Quote:
Originally Posted by NutMeg
@ ratmist: Well you had preeclampsia. That's dangerous stuff. I think most of the time a home birth is possible, but with conditions like preeclampsia it just isn't.
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Aye.
It was very frightening. We didn't know I had preeclampsia until a routine prenatal check showed all the symptoms had suddenly appeared, practically overnight. I'd had a headache for a week, but none of the other symptoms (protein in the urine was nil, no high blood pressure readings, no pain in my belly).
When I suddenly showed protein and high BP, I was induced in 24 hours. Until then, my pregnancy was utterly normal and boring. I had wanted a home birth initially, but I'm very glad now that I didn't get one. My boy needed forceps and I ended up with an episiotomy and tears anyway, lost a lot of blood, had transfusions, etc. It was a nightmare of a mess.
My point is that the preeclampsia only showed up at the very, very end of my pregnancy, and it was only detected because of a routine check on my health. I worry that if someone isn't getting enough healthcare during their pregnancy, home birth can be very dangerous to the health of the mother and child. I'm all for independence and being able to make birth as natural and happy as possible, but I think too many things can go wrong.
), and with a young child in hand
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