People who choose home birth are making the a selfish choice, they are putting their own desire and fantasies above the health of their babies. There is zero reason in America in 2022 for you to risk your life and your child's life by delivering at home.

https://people.com/parents/kara-keough-bosworth-son-died-final-moments-daughter-gma-interview/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VHC has drastically lowered their c-section rate by basically putting in an after-action reporting mechanism to try to figure out why *unplanned* c-sections are happening. Not “baby is breech we’ve been scheduling a c-section for weeks” but why people who were good candidates for vaginal birth and wanted one were getting c-sections. I would deliver there, because the doctors doing the delivery are aware that “convenience” c-sections are not in the cards, so if you have a c-section there that you didn’t want, you at least know you needed it.

Thank you for this information.

It’s cute you think it’s possible to know if a C section was needed in hindsight. Would love to see the crystal ball you’ve got that plays the alternate reality so we can know for sure.

The “crystal ball” appears to be an analysis by the medical team. Maybe you could work on your reading comprehension. I get that you are defensive about c sections but you are really ruining a thread where the OP wanted information based on the type of birth she preferred.

Here’s the thing. First time moms don’t know what they don’t know. You think the mom who had a 50 hour forceps birth was glad she avoided a C section?
Or the moms who ended up with pelvic floor injuries? There’s not enough prenatal education to fully teach the benefits and risks of C section versus vaginal
So pretty much first time moms go into their first birth thinking vaginal birth is best and c sections are bad and to be avoided. It’s an oversimplified,
Binary perspective that’s damaging. The reality is much more complex and nuanced. So I push back on your assertion that because OP thinks she prefers a certain kind of birth (which is only an anticipated preference that can change when confronted with reality) everyone should just listen to that and not bother to open her eyes to the reality that what she thinks she prefers, she might not, and might have unanticipated consequences.

So here is another thing. No one is telling OP that, if a c section is medically necessary, she should forego a c section and risk her or her baby’s life to ensure a vaginal birth.

Certain hospitals in this region have a reputation for doing unnecessary sections when the mothers would have preferred to continue to labor. Others have the opposite reputation- especially some midwife practices. That is the information that OP is looking for, from what I understand. Not post after post shaming her for having a preference.

NP but there was the one post boosting home births, which boils down to something very close to the bolded.

Anywhoo OP, I wanted a vaginal birth. Had the doula, the midwives, all of it. And then I just . . . never went into labor. I had to be induced and suddenly the midwives treated me like a quitter for not keeping a baby inside me for 42+ weeks and settling for a Certified Hippie Stillbirth. And many of the things I read about achieving vaginal birth were counterproductive for me. Ina May Gaskin left me terrified of cytotec, so I had a Foley bulb. The Foley bulb was so painful for me that I essentially used up all of my allotted "non-epidural" pain meds for that. Then it came out, I went on pitocin (again, the worst!! thing!! according to Gaskin, et al.), and pitocin was great. Moved my labor along, made it to where I could actually feel my contractions which hurt much less than the bulb, and generally worked as intended. And the worst thing was when I had to have a c-section, I felt like I was flying blind. I didn't know what questions to ask, how to tell if I was healing correctly, none of it. I read something like 8 childbirth books but they were all so dedicated to avoiding the dreaded C that when I ended up with one I might as well have just read celebrity biographies during those months.

Good luck getting your desired outcome. But remember it's not really up to you, a lot is luck and the structure of your pelvis and the position of your baby and and and. Try to take a broad and remember that delivery method is not particularly important in the grand scheme of things.

An OB is a surgeon. She exists for emergencies, which is great. A midwife is a professional health care provider who delivers babies.

I too had 2 babies at home. Both had the cord around their neck and in a few seconds my midwife -- who has delivered hundreds of babies -- whipped it off. I got to watch and she was amazing. I was 32 with my first and 37 with my second.

My initial OB wanted me to deliver at Sibley but when I did my research I immediately switched. She was a really nice person but we had very different philosophies.

There are risks for both vaginal and c births. I had a vaginal the first time around and my recovery was so hellish that if I get pregnant again I will schedule a csection for the first day my OBGYN will agree to, and I will take all the pain medication provided. I’m sure it will suck 100%. I know though, that for me, birth is bad. My first was complete shit. Another will be too, so I might as well know when and how it’s happening and get drugs to help cope with the pain.

Anonymous wrote:Midwives have lower c section rates. I am with a midwife now despite being a VBAC.

Also don’t forget that a major reason for this is because the midwives won’t take on medicinally complicated cases that are more likely to result in a c section. With my first, I was super committed to a “natural birth” and started off with a very well known midwife practice in the DMV. They suddenly transferred to me to the OBs at 34 weeks once some potential complications started to come up. In the end, I did end up as on of the “unplanned” c sections for the OBs in the end after an awful, grueling induction.

Anonymous wrote:Oh please, do you really think you know all the downsides of vaginal deliveries the way you know about the downsides of C sections? Do you really have any clue about vaginal
Birth injuries like pelvic organ prolapse, levator ani avulsion, fistula, anal incontinence, torn anal sphincter, etc? Do you really know about stress incontinence, or flatal incontinence or vaginal laxity? Do you really know about how women with prolapse can frequently experience air trapped in the vagina (aka queefing) just from moving around, can’t often have IUDs due to the fact that they get dislodged, can’t often retain or wear tampons, and more? Or about how women can experience PTSD from long labors and difficult
Births? I’m going to guess not. Because hardly anyone ever talks about this stuff. But there’s a reason urogynecologists and colorectal surgeons and pelvic floor PTs are in business.

I don’t think I know every possible complication of either c-section or vaginal delivery. I certainly know all of the common ones of both, and every one you mentioned (though I am sure you know c-section does not prevent prolapse, since that is primarily caused by carrying the baby, not delivery).

I also think, again, OP knows more about her own circumstances and what she wants for her delivery than we do, so we should take her at her word and answer her pretty straightforward request for information rather than telling her her birth preference is uninformed…

Anonymous wrote:Oh please, do you really think you know all the downsides of vaginal deliveries the way you know about the downsides of C sections? Do you really have any clue about vaginal
Birth injuries like pelvic organ prolapse, levator ani avulsion, fistula, anal incontinence, torn anal sphincter, etc? Do you really know about stress incontinence, or flatal incontinence or vaginal laxity? Do you really know about how women with prolapse can frequently experience air trapped in the vagina (aka queefing) just from moving around, can’t often have IUDs due to the fact that they get dislodged, can’t often retain or wear tampons, and more? Or about how women can experience PTSD from long labors and difficult
Births? I’m going to guess not. Because hardly anyone ever talks about this stuff. But there’s a reason urogynecologists and colorectal surgeons and pelvic floor PTs are in business.

It sounds like you are taking this personally. OP asked for hospitals with low c-section rates. She didn’t ask to debate the pros and cons with vaginal births. Let’s support women and trust this mom is making the best decision for herself and her baby.

Anonymous wrote:I’m with GW Midwife practice because I’d like to avoid c-section if possible. They have an incredible track record and access to the best NICU in DC.

GW does not have the best NICU, please. It’s
Georgetown or Children’s that had that distinction.

Oh please, do you really think you know all the downsides of vaginal deliveries the way you know about the downsides of C sections? Do you really have any clue about vaginal
Birth injuries like pelvic organ prolapse, levator ani avulsion, fistula, anal incontinence, torn anal sphincter, etc? Do you really know about stress incontinence, or flatal incontinence or vaginal laxity? Do you really know about how women with prolapse can frequently experience air trapped in the vagina (aka queefing) just from moving around, can’t often have IUDs due to the fact that they get dislodged, can’t often retain or wear tampons, and more? Or about how women can experience PTSD from long labors and difficult
Births? I’m going to guess not. Because hardly anyone ever talks about this stuff. But there’s a reason urogynecologists and colorectal surgeons and pelvic floor PTs are in business.

Anonymous wrote:I had both my kids with the midwives at GW. During my 2nd labor, the midwife bought me a few extra pushes to get the baby out myself and for that I am thankful. My husband said the OB team was literally in the doorway ready to wheel me to surgery.

My first labor I was the last L&D bed at GW before they started diverting to Sibley. My labor was long and my doula told me frankly “if you had gone to Sibley, that baby would not have come out of your vagina”

I had three with GW OBs. The second kid, I signed a consent form for a c section and DH was in scrubs but they gave me a few more minutes to see if I could get baby out quickly myself (his heart rate was dropping). I birthed him vaginally and I/hewas fine with great Apgar, and I appreciated that why were ready to do what it took to keep baby safe while giving me a full chance to avoid c section. If he were my first, he probably would have been a c since first time moms often need more than 15 minutes of pushing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VHC has drastically lowered their c-section rate by basically putting in an after-action reporting mechanism to try to figure out why *unplanned* c-sections are happening. Not “baby is breech we’ve been scheduling a c-section for weeks” but why people who were good candidates for vaginal birth and wanted one were getting c-sections. I would deliver there, because the doctors doing the delivery are aware that “convenience” c-sections are not in the cards, so if you have a c-section there that you didn’t want, you at least know you needed it.

Thank you for this information.

It’s cute you think it’s possible to know if a C section was needed in hindsight. Would love to see the crystal ball you’ve got that plays the alternate reality so we can know for sure.

The “crystal ball” appears to be an analysis by the medical team. Maybe you could work on your reading comprehension. I get that you are defensive about c sections but you are really ruining a thread where the OP wanted information based on the type of birth she preferred.

Here’s the thing. First time moms don’t know what they don’t know. You think the mom who had a 50 hour forceps birth was glad she avoided a C section?
Or the moms who ended up with pelvic floor injuries? There’s not enough prenatal education to fully teach the benefits and risks of C section versus vaginal
So pretty much first time moms go into their first birth thinking vaginal birth is best and c sections are bad and to be avoided. It’s an oversimplified,
Binary perspective that’s damaging. The reality is much more complex and nuanced. So I push back on your assertion that because OP thinks she prefers a certain kind of birth (which is only an anticipated preference that can change when confronted with reality) everyone should just listen to that and not bother to open her eyes to the reality that what she thinks she prefers, she might not, and might have unanticipated consequences.

I’m not who you quoted but I disagree with your first sentence. Especially in the DMV, FTMs are not ignorant children who read on Facebook that vaginal is best. When I was a first time mom, I had watched my sister go through a hellish c-section recovery, complicated by an intolerance shared by other women in my family for most painkillers. So I wanted to avoid a c-section with a lot more information (complex and nuanced!) than just thinking vaginal birth was “better”. I assume that most mothers know their own situation well enough that if they have a preference it’s likely we’ll-informed.

Sorry I’m the poster above and just want to add as well— I feel the same way if a mother *wants* a c-section. I don’t think she doesn’t know the risks or that it’s major surgery, I assume she knows that and has other information that makes her prefer c-section and I respect that preference as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VHC has drastically lowered their c-section rate by basically putting in an after-action reporting mechanism to try to figure out why *unplanned* c-sections are happening. Not “baby is breech we’ve been scheduling a c-section for weeks” but why people who were good candidates for vaginal birth and wanted one were getting c-sections. I would deliver there, because the doctors doing the delivery are aware that “convenience” c-sections are not in the cards, so if you have a c-section there that you didn’t want, you at least know you needed it.

Thank you for this information.

It’s cute you think it’s possible to know if a C section was needed in hindsight. Would love to see the crystal ball you’ve got that plays the alternate reality so we can know for sure.

The “crystal ball” appears to be an analysis by the medical team. Maybe you could work on your reading comprehension. I get that you are defensive about c sections but you are really ruining a thread where the OP wanted information based on the type of birth she preferred.

Here’s the thing. First time moms don’t know what they don’t know. You think the mom who had a 50 hour forceps birth was glad she avoided a C section?
Or the moms who ended up with pelvic floor injuries? There’s not enough prenatal education to fully teach the benefits and risks of C section versus vaginal
So pretty much first time moms go into their first birth thinking vaginal birth is best and c sections are bad and to be avoided. It’s an oversimplified,
Binary perspective that’s damaging. The reality is much more complex and nuanced. So I push back on your assertion that because OP thinks she prefers a certain kind of birth (which is only an anticipated preference that can change when confronted with reality) everyone should just listen to that and not bother to open her eyes to the reality that what she thinks she prefers, she might not, and might have unanticipated consequences.

I’m not who you quoted but I disagree with your first sentence. Especially in the DMV, FTMs are not ignorant children who read on Facebook that vaginal is best. When I was a first time mom, I had watched my sister go through a hellish c-section recovery, complicated by an intolerance shared by other women in my family for most painkillers. So I wanted to avoid a c-section with a lot more information (complex and nuanced!) than just thinking vaginal birth was “better”. I assume that most mothers know their own situation well enough that if they have a preference it’s likely we’ll-informed.

I’m with GW Midwife practice because I’d like to avoid c-section if possible. They have an incredible track record and access to the best NICU in DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VHC has drastically lowered their c-section rate by basically putting in an after-action reporting mechanism to try to figure out why *unplanned* c-sections are happening. Not “baby is breech we’ve been scheduling a c-section for weeks” but why people who were good candidates for vaginal birth and wanted one were getting c-sections. I would deliver there, because the doctors doing the delivery are aware that “convenience” c-sections are not in the cards, so if you have a c-section there that you didn’t want, you at least know you needed it.

Thank you for this information.

It’s cute you think it’s possible to know if a C section was needed in hindsight. Would love to see the crystal ball you’ve got that plays the alternate reality so we can know for sure.

The “crystal ball” appears to be an analysis by the medical team. Maybe you could work on your reading comprehension. I get that you are defensive about c sections but you are really ruining a thread where the OP wanted information based on the type of birth she preferred.

Here’s the thing. First time moms don’t know what they don’t know. You think the mom who had a 50 hour forceps birth was glad she avoided a C section?
Or the moms who ended up with pelvic floor injuries? There’s not enough prenatal education to fully teach the benefits and risks of C section versus vaginal
So pretty much first time moms go into their first birth thinking vaginal birth is best and c sections are bad and to be avoided. It’s an oversimplified,
Binary perspective that’s damaging. The reality is much more complex and nuanced. So I push back on your assertion that because OP thinks she prefers a certain kind of birth (which is only an anticipated preference that can change when confronted with reality) everyone should just listen to that and not bother to open her eyes to the reality that what she thinks she prefers, she might not, and might have unanticipated consequences.

So here is another thing. No one is telling OP that, if a c section is medically necessary, she should forego a c section and risk her or her baby’s life to ensure a vaginal birth.

Certain hospitals in this region have a reputation for doing unnecessary sections when the mothers would have preferred to continue to labor. Others have the opposite reputation- especially some midwife practices. That is the information that OP is looking for, from what I understand. Not post after post shaming her for having a preference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VHC has drastically lowered their c-section rate by basically putting in an after-action reporting mechanism to try to figure out why *unplanned* c-sections are happening. Not “baby is breech we’ve been scheduling a c-section for weeks” but why people who were good candidates for vaginal birth and wanted one were getting c-sections. I would deliver there, because the doctors doing the delivery are aware that “convenience” c-sections are not in the cards, so if you have a c-section there that you didn’t want, you at least know you needed it.

Thank you for this information.

It’s cute you think it’s possible to know if a C section was needed in hindsight. Would love to see the crystal ball you’ve got that plays the alternate reality so we can know for sure.

The “crystal ball” appears to be an analysis by the medical team. Maybe you could work on your reading comprehension. I get that you are defensive about c sections but you are really ruining a thread where the OP wanted information based on the type of birth she preferred.

Here’s the thing. First time moms don’t know what they don’t know. You think the mom who had a 50 hour forceps birth was glad she avoided a C section?
Or the moms who ended up with pelvic floor injuries? There’s not enough prenatal education to fully teach the benefits and risks of C section versus vaginal
So pretty much first time moms go into their first birth thinking vaginal birth is best and c sections are bad and to be avoided. It’s an oversimplified,
Binary perspective that’s damaging. The reality is much more complex and nuanced. So I push back on your assertion that because OP thinks she prefers a certain kind of birth (which is only an anticipated preference that can change when confronted with reality) everyone should just listen to that and not bother to open her eyes to the reality that what she thinks she prefers, she might not, and might have unanticipated consequences.