While I appreciate the segment on home births, I was disappointed by the biased reporting regarding the risks. As others have noted, the ACOG's opinion is based on a questionable meta-analysis of multiple studies, and although the statement comes from ACOG, it is still an opinion, not fact. It should be noted, too, that ACOG has a long history of antagonism toward midwives and home births, since they represent ACOG's greatest competition. ACOG's statement is more political than factual. Additionally, the doctor's opinion is skewed. While she states that timing is an advantage of a hospital birth (in the event of an emergency), she fails to mention all the risks associated with the hospital birth - risks many home birthers specifically want to avoid - such as greater risk of infection and greater risk of unnecessary intervention, which can also lead to an intervention "cascade" and ultimately the greatest risk of major surgery and potential complications resulting from the interventions. And why not also point out that midwifery care, with a birth at home or in a birthing center, is the standard for low-risk pregnancies in most of Europe and many other developed countries around the world?
I had my first child in a hospital, and was railroaded into interventions I didn't want and which left me with residual problems. After that experience, I chose to give birth to my second child at home. The difference between the two settings was like night and day - I was much more comfortable and relaxed at home, and achieved the intervention-free birth I sought. My recovery after the home birth was significantly faster than after the hospital birth, too. I felt very confident that my midwife had the skill and training to handle any problems that might arise, or we could transfer to the hospital if we needed more specialized care. But since I don't need to see a specialist every time I catch a cold, why does ACOG want us to believe we NEED to see a specialist (OB/GYN) for every normal, low-risk pregnancy? Specialists have their place, and are definitely needed in certain situations, but not every one.
I came to the comments section to say something about the level of bias that this piece so obviously displayed. I was so relieved to see this at the very top of the list! You put it just perfectly. To everyone who may be reading this, littlemizc is COMPLETELY CORRECT. I am a L&D nurse by history, a doula currently, and I start midwifery school in January -- WHY? Because of exactly what this piece shows. It's all about the doctors. It's supposed to be about the women and their experience. The SAFEST place to give birth is NOT the hospital for low risk women! And this is coming from someone on "the inside" trying her best to get out and help maternity return to what it was meant to be!
I was glad to see a segment on homebirth, its unfortunate that it was so obviously one sided. I had a homebirth for my first child the begining of this year and it was the best decision I have ever made. I am glad that we have hospitals for women who are considered high risk, but for a lot of women a hospital birth is not necessary. I felt very confident in my midwife and my birth was amazing. I would love cbs to do another segment on homebirth but next time have done more research on homebirth and feature more accurate statistics and interview more midwives and other homebirth mothers. There is obviously a reason homebirths are on the rise, why don't we start asking some questions why that is!!!
What a shame CBS couldn't do a better job investigating what they report on. So many opinions other than ACOG are out there, that are much more firmly based on valid scientific evidence. Shouldn't it be a little suspicious that the only organization against home birth is the professional trade organization that feels the most competition from home birth??
Things that make you go "hmmmmmmm...."?? You mean the people who stand to lose the most from women choosing midwives strongly urge the use of doctors and hospitals?? No way! The bias was disgustingly obvious, as usual. Thanks for speaking up!
Where the hell did you get your statistics on the neonatal mortality? Was it from the Wax Study? Your reporters used the ACOG home birth "opinion", which is an OPINION not statistically accurate and factual information. WHERE IS THE REAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING? Do your reporters not know how to interpret the data in so-called "peer reviewed" journals? How can I believe any CBS News reports about anything when I see such biased reporting on this topic? There is no evidence regarding the length of time from hospitals..no one knows. Again you allowed the obstetrician to give opinion, not fact. The last time I looked this was not CBS Opinion, it is CBS News. The least you can do is have a CNM or someone from The Big Push to refute the obstetricians claims with the evidence.
Although the segment did a good job of presenting some of the advantages of home births, I feel the question of "Is it safe?" was answered in a somewhat biased manner, by an OB whose training, philosophy, and interests lie with those of the AMA & ACOG. Please do see the link to the article in Midwifery posted above.
Although the newscasters did discuss the recent publication by ACOG which asserts a higher risk of mortality in home birth settings, they failed to present the risk statistics for hospital births, including the potential harm associated with unnecessary medical interventions that lead to additional medical procedures, costs, stress & anxiety for the birthing couple, and separation of mother & newborn. This is partially because risk statistics on hospital births are very hard to quantify in many cases as hospitals must report certain statistics but will always seek to present themselves in the best light, for obvious reasons. As a nurse I have witnessed this firsthand and it is an understandable result of the fact that hospitals must look out for their own self-interests if they wish to stay in business. The meta-analysis upon which ACOG relies in order to generate these mortality risk statistics, while rigorous, also contained some serious flaws. As a professional researcher I find it concerning when such limitations are not discussed in news reporting. They also failed to discuss what was meant by the fact that "absolute risk" is still very low overall, but especially in home birth settings. Every birth carries certain risks with in, even in the most technologized and highly-equipped hospitals in the U.S. Although I am glad this report was not entirely one-sided, and was heartened to see the interview with Alice Bailes, a Certified Nurse-Midwife with considerable experience and knowledge in her area, I hope that future reports will be more balanced rather than presenting a few homebirth advantages and an uplifting anecdote up-front but ending with the guest who represents medical authority presenting a set of scary statistics and warnings for parents about the potential dangers of home birth.
Another aspect they failed to acknowledge was the statistics regarding higher mortality in home birth settings did not distinguish between PLANNED homebirths and unplanned homebirths. PLANNED homebirth for low-risk pregnancies attended by midwives with proper support are as safe or safer than hospital births. There is a reason the US is ranked so pathetically low in maternal mortality compared to other developed countries. In most countries, the midwife model is primary with obstetricians only attending the +/- 10% of high-risk births -- it is a PROVEN model with MUCH BETTER outcomes than we have here! Yet somehow this is not common knowledge. Why, you might ask?? Because news and media go ask OBSTETRICIANS their opinions....and what benefit is it to them to recommend midwives? That hits their pocketbook! Do the leg work! Research the articles yourselves before assuming these biased docs are telling the truth! Ladies, as disheartening as it is, you can't just trust what your doctor tells you. You have to educate yourself and be prepared!
I gave birth with the midwife group featured on this segment and had an excellent experience. Responsible home birth/birth center practices will be equipped to handle a variety of complications, such as postpartum hemorrhage, so while the risks mentioned by the OB/GYN on this segment certainly need to be weighed, I think it's important to know that midwives practicing in birth centers and/or homes are well-prepared to treat complications or transfer to a hospital if necessary.
Please read the following article by Midwifery Today to get a better understanding of the studies used by the ACOG regarding neonatal mortality in home births versus hospital births.http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ajog_response.asp
I gave birth to my last child at home with Alice Bailes (CNM) as my midwife, who was interviewed in this video - she was wonderful, as are all the midwives at the Birth Care practice in Alexandria! I was low-risk and had a great birth experience. I also live 1.5 miles from the closest hospital, and keep in mind that midwives do carry things like oxygen, IV's and fluid and pitocin, just in case they are needed. So they're not unprepared if a complication arises! Home birth isn't necessarily for everyone but I was blessed with a wonderful experience.
Thank you for featuring story on home births (it is so great for families to have this option when mom is low-risk) and for discussing the rising rates of interventions in hospitals. A more detailed piece on both is needed. Unfortunately, very little good, objective info is out there about the risks of hospital births, or rather the interventions a woman is likely to face should she deliver in a hospital setting.
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I had my first child in a hospital, and was railroaded into interventions I didn't want and which left me with residual problems. After that experience, I chose to give birth to my second child at home. The difference between the two settings was like night and day - I was much more comfortable and relaxed at home, and achieved the intervention-free birth I sought. My recovery after the home birth was significantly faster than after the hospital birth, too. I felt very confident that my midwife had the skill and training to handle any problems that might arise, or we could transfer to the hospital if we needed more specialized care. But since I don't need to see a specialist every time I catch a cold, why does ACOG want us to believe we NEED to see a specialist (OB/GYN) for every normal, low-risk pregnancy? Specialists have their place, and are definitely needed in certain situations, but not every one.
Lori
http://nurtureyourbirth.weebly.com
Although the segment did a good job of presenting some of the advantages of home births, I feel the question of "Is it safe?" was answered in a somewhat biased manner, by an OB whose training, philosophy, and interests lie with those of the AMA & ACOG. Please do see the link to the article in Midwifery posted above.
Although the newscasters did discuss the recent publication by ACOG which asserts a higher risk of mortality in home birth settings, they failed to present the risk statistics for hospital births, including the potential harm associated with unnecessary medical interventions that lead to additional medical procedures, costs, stress & anxiety for the birthing couple, and separation of mother & newborn. This is partially because risk statistics on hospital births are very hard to quantify in many cases as hospitals must report certain statistics but will always seek to present themselves in the best light, for obvious reasons. As a nurse I have witnessed this firsthand and it is an understandable result of the fact that hospitals must look out for their own self-interests if they wish to stay in business. The meta-analysis upon which ACOG relies in order to generate these mortality risk statistics, while rigorous, also contained some serious flaws. As a professional researcher I find it concerning when such limitations are not discussed in news reporting. They also failed to discuss what was meant by the fact that "absolute risk" is still very low overall, but especially in home birth settings. Every birth carries certain risks with in, even in the most technologized and highly-equipped hospitals in the U.S. Although I am glad this report was not entirely one-sided, and was heartened to see the interview with Alice Bailes, a Certified Nurse-Midwife with considerable experience and knowledge in her area, I hope that future reports will be more balanced rather than presenting a few homebirth advantages and an uplifting anecdote up-front but ending with the guest who represents medical authority presenting a set of scary statistics and warnings for parents about the potential dangers of home birth.