Unassisted Childbirth

So, there I was reading Homebirth Debate and I started trying to find the UC site that Dr Amy refers to. I must be particularly unobservant as I can’t discover the name, or a link, which would allow me to read the forums. Whilst searching I stumbled across this midwifery today forum, which contained the following:-

Hi my name is Lisa, I am 28weeks and I am moving to South Carolina (Spartanburg County) in the next few weeks. I have been researching UCand I absolutley want to do this. I attend breastfeeding meetings once a week and I always ask a lot of questions (questions concerning pregnancy, usually). But there are some that can’t be answered because they are not into what I believe in (as to do it the natural way). Here are some questions that I can’t seem to get answered and hope someone can help.

1. What “exactly” do I need to do to get a birth certificate? Do they need the weight and length of the baby, too?

2. Is it illegal in the state of South Carolina to do UC?3. I want to have the birth in the tub. So when the head comes out do I need to stand up, not to drown the baby?

4. *I would like to know of a herbologist or whom ever knows about such things, in this area, so that if something happens that I may havetintures to use (instead of drugs) for hemmoraging etc., or say soothing smells in the home.*5. I am Rh- I do not want the shot, which my doctor wants to give me next week at my visit, (to his surprise I am not taking that or the blood test for diabetees - I feel great!). What are your feelings on this matter? 6. Where can I go to find out about positions for delivery, in case my baby is breeched?7. Should I go to Lamaze class?

8. Do I need to get out of the tub once I delivery the baby, so my body can deliver the placenta?

9. If it is a boy, I would like him to be circumsized. How long do I wait? Where do I go? and does he realy need a vitamin K shot? (I would prefer the oral vitamin K.)

10. Last but not least if something goes wrong I will go to the hospital, but will they respect my wishes as to no Hepititus B, Ointment in the eyes, PKU test, etc.? I do have a Birth Plan.

I’m sorry that it is so lengthy, but I am almost prepared in having this baby! Thanks so much!

Where do I start? I’m going to begin my saying that my first thought when I read this was ‘ This has to be a wind-up. Someone who is so clearly uninformed can not be considering UC’. Then I mused again and thought that at least she is trying to find out about the process. Logic stepped in ‘ She has access to the internet, she must have done a search.’ That was my next step and immediately I found this guide to unassisted childbirth. and these extracts from video’s . Lisa must have found these as well, why the naive questions?What has caused me so much angst? I’ll start by discussing he points that I’ve highlighted in green. I attend breastfeeding meetings once a week (crikey, is she studying for a diploma?) Why not ‘birthing classes’. If I was thinking of giving birth wihout any professional assistance I would be going to any groups, meetings I could track down which may give me a few ideas about the whole birthing experience.I want to have the birth in the tub. So when the head comes out do I need to stand up, not to drown the baby? Now I’m worried. She has an idea in her head but really knows nothing about it. This is phrased as if she believes that it would be easy to stand up as the baby’s head is being born. Does she really appreciate the effort that is involved in giving birth, the overwhelming sensations that a woman experiences? I’m not even going to touch on the dangers of a pool/tub birth if she has not done a great deal of reading/research around the subject.tintures to use (instead of drugs) for hemmoraging etc., or say soothing smells in the home Haemorrhaging. Yes, lets use a few ‘tinctures’, that should stop a haemorrhage. Let’s put this in context, we are not talking about a trickle of blood here, we are talking flood,It is estimated that as much as 600 ml of blood flows through the placenta each minute in a full-term pregnancy, that’s over a pint a minute. Okay, so Lisa could try Arnica or Bellis , but that’s assuming that the bleeding is caused by her uterus not contracting down, supposing she has sustained a huge tear which has severed a blood vessel, making her womb contract, is not going to be of much use. PPH (postpartum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. If it is a boy, I would like him to be circumsized  Why? Come on Lisa, you don’t want any medicalisation to do with his birth so why have a part of him removed following his birth? It may be a religious demand, but otherwise??????I am almost prepared in having this baby No. She is no where near being prepared, and the fact that she believes that is what is so frightening.I don’t believe that all births should happen in hospital, but I do believe that having someone present who is equipped and trained to deal with any problems is desirable. There will always be times when babies are born before assistance arrives. However, in the main these births occur quickly and this generally means that all is well with the relationship between the Mum’s pelvis,the size of the baby and the ability of the uterus to contract efficiently. These are not long labours which can cause the uterus to tire and not contract down well following baby being born, births with the Mum lounging about in the bath and not knowing what to do, or births where there is a problem with the baby being too large and getting its shoulders stuck.

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