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Is Home Birth the Best of Both Worlds?
Why I am Choosing Home Birth Before Conception
By Christy Rogers
A little less than a year ago, my best friend had a baby, which made me painfully aware that my own biological clock was ticking away. Being the research hound that I am, I began making weekly trips to the library, bringing home every book on pregnancy and childbirth I could find. I came across Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (Plume Books, revised edition, 1996) by Susan McCutcheon. I had heard about the Bradley Method from a cable television show called A Baby Story. Curious, I took the book home. This book was the turning point for me, as I haven't viewed childbirth the same since.
I had always assumed I would have a conventional birth – hospital, epidural, IV, legs in stirrups, episiotomy, and baby tucked nicely (and quietly) away in the nursery once born. Every woman I knew had had her baby this way, so why should I be any different? And who on earth would voluntarily put herself through all that pain? After reading McCutcheon's book, I began to wonder if maybe there isn't a better way – maybe I could give birth naturally, unmedicated, and with as few interventions as possible.
Admittedly, I was still skeptical. All the usual visions of childbirth were still ingrained in my head, and I was afraid of what might happen if I put myself in the position of not being able to have access to all the technology should I need it. I decided that I would try to have a natural, unmedicated childbirth, via the Bradley Method, in a hospital – but not be totally closed to the idea of pain relief. Best of both worlds, I thought.
The next books I read were Husband Coached Childbirth
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Is Home Birth the Best of Both Worlds? by Anonymous on 10/25/2009 02:48AM
I couldn't have said this better myself and I have given birth and attended many others as I study to be a midwife and support my friends on their journey and the things I've seen are nothing short of Obstetric Abuse that in any other setting would warrent severe criminal charges. Good for you for protecting yourself and child even before you create her!