Alternative Birthing Zone

What is alternative birthing?

Alternative birthing means birthing outside the hospital setting. This can be at home, at a birthing center or anywhere outside the hospital. Either birthing with midwife assistance or unassisted.

"Childbirth is a very personal, intimate and emotional experience. Each woman deserves the right to choose what delivery is best for her and her unborn child. Now some women choose to birth outside the hospital because they want to experience childbirth naturally and privately (often times this is not an option in the hospital setting). I've met women who birth outside the hospital for spiritual reasons, some do it for financial reasons and others even do it because of personal convictions.

Personally, I have chosen to birth outside the hospital to avoid unnecessary medical interventions in my risk free pregnancy." -> read the rest of this article here.

Unfortunately there is much fear and negativity surrounding alternative birth, this is mainly to do with lack of information and education on the topic. This page is designed to provide information and resources for those who are interested in alternative birthing.

Here are some topics and info to get you started on your quest for alternative birth information:

• The benefits of choosing midwives rather than obstetricians
• Natural childbirth and home-birthing for non-hippies
• USA Citizen's thoughts on midwifery and it's exclusion in modern medicine.

"In the U.S. the national infant mortality rate was 8.9 deaths per 1,000 live births [in 1991]. The worst state was Delaware at 11.8, with the District of Columbia even worse at 21.0. The best state was Vermont, with only 5.8. Vermont also has one of the highest rates of home birth in the country as well as a larger portion of midwife-attended births than most states. " -(Stewart, David, International Infant Mortality Rates--U.S. in 22nd Place, NAPSAC News, Fall- Winter, 1993, p.36)

Two new articles about unassisted childbirth

For the past month or so I’ve been hearing about a UC article that was published in the UK magazine Junior Pregnancy and Baby. Yesterday someone finally sent me a copy, which I scanned in.

Another nice UC article was just posted on the iparenting web site. I enjoyed talking to writer Kelly Burgess, and felt she accurately stated my views on the subject...

Read the rest of Laura Shanley's post here

Birth Bliss-A look at Hypnobirthing

"... the logic of hypnobirthing: if women are terrified of childbirth, the fight-or-flight reflex kicks in once the contractions start. This reflex shuts down organs that are nonessential to fighting and fleeing, including the uterus. With reduced blood flow, the uterus cramps, causing pain. If women could relax, the theory goes, they would experience no pain, have more effective contractions and therefore a shorter labor."

“...the midwifery model for pregnancy and maternity care has been found to be beneficial to women and families, resulting in good outcomes and cost savings. ... With its focus on pregnancy as a normal life event and health promotion for women of all ages, the midwifery model of care is an appropriate alternative or complement to the medical approach to childbirth.”- American Public Health Association, “Supporting Access to Midwifery Services in the United States (Position Paper)”, American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 91, No. 3, March 2001.

Amish groups rallied to fight for their right to choose home birth

Back in July 2008 ABC News reported on the closing of midwife Diane Goslin's practice.

Many states now prohibit the practice of midwifery and are limiting women's birthing choices.