Should healthy US women be able to give birth at home? As long as they are recieving care?

Question

Midwife or Doc care. Is this not a family issue? Why does the law tell people how to have their families. Do the Amish still birth at home? Isn't the risk of serious infection (like MRSA) worse in a hospital setting? Wouldn't home births be cheaper and safer in the long run, for healthy women/babies. ** Not talking about sick or high risk pregnancies.

Answer 1

As long as a woman has taken the right precautions by having monthly check-ups and hiring a midwife, there is no reason why a woman should not have the right to choose how and where her baby is born.  It would be far worse to let the government dictate how and where American citizens are ALLOWED to give birth.  

And yes, the Amish do still practice home-births except under extreme conditions where they know that there is something medically wrong.

Answer 2

there's a law that says you're not allowed to? that's a bit controlling...i think it's a metter of choice providing there is no extra risk to mother or child from being at home

Answer 3

Believe it or not there are still a considerable number of women who give birth at home with a midwife present.  It certainly is a family issue and the law cannot (at least not legally) prevent you from birthing at home.  The law in most states does require the midwifes to be licensed.  Everytime my paralyzed son goes in the hospital he contracts MRSA.  In fact he is in the hospital now and has MRSA.  Doesn't say much for how sanitary our nurses, aides and hospitals are, does it?  The Amish do still give birth at home and I bet as clean as they are you won't hear of any infections in newborns.  Hospitals are a breeding ground for infections.  5 times out of 10, if you don't have one when you enter, you will have one when discharged.  I totally agree with you.

Answer 4

Years ago children were always born at home.  I was born at home.  I sometimes wonder if it has more to do with the money side of it.  They can charge you a lot more if you are in hospital.  Mercenary I know, but that is our American medical system these days.

I have seen women give birth in the street and get up, wrap their baby in a blanket and go on their way.

Answer 5

Yes,of course.

Answer 6

It should be personal choice in case such as that. What ever happened to personal choice?

Answer 7

no way, that is sooo icky.  I'm not eating off the same table mom squirts my baby sister out onto.

Answer 8

absolutely!  I think it would be a good idea to have a professional present just in case something goes wrong.  Other than that, our ancestors did not have hospitals and all that to deal with. But I do strongly recommend that a professional be close. I think a home birth would be a wonderful experience.