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Medical is probably the single most regulated industry in the US. The US landed at the worst possible system where the government mostly only pays for medical f
by wyager 5y ago
Medical is probably the single most regulated industry in the US. The US landed at the worst possible system where the government mostly only pays for medical for old people (where the returns on expenditures are very low), but simultaneously interferes a lot with hospitals and insurance in ways that make the process very punishing for everyone.
You can get much better service for way less money if you avoid the red tape and do a home birth.
- aidos 5y agoWe’ve had 2 home births now. And the 1st birth was nearly a homebirth too. They’ve all gone well for us, so I recommend them from that point of view, but on the other hand, I don’t recommend them because I’d hate to have any hand in a situation that went wrong for someone else. Our last we actually delivered on our own because the midwifes didn’t get to us in time.
- choeger 5y agoWhile home birth is certainly possible and apparently can be a very nice experience, I strongly suggest going into a hospital for birth (you should be able to choose a hospital of your liking after talking to the nurses/doctors/midwifes working there). Birth is safe in most cases, but complications do happen. While the probability is low, the possible damage is extreme. Please consider the availability of experienced medical professionals as a safety net for mother and child! I witnessed an "emergency" C-section after 18hours of labor without any prior indications and was extremely happy that professionals were literally in the next room when this became necessary.
- jmkd 5y agoAs a counterpoint, home births are in general very safe if recommended prerequisites have been met. Typically: 1) low-risk pregnancy 2) within X minutes of suitable hospital 3) higher level of monitoring in late pregnancy and perhaps two midwives at birth Birth - a natural process - has been commercially medicalised, especially in Brasil (C-section rate >60%) and the US (>30%). If giving birth at home was normalised, we'd see a huge growth in natural birth and an increased availability for medical staff to support in emergencies if required. But the rates of emergencies would actually decline too.
- bredren 5y agoPoint 1 is a big point. Lots of things make a birth not “low risk.” Otherwise I think it’s an awesome idea and encourage people to consider it. Birthing centers are also a great alternative. I do not especially like the idea of hospitals as default places of birth, but acknowledge the potential value when needed.
- souprock 5y agoI probably wouldn't have most of my family if I'd gone to a hospital. My twins would have been a C-section, and then the scar would have led to another C-section and to troubles with the placenta invading the scar. Before long the uterus just plain wouldn't work OK, and would endanger the lives of future babies. Avoiding a C-section is really important for having a large family. My 13th is due in 6 weeks.
- captainredbeard 5y agoCongrats on your family!!
- okprod 5y agoVery interesting. A coworker hired a professional doula and their home birth went well. I'm not sure yet what we would do.
- PragmaticPulp 5y ago> You can get much better service for way less money if you avoid the red tape and do a home birth. My wife had unexpected complications that would have been disastrous, possibly fatal if we had been at home rather than a hospital for delivery. I can’t imagine trying to rush her from home to the hospital mid-delivery. I’m forever grateful for the medical care we received at the hospital during delivery. It’s simply not possible to deliver the same care at home.