even in the hospital and still be covered by our provincial health coverage. I loved birthing at home where my older children and even a few friends could be part of things and where no one took my baby away to a nursery … the midwife came back for home visits over the first few days too.
Rizzi1009

my first 4 were hospital births, which were not great experiences. Had my 5th at home in 45 mins and it was wonderful! My midwifes in Florida were great!
Anna Mary

I have had 7 hospital births. I have not had horrible hospital experiences. I have a Dr. who understands my desire for a non-medicated birth and he does whatever he can to assist me with that.
In my state midwifery is illegal. So I would have to use either a midwife that is not licensed or my husband and I would have to have an unassisted birth. My husband is not comfortable with either scenario.
I think home birthing is great but I would not say it is for everyone.
For those who choose the hospital, remember when having a baby you are not sick, you do not need to feel like a victim, you have a voice. Advocate for yourself.
Mjohnandsarah

My husband and I didn’t feel it was an option for us (we had had some complications with some of our 8 kids) but we did use midwives in the hospital and tried for as close to a home birth in the hospital as you could get.

On the other hand, my oldest daughter says that some day when she has kids, she wants homebirths because the smell of the hospital or doctor’s office makes her pass out (which is true, I’ve seen her do it). Don’t know how that will play out in the future, but I think it’s interesting that her generation sees it as a common option.Sarah M. in Michigan
T. Gates

I’ve all five of ours in the hospital. The thought of a home birth scares me, especially being two hours away from the nearest hospital with a good OB unit and the nearest hospital in general is 30 minutes away . If something went wrong I would not have time to get the help that I need. I had my last baby 15 min. after arriving at the hospital and it has been my only natural delivery. Awesome experience, and I wouldn’t say that I wouldn’t do it agian!
Susan

Yes, midwives here (Ontario) are regulated and you have to be screened for certain problems by an OB or be transfered back if there are certain complications during labor. I thought it was a good system. I heard first hand stories from a woman at my church (at the time) who attempted home births in the U.S. after serious complications (had first baby at 20, then in late 30′s an almost fatal car crash with broken pelvis, etc then two babies a year and two years later) Both times after 2 days of labor they had to be rushed to the hospital and almost died. I am not a fan of homebirth at any cost. But for those of us who have normal uncomplicated births it’s probably safer than being in a bacteria filled hospital where medical people try to do unnecessary things to mom and baby.
backwoodsmama

I’ve had all 6 of our babies at home. We chose home because for us, it was the safest and BEST alternative. 98% of woman are able to birth SAFELY at home and many so called complications are actually caused by intervention that happens during a hospital labor and delivery. If complications do arise during a home birth, a knowledgeable midwife can handle just about anything. I have to chuckle when folks say I am BRAVE for having home births, I say they are the BRAVE ones for birthing in a hospital.:-) So thankful the home births the Lord blessed our family with!
Anonymous

I felt like I wanted a homebirth with our first, but decided to have a hospital birth–”just in case something went wrong”– thinking that if everthing went well, I’d have a homebirth the next time. Well–thanks to my doctor’s vacation schedule, and his love of inductions, EVERYTHING went wrong, and I ended up with an emergency C-Section after 25 hours of horrific pitocin labor, and a child stuck in the birth canal, crowned, for at least 6 hours–the doctor couldn’t get to us to help any earlier because he had induced EIGHT patients at once, and had eight others come in the hospital later in active labor. We were blessed that our son survived his horrible birth.

Children 2-5 were hospital induced VBAC’s with another OB–I didn’t think a midwife would take me after a C-Section. Child 2 was born before the doctor arrived. Child 3 was a horrid labor–practically tied to the bed, with the nurse on duty angry every time I needed to go to the bathroom. Child 4′s head was born right before the doctor came in the room, he walked in, panicked, started pulling on her head and broke her collar bone. Child 5′s head was delivered by my husband, the nurse ”football blocked” him out of the way and let the poor baby fall on the bed, because “It’s illegal for anyone but the doctor to catch a baby”. Thank the good Lord I wasn’t in the stirrups yet! However, she was so bruised that she developed severe jaundice that almost killed her.

With child 6, our local hospitals had decided VBACs were too risky, and even though I had birthed 4 naturally after my C-section, I would have to have a C-section. A friend of ours had birthed 9 at home, and put me in touch with her midwife. It was the BEST move we ever made.

Childre 6-8 were homebirths! We cannot imagine going back to a hospital to birth another one. My husband is always telling everyone that hospitals cause way more problems for laboring moms than they fix! My homebirths have been peaceful, and actually enjoyable. We have had them all in the birthing tub. Child 6′s labor was long–he was 9 lbs 7 oz. But the long labor was manageable in the comfort of my own home. Child 7 was born in less than 45 minutes. Child 8′s labor was about an hour, with my oldest daughter helping my husband and midwife take care of me and the baby.

I pray that if God blesses us with more, they can be born at home, as well. My daughters already tell people that they want to have their babies at home.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Amazing story.

Anonymous

I’ve had four hospital births and while it isn’t perfect, I have let my wishes be known loud and clear and have had four unmedicated natural deliveries. I really think the key is getting an OB who you feel comfortable with and doesn’t have an issue with how you want to deliver. I would have no problem with delivering at a midwifery center like they have in CA but, for me, a home delivery is just too risky. While the majority of the time nothing goes wrong, if something does my baby is at least 20 minutes away from a hospital. I don’t think I could live with myself if that very small probability of something going very wrong happened to us.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=799259836 Amy Woolley Pederson

My first babies (twins) were delivered in a hospital and were 3 months premature (just 2 1/2 lbs each). If not for the amazing doctors and nurses in the NICU, my babies would not have made it. My third child was delivered in the same hospital with our family practice doctor. For the delivery of our 4th and 5th, we were in a new city and we tried a different hospital with each. I became more and more unhappy with the whole hospital process with each birth. I didn’t want an I.V., I didn’t want to be on the monitors, I didn’t want any drugs, I didn’t want them to cut the cord and whisk the baby away, I wanted the baby to stay in the room with me and each of these requests caused a wrench to be thrown into the well oiled birthing machines at each hospital. So when we found out we were pregnant with baby #6, we had already counted out birthing at the two hospitals in town. We had tried one with an OB/GYN, one with a certified midwife in the hospital and it just wasn’t for us. I just wanted to be left alone to birth in peace without all of their interventions.

I was hung up on home births for a few reasons. #1 the mess, #2 “what if?” #3 home birthing people were just weird. (I chuckle at #3 because I really wasn’t ready to cross the threshold yet to being “one of those women”.) I only knew two ladies who had ever tried a home birth before and all of my hang ups were out of ignorance. I asked around our home school group and as it turned out, many “normal” women had used a fabulous midwife in the area. (That blew my excuse #3.) I gave the midwife a call and after meeting with her and asking her questions, we decided to give a home birth a try. It was one of the best decisions we ever made.

I have gone on to have 7 children at home, 3 in the water, and one very quickly in our van. I will say that if you don’t feel comfortable having a home birth, then don’t. You need to be completely relaxed wherever you are. After my first home birth I realized my excuses were just that, hang ups that were irrational and out of ignorance. Clean up after my first birth took all of 10 minutes, my midwife started a load of laundry for me, whipped me up some food and that was that. I was shocked! I thought for sure there would be blood splattered all over the room, that we would be up to our ankles in water and muck. No such thing. I have never had more than 10 minutes of clean up with any birth.

As for the hospital, I didn’t like them coming in to my room in the middle of the night, turning the lights on, waking me up, waking the baby up and taking vitals, taking blood, filling water, rolling the baby over or whatever other emergency necessitated waking up a newborn and her very sleepy mother. To me it showed a lack of compassion and common sense and a higher commitment to procedure than to patients. It just isn’t for me.

All that being said, I truly believe that hospitals are a God send when they are necessary. Again, if not for the fabulous staff my oldest two children would not be alive. If I need it, I know the hospital is there. But normal childbirth is not a sickness, it is not a disease and does not need to be treated. I appreciate the other posts that remind us all that being in a hospital is not always safer. Sometimes it puts women and children at risk unnecessarily.

What frustrates me are the women that are lied to by doctors and staff. “The Business of Being Born” is a fabulous documentary that sheds light on a lot of subjects. If you are going to birth in a hospital, be informed. If you are going to birth at home, be informed. Don’t swallow what anyone is trying to sell you. Educate yourself.

Babies are so very precious. The choice of where to birth is so very personal. No matter what side you find yourself, we all have the same goal ~ a new baby to hold. No matter how or where they are born they are a blessing.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Thank you so much for detailing your birth stories for us. You are very encouraging to not only me but to many women.

Sdrettigs

I am expecting our 11th. Our last 3 were c-sections. I have a much better chance for a VBAC staying home than going into a hospital where 1 in 3 (or higher-depending on hospital) are cut out from mom. We live in SD where CPM’s are ‘illegal’. The medical monopoly has such a stronghold on politics in a small population state.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Thank you for posting. It really is absolutely unbelievable that SD is
still that far behind! How can one state be so out of step? When I moved
to CO I was pretty amazed to see that right in the Yellow pages
midwives had their own ads offering so many options to couples! They
offer water-birth to massage. Have you seen the documentary “The
business of Being Born”? So good! What an eye opener.

http://www.facebook.com/melisaholloman Melisa Holloman

South Dakota is actually ahead of states that allow CPMs. The US is the only first world country that legally allows midwives to practice without getting a college degree, thank God.

Nora

we are homebirthed our 8 in NE,, We are fighting the law on this too and we dont give out Midwives names here. Currently trying to get some legislation through. I transfered In by ambulance this last time after a hemmorage, and we are careful not to give out information,, Lots of prayer for these 2 states.

Veyna165

I thought about home birth with my last (#5) because I had just finished paying off #4 and I didn’t want to rack up another hospital bill. My delivery was a breeze and I know now I could have done it. A home birth for me would have to be unassisted because there is not a midwife in my town. My husband thinks birth is kinda gross, so relying on him to help me deliver wouldn’t work so well. The best part of hospital birth for me is actually getting a chance to recover for a couple days. The worst part is those beds get so uncomfortable! My births are ultimately in Gods hands and I really don’t believe one is better or safer than the other, it just depends on your circumstances. I don’t judge for birthing choices whether it be unassisted home birth to elected c-section, at the end of the day they have to live with their choice and the outcome.
Sargent

I’ve had 9 hospital births (at 3 different hospitals) and 1 home birth. The first 5 births (at hospitals), the doctors were way too invasive, the nurses pushy, and all that. Yuck. I home-birthed next time, and it was so much more relaxed in many ways, but I didn’t fall in love with it. I realized what I really wanted was a hospital birth at a hospital I liked, with an OB who really listened. It took me a while, but I found pretty much that. Our newer hospital has fabulous nurses who leave you alone and yet really spoil you. My OB listened and took time to work with me on things. I have been through all the pitocin, all the feeling like just another pregnant lady, all the ‘hurry up and get this over with’ stuff. It stinks. But, I really like delivering in a hospital. I am happy that we found something that blesses us all around.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

I am very glad that you are getting to do what you feel comfortable with. I am so glad that you took the time to find a dr who would listen to you. I really do think we should have the option of seeking out what we are comfortable with.

Marie

My first two were hospital births. With the first one, after laboring for 12 hours, my water broke and my contractions started coming faster. My husband and I headed to the hospital, where my labor stalled. Even though I had a nurse-midwife to deliver me there, they made me feel like I was hogging one of the two birthing rooms. That certainly didn’t get me comfortable there! Finally, after several hours of being offered every intervention, my labor got going. My second birth was going to cost $98 to have in the hospital, and over $800 to have at home. My husband made the decision for us to go back to the hospital. I unbecomingly whined and complained for about 7 months of my pregnancy. Again, after 7 hours of labor at home, we got in the car, I got to the hospital and my labor stalled. But this time, I wasn’t hogging the labor room, and even though I had a mid-wife to deliver me, there was a Doctor who kept trying to pull rank on the midwife. At one point, while my mid-wife was on rounds, the Doctor said she wanted to “check me for progress”. Well, while she was “checking me”, she broke the water, which put me in a high risk category because my baby’s head wasn’t engaged yet. That Doctor confined me to having to lay on one side for about 6 hours. Talk about not being able to manage the pain! And now I was labeled “high risk”, ripe for any intervention. Fortunately, our delivery went unscathed, but then after I was put in my room to rest, and my husband went to pick up my little boy, I fell asleep with the baby in the bassinet next to my bed. My husband got back to us and asked, “Where is the baby?” And I said I didn’t know. He went to the nursery where they were feeding her a bottle. My husband exclaimed, “That is a breastfed baby! Take her to her mother!” The nurses replied that her temperature was 97.6 and they needed to warm her up. My husband replied, “Well, her mother’s natural temperature is 97.6, my natural temperature is 97.9. And furthermore, if you want her to warm up, she should have skin to skin with her mother!” After having to fight the fight in the hospital, we had the remaining 3 at home. The labors ranged between 6 and 9 hours, because I never stopped. And number 5 was born in the bathtub.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Thank you for posting this story. It is so good.

Valerie

I think home birth is an ideal way to bring the blessing of a new life into the world, but certainly not the only way (not that I think you’re saying it is! I just know how fired up women can get on this topic!).

My story: I had five hospital births…the last one was a scheduled c-section because my OB/GYN wouldn’t attempt a version on a baby who was breech and estimated to be 10 1/2 to 11 lbs via ultrasound. I disagreed with her (having given birth to four large-ish sized babies, ranging from 8 lbs 5 oz to 9 lbs 8 oz at that point…all of whom who had been breech but either turned on their own or were manually turned through an external cephalic version and delivered vaginally), but ultimately felt like there was no other option and went through with the section. The recovery from my 9 lb 15 oz son’s section (don’t even get me started on his “11 lbs”!) was so incredibly worse than all four of my vag births combined that I started looking into vbac info when I was still in the hospital!

My OB/GYN didn’t allow trial of labor after c-sections, so I was forced to find someone who would…my research led me to a wonderful midwife who only provided support for homebirthing mamas. When I became pregnant with my next child, she was with us the whole way…sadly, our pregnancy came to an end at the 18 week mark when our son was discovered to have passed away. I waited and waited for my cycles to return after his delivery and ended up with a positive pregnancy test instead. I had a totallyl normal and text book pregnancy…and for the first time, went past my due date (my OB had always induced me!)…at 40 weeks, 3 days we found out our first daughter was breech via ultrasound, despite my best efforts with chiropractic care during pregnancy to prove otherwise…so my midwife and I worked together and was able to get her head down…she stripped my membranes at my request and the next day my water broke and we prepared for my homebirth experience. When my midwife arrived, I was already 8cm and in transition…but we found out our daughter had turned footling breech again. We prayed and had done our research and decided that the risks for a breech birth were low…especially given my previous ability to push out 8+ and 9+ pound kids, so we decided to move forward, knowing the risks. Laboring was going well, contractions were going great, our baby was handling things wonderfully despite the somewhat odd circumstances.

Three hours later, my daughter’s cord prolapsed suddenly and within minutes I found myself and my midwife on a gurney en route to the ER. She died during the preparations for my emergency c-section and after 20 minutes of resuscitation attempts, the doctor finally pulled away from my daughter. Not exactly the story one wants to be able to tell in favor of homebirths, but you know what, I would do it all again…even knowing the outcome. For the first time in seven deliveries, I finally had the labor I knew I always could have had but never did. No IV’s…no being tied to a bed…no one telling me I couldn’t eat or drink…no one telling me when or when not to push…being able to have as many people in the room as I wanted…laughing and joking through the contractions with my friends and family surrounding me. I didn’t have that in the hospital.

The pain of losing my daughter…my only daughter… is one I never want to go through again. Ever. But the Lord is sovereign and He is good all the time not just when things go well for us. Our daughter’s name is Zuriel Hope…which means “The Lord is my Rock and my Hope” and because of my hope in the Lord Jesus, I know I’ll see her again one day…and we’ll both be able to fall on our knees and worship Him together and I look forward to that. So Much. Because of the nature of my emergency c-section (and the inverted T incision), I’ve been told I can never have another vbac, so I won’t be given the joy and honor of bringing another child into this world from the comfort of my own room, but I will still cherish and forever hold my daughter’s “home labor” in my heart. I love to hear of the thousands of women who have perfectly normal and safe homebirths every year and wish the stereotypical OB wasn’t so anti-homebirth and anti-midwife…perhaps if the crossover between the two worlds wasn’t such an obvious one that few seem willing to cross, more women would be able to have the births they want rather than the ones they’re essentially told to have.

Valerie

I should clarify, I wouldn’t do it all again (even knowing the outcome) simply because of my wonderful labor…though that plays into it. I’d do it all again, because I fully trust the the Lord and His plan for my life. We did everything “right”…yes the risks were there…but they were small…and the risk for death was even smaller. But someone has to be the fractional percent and the Lord chose me for His purpose. I’m grateful it was me over someone else who doesn’t know of the Lord’s tenderness and mercy…a loss like this causes people such pain that many become bitter and avoid the Lord all together. I pray that I never go through this again, but as much as I would give nearly anything to have my six month old daughter sleeping in my arms, I’d go through it all again, if that’s what the Lord lays down for my life. Soli Deo Gloria…not mine.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Thank you Valerie so much for your story. It made me cry. I am so so sorry about the loss of your daughter. You are a true example of faith in God. May God Bless you over and over. ((Hugs))

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

If you guys would actually read the story you would see that she was in the hospital when the baby died.

” Laboring was going well, contractions were going great, our baby was
handling things wonderfully despite the somewhat odd circumstances.

Three hours later, my daughter’s cord prolapsed suddenly and within
minutes I found myself and my midwife on a gurney en route to the ER.
She died during the preparations for my emergency c-section”

My kidz mom

…which wouldn’t have happened, Wendy, if she’d gone to the hospital rather than trying to birth a footling breech at home, which is only considered safe by the most uneducated of homebirth “midwives”.

http://www.jeubfamily.com/ Chris Jeub

But condemning all home births because of one tragic testimony is a hasty judgment. It’s cruel, too. I could just as easily condemn all hospital births for the tragedies that occur during their births. (Which, by the way, I could statistically make a much stronger case.)

My kidz mom

Statistics that show a baby is much more likely to die in the hospital than at home? Oh yes, please do share.
Alanah

“If you guys would actually read the story you would see that she was in the hospital when the baby died.” Really? Are you being intentionally obtuse? This is a horrendous story, and for Valerie to privilege her “birth experience” over her dead baby is morally reprehensible. Shame on you.
Anonymous

Yes, Chris, please do share. What DOES the latest research, like the recent UK Birthplace Study say about the risk of negative outcomes in home vs. hospital vs. birth centre birth? I’ll wait. Well, if you’re too lazy to look it up, it says first time mothers with LOW RISK pregnancies with certified midwives (that are much more educated and qualified than US DEM’s and follow very strict transfer protocols) have TRIPLE the risk of fetal mortality and birth injury when giving birth at home. So, what could we extrapolate from that about US home birth with unqualified midwives with little to no formal education, who fail to properly risk out and fail to follow strict transfer guidelines, as was the case with Valerie? We’ll never know the real numbers, because 1. as soon as homebirth goes wrong and transfers to the hospital, mortalities like Valerie’s baby are counted as “hospital deaths” 2. the Midwives Alliance of North America refuses to release the data the have been collecting for 10+ years.
Anonymice

I DARE you to delete my comment about the Brithplace Study (and there’s lots more) – just know that if you do, you are hiding very important safety information from parents reading this that NEED that information to make informed choices. When parents don’t have that information because of the systematic distribution of misinformation and censoring of data that goes on on pro-HB websites, people like YOU are partially responsibel for the tragedies that follow.
http://www.jeubfamily.com/ Chris Jeub

“Anonymice,” it sounds like you actually believe that home birth is akin to advocating child murder. Wow.

Wendy and I will spend some more ample time to research a thorough response.

Likewise, I invite you to be open to a reality: home births are a safe, viable option that parents have (and should have) to deliver their children.

We’ll post more on this topic.
http://twitter.com/sondeguerra Ennis Demeter

Yes please, put all those book learning doctors and scientists in their place!
Anonymice

You mean after you’ve had 10 homebirths now you’re going to research it? Well, I hope you do and this will be a very interesting discusion.

I’m not going to argue that parents shouldn’t have the option. Homebirth is not illegal, never will be and I’m not going to argue about that. It just gets into the usual personal liberties stuff and everything everyone says in those discussions is so tediously predictable.

So, to clarify: I’m not interested in discussisng the poltical philosophy around civil liberties and homebirth. I AM interested in your claim that HB is a ‘safe’ option.

I am absolutely ‘open’ to whatever research end evidence you want to share.

Best Wishes.
guest

Research will show that hb is not safer than hospital birth. Please please look into this.

I had a cord prolapse with my dd and she is alive & well because I was already in the hospital where they could immediately get her out.

My youngest was born in a hospital and it wasn’t a lovely labor because I was on mag., I had a truly awful labor nurse, and a dreary nic stay for my daughter. I’m holding my daughter in my arms because I wanted the best possible outcome for my pregnancy (a live healthy baby) more than I wanted a lovely labor memory.

Babies that die during a hospital birth would not have survived a hb. Many babies that die in hb would have lived had they been born in a hospital.

Saying it was God’s will because a parent chooses to have a risky homebirth makes no sense to me as a believer in Christ. Sometimes people make choices that lead to death, doesn’t mean God willed that. He gives us free will and sometimes we (or our children) suffer the consequences of that free will choice.

I beg you to research the stats so people don’t mistakenly think they are choosing a safer option.
http://twitter.com/sondeguerra Ennis Demeter

No you couldn’t.

Anonymice

Attempting footling breech at home isn’t trusting God, it’s suicidal. I don’t “trust God” by running across the freeway in rush hour.

http://twitter.com/sondeguerra Ennis Demeter

It’s actually homicidal

Briannacorinne

Wow, what a story! You’ve put into words something that I’ve felt, even though I’ve never experienced a loss due to homebirth. One thing that I always try to remember if I get nervous about something is that babies die in the hospital too, sometimes due to intervention or something that wouldn’t have happened at home. Each woman needs to be at peace with her own decision. Thank you for sharing.

http://twitter.com/sondeguerra Ennis Demeter

They don’t die nearly as often. This is like wearing seatbelts. If the impact is enough to kill you with a seat belt on, it was going to kill you anyway. I beg you not to risk your and your baby’s life.

Tammie E.

I am so sorry Valerie for your loss. You have the right to feel as you want and to have made the choices that you did. No one can take that from you and I do believe inside that God does what he does for whatever reason he does it. I find it hard to find the right words to say, as we lost our son as well Last September. I wanted to homebirth but was told I never could have anyway so regardless I blame myself due to my own medical issues. It is just how I am though and I think it is most wonderful if you can feel that it is something that will give you better understanding and make you a stronger person. Blessings to you and your beautiful angels in heaven.
http://www.facebook.com/melisaholloman Melisa Holloman

Nuh uh! Cognitive dissonance isn’t in the Bible.
Anon

Maybe God provided medical technology to humanity, and your innocent daughter suffered and lost her life because of your scorn for technology. Glad YOU enjoyed your labor though.
Guest

Chris, I’d like to think so, but I seriously doubt it. She’s far from the only homebirther I’ve heard statements like that from.
jessnye

I too, followed a link from another blog to this one, and this clarification does help me better understand- while I’m not religious, I respect your faith and I’m sorry for your loss. I
My kidz mom

Beings as how 15-18% of all footling breech births results in a prolapsed cord (which is a death sentence unless a c-section is able to be performed within minutes), in what way were the risks small?

Ed L

This is a horrible and shocking story (and I’m a perinatal pathologist and don’t shock easily).That baby did not need to die, should not have died. The mother and the midwife are jointly responsible for the baby’s death. Putting it down to “God’s will” is a disgraceful refusal to accept responsibility for the consequences of your actions.

Sheila(UK)

Hi Wendy,
I had both my boys in hospital as I had two c-sections so I am not talking from experience of homebirth. However, I have a friend who has had 17 children and apart from the first one, or maybe two, she has had homebirths. She finds them more relaxing and just prefers to be in her own home. Also the other children get to see their baby brother or sister straight away and feel more a part of the event.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

I have to agree with your friend. I just love to be more relaxed and have all the children right there to see the brand new baby.

Blessed Nation Ranch

Every chance we get we opt for home birth.
Katie

I used to do hospital laundry for a living and I will tell you this – those sheets, bedding, gowns etc are NOT sterile!! I only worked in the ironing department which is supposed to be sterile, but while I was there caught strep AND came down with mono, which I probably spread to half the county hospitals before I even knew I had it. Sorry. We have had 3 homebirths and even though I am not crazy about the whole painful ordeal, I know in my heart that is the only way I could’ve had all 5 of my children without any c-sections.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

I also used to work in a nursing home too and no these are not sterile places.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BZXHT7XDXDDSOBCWGPTUGYGV5Q Elizabeth

Actually there are sterile packs of sheets and gowns. After being laundered they are wrapped, then sterilized in an autoclave. The outer wrap is then removed in the delivery room or the O.R. The sheets inside are sterile. The gowns the doctors put on are sterile. All the instruments used in surgery, including C-sections are sterile. I don’t believe they routinely use sterile sheets and gowns anymore in regular vaginal deliveries, though they used to. But instruments inserted vaginally are sterile.

http://profiles.google.com/anij34 Jolene O’Dell

For our next birth we are not sure what to expect. I have had 2 c/s both after failing to progress through labor (my cervix does not open….AT ALL) my O/B is expecting to just go right to c/s this next time. We’ll be meeting with a midwife and also checking out a birthing center. I’m really hoping for my VBAC!

Wendyjeub

I hope you get to too. Blessings! Wendy

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

I actually was pretty surprised that the dr said most births go just fine. This is true and I was glad to hear her say it.

amyrobin

Hmm well most births “go just fine” because they are being monitored closely in a hospital where emergency care and expertise is available in case something does go wrong. Its romanticizing birth to think its so safe. It was only a hundred years ago when the highest rate of death among young women and infants was in birth. How has this statistic changed? Because of all those annoying interventions that hospitals provide. They’ve taken the high mortality and morbidity rates of birth and made them so small that women decide to take themselves out of the safest environment for birth, the hospital, to a place distant from the monitoring and help they need if something goes wrong. What a foolish thing homebirth is. My daughter would be dead if I had chosen that path. Think twice before you become so blaise about something that is so sacred. We have a sacred duty to protect the life we are bringing into the world. Risks seem small until you are living them. Its not right to roll the dice with a homebirth with the life of an innocent who has no say in how they are born!

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Amyrobin, The dr actually said ‘The majority of all births go fine wherever women deliver.’ Perhaps you missed that comment. I was glad to hear her say it. Further Nikki the reporter said you can reduce even that small risk by watching out for certain risks which she lists. This is exactly what a trained licensed midwife does.

Take time to pray about what God has for you. Find and interview a good midwife.

Anonymice

“you can reduce even that small risk by watching out for certain risks”

You mean…risks like footling breech, the most dangerous variation of breech there is?

mrsjones

Hi,
infant mortality
and deaths of mothers are not less frequent now b/c births are now in
hospitals. they are less frequent b/c we have more techonology (lots of
which can also be brought to the home btw, my midwife had an emergency
suitcase with her with oxygen stuff, défebrillator and the like) AND
also we have better hygiene nowadays (generally) AND b/c we can now
detect potential problems earlier in pregnancy so can take appropriate
precautions beforehand as well.

All this makes the statistic change

A birth ALWAYS has a risk factor, regardless of where you are. Doctors can also make mistakes btw. So yes, a hospital can sometimes be the safest option for someone to make, but it is inaccurate to say that homebirths are always more risky. They are not, which you will also discover if you research the statistics for homebirths compared to hospital births ,-)

Blessings on your day,

Anonymous

My first two children were born in a freestanding birthing suite, primarily because I didn’t yet know about the option of assisted home birth. The next 5 were born at home as planned. With the first home birth, I had a lay midwife and an assistant midwife. The assistant midwife’s regular job was being a labor and delivery nurse at a hospital. While I was in transition, she commented on how much she preferred natural deliveries because “there wasn’t all the screaming.” Her words, not mine. We’ve had some complications at home, including postpartum hemorrhaging and therefore I strongly recommend a knowledgeable assistant who is equipped with pitocin for administration *after* the delivery.

I highly recommend home as the best place for most mothers to give birth.
Lisa Lind

I love homebirthing. I feel very blessed to have experienced so much variety in the area of birthing. We went to the hospital with our first four, the fourth being a c-sect. who we planned to have at home but the placenta decided to detach 6 weeks early so off we went to the hospital. The staff was so wonderful and the c-sect. was very necessary. This birth was such a testimony to me in that the months before he was born I couldn’t visualize him being born at home. I thought it was just because I had never had a baby at home. Now I know it was the Holy Spirit preparing me for his birth in the hopital. I always remember this as I pray through each pregnancy.

The last two we have delivered at home. As funny as this sounds we have medical reasons for not birthing in the hospital. Due to hospital policy, I have a very high chance of another c-sect. because of my tendency to have labors that last 12-24 hours. Also, I have always wondered if Step B is spread more by all the internal exams the weeks prior to birth…no evidence just a hunch. We like to avoid any unnesessary intervention possible. Also, even though my homebirths have been a lot longer (partly due to no interventions) I have recovered so much faster after my homebirths. Our last baby weighed 10 pounds and I had not even a tiny tear. I also felt completly energized the day after both homebirths.

We choose not to carry insurance so homebirth is definetly more cost effective. Home is more cozy to my husband and I. I can also focus so much better when we are left alone. We are always praying through each pregnancy to check in and see what God’s thoughts are on if we should still plan on a homebirth or not. We are expecting another little blessing this summer. We’ll see where God leads. So far it looks like it’s going to be another homebirth. :)
Briannacorinne

Wendy, did you have your twins at home? What are the laws about twins in your state? I have homebirths, but I always wonder what I’d do if I was ever pregnant with twins. It’s illegal for a midwife to attend a twin homebirth in my state.
cat

I have had 2 children in a local birthing unit (pretty much no intervention) and 7 at home 2 being unassisted as I birthed too quickly and the midwife never made it. Love being in my own home to quietly do what’s needed.
My sister had 3 hospital births due to always haemorrhaging, the last time was really bad due to the ‘intervention’ she received.
I guess we all have to make an informed decision based on our history and how comfortable we are with certain procedures.
Motherofmany13

Hi Wendy, I did not home birth until our 7th child, she is now 18. If at all possible I would home birth. With the first six kids I always felt as if I had little say about what went on and as if they did not belong to my husband and I until we left the hospital. I have never been good with birthing pain but it was never any easier in the hospital. Two more boys and la girl followed at home and then our 11th child would not come out. Our midwife thought she would come that morning and by 6 at night we decided to go to the hospital. I did end up, thank God, with my own doctor who is not against home birth. She was a C-section. The next daughter didn’t even wait for the midwife and our final little girl ended up also in the hospital but not a C-section. I have had since our first homebirth, rheumatoid arthritis and unfortunately on a drug called prednisone. My regular doctor has never been happy with the number of children I have had but he also even with the disease I have, that pregancy is a normal, natural thing and there was nothing wrong with a home birth even after the ceasarean. I have three married daughters and one had a home birth, one had a midwife and a birthing center, and one tried at home but ended up in the hospital(she wants to make it at home next time.) It is not a decision anyone should make for you nor take away from you. Blessings.
Lori Q.

I’ve delivered all 9 of our blessings in the hospital, we’re at least 40 minutes from the nearest hospital and it makes me uneasy to not have closer access to emergency medical care if necessary. I’ve had several breech and transverse presentations that have all been able to be turned and delivered vaginally, but because of this I’m always concerned about baby’s position while laboring. Our 8th little one suffered a prolapsed cord and was clinically dead for almost 2 minutes after my water broke while she was still transverse, but because we were already at the hospital they were able to deliver and recussitate her so quickly, she’s now almost 2 and completely healthy with no lasting effects. If it had happened at home, the outcome would have unfortunately not been the same. We opted to deliver our 9th in the hospital again because of it being our first VBAC and the risks associated with having another baby only 13 months after the c-section. I think as moms we need to just pray about our decision and make the one we feel is best, I have complete respect and admiration for homebirthing mommas, I just feel like the hospital is the right choice for us:)

http://profiles.google.com/cathryn.pepin Cathryn Pepin

Lori, I like your thinking. It is reasonable to be in a place during birth where your child can receive emergency intervention. I work in a NICU and have attended births that ended in needless death. I have also taken care of beautiful brain damaged babies that had the life snuffed out so that the family could have a memorable experience. I wonder if those who have babies that needed resuscitation have ever thought about the heart of those of us that have to save these poor little babies. It haunts all of us and we never forget the babies.

http://www.kjllovemylife.blogspot.com ~kjl

In a recent discussion with a friend about the “risks” of home birth I made the same comment Chris made… “I wouldn’t want to take the risk of delivering in a hospital!” Now, that’s not to say that I wouldn’t transfer if the need arose, but after 3 hospital deliveries, and 4 (soon to be 5) home births I would never choose to birth in the hospital. Three of my four home births have had issues that in the hospital would be considered complications, and likely necessitate a c-section. Because of the close care of my midwife, support, and lack of interventions, I was able to deliver healthy babies in the comfort of my own home. So looking forward to June, and another home birth!
sarah leonard

I would LOVE to have a homebirth! I have delivered 4 children naturally in a hospital and I really think homebirth could be a wonderful experience for our family…BUT..in our state it is a felony for a midwife to assist!!!
Jennifer Torres

I’m all about homebirths. 6 of our 11 were born at home. Just had my second vbac the 22nd.
Our first four were born in a hospital, the next 4 were born at home, I had to have an emergency c-section with my 9th, then back home for the 10th (first vbac) and now 11th was born at home (2nd vbac). I love my homebirths and love my midwife. (Who, btw, is so good she has a lady that comes down from Alaska to have her babies with her, and a lady who is coming from Michigan to have her baby in August!)

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Great! I have had only 12 at home and think it is wonderful. I think having a good midwife makes a huge difference glad to see you have one you like so much.

Ezra329

I’ve had three hospital births; one with an OB/GYN, one with a midwife, and one where we thought the nurse would have to catch the baby because we got to the hospital at pushing stage! My favorite has been daughter number one, the waterbirth. It was as close to perfect as it could have been in the hospital. I would have loved a homebirth with daughter number 2 (third child), but at several thousand dollars cash, we just couldn’t do it. If we are ever blessed with another child, I will save for it for sure. With my son (firstborn), I was super-young and had no idea: went to the hospital early, got sent home, went back, they kept me, they mocked my desire for a natural birth and told me “I could never do it” (well, I did), they punctured my son’s scalp for that ridiculous monitor (for no good reason), they broke my water without even asking me (and for no good reason) and at the last minute, the Doc came in ( a female, no less) and performed a large episotomy, ordered me to push twice, delivered my son, sewed me up and left! Years later, with my daughters, we learned to voice our informed consent early and loudly – and with just a few exceptions, we got the births we desired. Of course, with both our daughters, we have chosen to labor at home until transition, arriving at the hospital at 9 cm with daughter number 1 and at ten cm with number 2 – not much in the way of interventions CAN happen at this imminent point! Yes, the short drive to the hospital is a challenge, but this way we have the “best of both births” – and it is still covered by insurance. We left AMA this last birth because we wanted to be at home again about twelve hours later, and they wanted to keep the baby twenty-four hours. The only way to leave was AMA, so they could cover themselves in the event of our lawsuit if something were to occur with me or the baby. Our midwife didn’t mind at all; it was the Pediatrician who wanted the AMA forms signed. Still, the best of both choices since I couldn’t afford the homebirth itself.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=740055339 facebook-740055339

We had our first homebirth last year! It was the BEST birth experience we’ve had yet! Easiest recovery and best bonding time for baby and me. Lord willing, we will never go back to hospital births!

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

I really think that this is awesome. I had my 5th at home and it was the best birth experience and best recovery. I had a wonderful Godly midwife and we got to spend time praying during labor and was not poked and prodded constantly. The baby (Isaiah) weighed 9 lbs. I just could not believe the difference between hospital and home-birth.

http://www.joyjoyg.com/ Joy Groblebe

I’ve had four children….all in the hospital…all with epidurals…all for me, the perfect birthing experience. :) You ladies who have done things natural, at home….I admire you and I’m impressed to say the least! Honestly, I love my time in the hospital…three days to just love on your baby with no distractions. How lucky are we to live in a world where you have a choice. Kudos to all of you!

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

I am glad for choices. I do think it is kinda funny you say no distractions in the hospital. I had 4 in the hospital and have been back for other things. Why is it that the blood guy shows up at 5am to take blood when you are leaving that day? He comes in wakes me up and shoves a needle in my arm, then leaves. It is kinda distracting. ( I want to say ‘ hey, thanks for waking me up and now I can’t even have any coffee until breakfast comes. ) I am glad that all has gone so well for you.

You are a very blessed women.

Janelle

Seriously!!!! Mine was in at like 3am!! What is the deal? Maybe they’re vampires! :)

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Janelle, I know it! Right? Maybe they are vampires. (wink) I have often wondered what do they do with it? I mean I’m leaving and all.

http://www.joyjoyg.com/ Joy Groblebe

ok – except for the blood guy….oh ya, and the blood pressure guy. And our hospital had a starbucks in the lobby so that solved the coffee problem. :) lol….seriously, the blood pressure cuff….I’d be fine if I never get my bp taken again! :)

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Yep the cuff too. All the fussing they want to do to me and it seems that they would show up just when I had put the baby to sleep. The starbucks down stairs would be nice. How did you get down there? Did you bring the baby with you?

http://www.joyjoyg.com/ Joy Groblebe

No way…that’s what husbands are for….and sisters….and grandmas. :) Our hospital gives you a queen size bed so Travis just stayed with me the whole time.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

Oh well I see how it is. At the hospital it is just Chris and I.
At home it is a whole different story. At home I have my children to help and make coffee and friends stop by to see the new baby and they cook and clean for me.
We don’t have any extra family here mostly they all live out of state.
My wonderful church and home-school support group do show up to help. I am so thankful for those ladies. Last time I had a few friends who came over and stayed for hours to watch kids, clean, and cook. I just stayed in bed and snuggled Elijah. Bliss

http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Accavitti-Klakulak/1207246985 Emily Accavitti Klakulak

I do agree with the 3 day vacation!!! That is my favorite part.

Mel4ministry

A friend just linked me to your site and I’m happy to read about your family. I have had two children thus far; one was at the hospital with a CNM and the second at home with a CPM. The second birth was so much more peaceful and easy. My first birth I just felt so controlled and it kept stalling my labor. I definitely recommend homebirth to all my friends.

http://jeubfamily.com Wendy Jeub

This report was so good and there were actually 3 home-births shown. They even showed Ricky Lake during labor and in the tub after. I love being able to stay home and give birth. I highly recommend it too.

http://twitter.com/sondeguerra Ennis Demeter

That woman’s baby died because she gave birth at home.

http://www.jeubfamily.com/ Chris Jeub

Er, hold on, Ennis.

First, This is a fool’s statement. More complications happen in the hospital than in home deliveries. “Babies die because they’re in the hospital” would be just as foolish a statement.

Second, Ricky Lake had a perfectly normal delivery and birth. There was no complication at all, let alone death. Ricky’s movie, in fact, exposes the stats that show complications much more common in the hospital than at home.

No

Yes, genius, that would be because 1) 99% of births are in the hospital to begin with and 2) nearly ALL of high-risk and pre-term births are there. OF COURSE most complications are going to occur in the place where MOST births and ALL high-risk births are. The fact that you need that explained to you is amazing.
http://twitter.com/sondeguerra Ennis Demeter

Complications are more common in hospitals because most women wisely choose to give their babies’ safe delivery priority over their “experience”. You exhibit an astounding lack of awareness of basic math. Here’s an example to help you understand: New York City has more car accidents than Antartica.

Pingback: Now’s the time to reclaim our childbirth skills
SarahB

We are expecting our first in June and really wanted a home water birth. Unfortunately, we live in an extremely remote area and none of the midwives within reasonable driving distance assist home births. I have a lot of anxiety surrounding hospitals (bad prior experiences), but I have a wonderful, natural-minded CNM and keep reminding myself that a healthy baby is the priority! I love reading the home birth experiences shared here and hope we’ll be able to birth at home with any future children God gives us!
Mrs Jones

Hi. I’ve had 2 hospital births, one w/epidural (awful experience), one without. Then I had the next 2 in a private clinic, just me and the midwife, no meds, no stress, no noise. And all the clean up, laundry etc taken care of for you With our newest baby I wanted to just go back to that place, but they had closed down meanwhile. I was then supposed to go to a HUGE hospital but just couldn’t feel right about the place, so changed just about 2mos before due date to give birth at home. That was a wonderful experience, and I’m so glad I did it.

I’m all for homebirths, it’s SO nice not to have to get down stairs, out in the cold, ride a car or whatever – to get home, but to be in your own bed already, with the family all around you.

That said, IF I was to be so lucky to be blessed with another baby, I would go to the hospital next time though. The two lasts births I have experienced a bit of difficulty with endurance, plus I begin to worry a little bit about possible excess bleeding (from multiple births, though obviously nothing compared to others ) so I’d feel safer being in a hospital setting with NICU just in case.

Blessings to you!
Angelica Glover

I hate to be blunt, but this woman is in pure denial. You’d do homebirth again, regardless of having ANOTHER dead baby? Omg, you truly are insane and only care about your experience and NOT the baby.

Like someone else said: “Holding a memory of
being able to walk to the kitchen for some organic cheese doodles during
labor > Holding your living child in your arms. Got it”

http://www.jeubfamily.com/ Chris Jeub

Read my response to Donohue above.
Follow the conversation, Angelica, read Wendy’s post and watch the video. Respond to that. What you’re doing is called “trolling.” Wendy speaks nothing about such nonsense.

Anonymouse

Yeah, Angelica, do as you’re told. The MAN said so!
Anonymice

“What do you think about home birth? I’m curious to hear from you. Please comment below” OK!

Anonymice

Until we scrub all of your comments because you say something about homebirth that we don’t like!

E_donohue

I’m afraid I don’t understand. This woman’s baby died unnecessarily, but the important thing was the opportunity to have a beautiful birth experience. What?????

http://www.jeubfamily.com/ Chris Jeub

Donohue, you’re entering from another site’s link. You make no sense. Read Wendy’s post and respond to that, please.

http://twitter.com/sondeguerra Ennis Demeter

I had my only child in a country where poor women travelled in busses late in their pregnancies to the big cities, desperate to be near hospitals where they knew their babies would be born more safely. They have coffin stores there with tiny infant caskets in the front windows all over town. I had her in a hospital and thank God every day that was available to me and my child.

k_cayte

I’ll be giving birth to my first child within the next few weeks. I will be doing so in a hospital, and I couldn’t be more excited.

A large part of my excitement is because the hospital where I’ll be delivering understands that birth should be a natural experience, but that interventions should be available within seconds. When I went through orientation at the hospital, the nurses emphasized how:

- If a woman can get up and move around, they want her to get up and move around to help labor progress.
- Women should choose labor and delivery positions based on what is most effective for them; the OBs will work with what the woman wants.
- For those who chose medicated pain relief, they prefer not to give epidurals before 3 cm dilation. Epidurals are not suggested or mentioned until they are asked about.
- External fetal monitoring is the default, even for continuous monitoring. The monitors are wireless so that women can still move around as they desire.
- IVs are not placed routinely, and interventions are not done unless needed. The only routine procedure is intermittent external fetal monitoring.
- They will do everything in their power for the birth to be vaginal. (They have a c-section rate of 18% overall, around 9% for first-time moms.)

Additionally, the hospital has worked hard to make their labor-delivery-recovery rooms as cozy as possible. Each room has a shower and tub, birthing balls in a variety of sizes, rocking chairs and the windows all have a view into a courtyard garden.

I think if more hospitals took this approach (evidence-based practices, focus on making the mother comfortable and respecting her wishes, only introducing interventions as they are truly needed), then fewer women would be so afraid of hospital birth.

There’s nothing wrong with home birth for low risk women, but I do think that too many women are considering themselves low risk when they really aren’t. The stories of these women, who experience preventable fetal demise, are what fuels the extremists on both ends (staunch home birth support versus staunch hospital birth support).
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BZXHT7XDXDDSOBCWGPTUGYGV5Q Elizabeth

My DH was a M.D. who did home deliveries, the only physician in the area who did. Those who chose home delivery in his practice tended to be people without health insurance. He had very strict parameters when it came to doing home deliveries. He accepted only low risk patients, did not do VBACs at home (he did in the hospital), and the mother had to agree that he had the option during labor to saying transportation to the hospital was indicated. He did not have any dead babies born at home. One mother needed transport to the hospital and had a good outcome, a healthy baby.

The experience shared by Valerie is so sad because she did have a high risk situation and should have been in a hospital. Valerie doesn’t say what kind of midwife she used. The only midwives who should be in practice are those who are RNs first, then midwife education in an accredited university. Their education is like that a nurse practitioner has, with their specialty being OB/GYN. My 3 grandsons were delivered in a hospital with a certified nurse midwife. Their hospital, Saint Joseph’s in Saint Paul, MN has a C-section rate of 13%, which is very low. The majority of the deliveries there are done by certified nurse midwives. Water births are allowed. I don’t believe any of the certified midwives here do home deliveries. I’m aware of one free standing delivery clinic, there are probably more. I had a friend who had her baby there and all was well but she went home after 2 hours. The baby had significant cardiac issues that might have been detected sooner had the baby been in the hospital and evaluated right after birth by a peds.

Cat B

I have a friend who was transferred from home to hospital due to a traverse baby. Baby turned on the way to hospital and was born shortly after arrival there. Her midwife was concerned about the babies heart, so baby was checked over by the Pediatrician at the hospital. Baby pronounced fine. Went home and enjoyed 6 days with family. Next day they took baby back to the hospital as he was sick. drs worked on him for several hrs, but could not save him. Parents were devastated. Baby did have a heart problem. baby may have been helped if it was picked up at birth. Even the drs can and do make mistakes.

Anonymice

“Wendy and I will spend some more ample time to research a thorough response”. We’re still waiting.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Accavitti-Klakulak/1207246985 Emily Accavitti Klakulak

Personally, I am not comfortable with it for myself.
We considered it with our 4th child. We even hired a midwife and I had my first appointment with her, but as the weeks went by, I just couldn’t shake the fact that I didn’t feel safer at home. I wanted to be somewhere with good emergency equipment.

There was also the fact that our insurance covered a hospital birth *completely* but it didn’t cover a home birth at all, so I would have ended up paying $3000 out of pocket to have the baby at home. ..and I still had to pay that if we ended up transferring.

In the end, it just isn’t for me. I had a natural delivery at an alternative birth center connected to a hospital (but separate) and it was kind of a horrific experience and I really would have liked an epidural but it wasn’t available. (note, that my first 3 births were med free so I was confident that I didn’t need one, and in fact didn’t really believe in them. This was just a really really hard labor)

After that experience, I opted to be back in a regular old hospital with drugs handy, so for my 5th, that is what I did. And I had an epidural. It was very nice. I think it will be hard to look back and not get pain relief in the future should God bless us with anymore.
Ntwr21

My first delivery was in the hospital and we were not happy with out experience. With my 2nd and 3rd we used a birth center. We were very happy with the service they provided. I choose not to do a home birth because a hospital is a good 20 minutes away and we are not comfortable with that. That being said, I totally get why other women choose to have a home birth and I think they have the right to.
Knolson

I beg to defer.. God loves all people the same,, I kindly ask– Why or how do you think homebirthing caused brain -damage?
http://www.jeubfamily.com/ Chris Jeub

I suspect this is not true (unregistered and fake email), a troll.