I can wholeheartedly appreciate Dr. Eisenstein's account of how hospitals and most obstetricians in our country have caused more harm than good to mothers and babies during birth - however...I did not see one account of homebirth midwives in his book. It is very rare to have physicians attending homebirths - I believe that Dr. Eisenstein's practice the only one of its kind - and most homebirths in the US today are attended by midwives - both Certified Nurse Midwives and direct-entry midwives. Why does he not mention them in this book? Did I miss this reference?
By reading this book, one would assume that homebirth is only safe with a physician in attendance. This is absolutely not true. I would have loved to see more references to midwives, specifically journal articles and statistics that show that homebirth with midwives (and quite possibly physicians) are as safe, if not safer, than hospital births.
Illinois is a very hostile state to homebirth midwives. I would hope that Dr. Eisenstein and his partners are helping homebirth midwives (edited to confirm that NO they are NOT). If not, I would strongly encourage them to remember that midwives are the main reason why homebirth is so nationally recognized and available for most American women. Support of their practices, efforts, and legalization is needed! We cannot continue to criminalize women who are skilled at helping women and providing a safe, reasonable alternative to insitutional childbirth!
Above all, the message that homebirth is safe is great, but it's erroneous to assume that homebirth is only safe with a physician in attendance. I would trust the loving, educated, and skillful care of a midwife for any homebirth.
Product Description
This book challanges America's traditional hospital basedbirth system, the system which has placed the United States at thebottom of the list of industrialized nations with regard to healthybabies and healthy mothers.Dr. Eisenstein explains that birth, forthe majority of women, may even be safer without the routine hospitalprocedures: electronic fetal monitoring, episitomy, iv's, epidurals,etc.
From the Author
As I see it there is one major reason to choose homebirth for your family.It will change so many other aspects for yourlife for the positive and affect so many decisions that you make.Childbirth at home is an event which strengthens all those who areprivileged to experience it.It empowers the participants withknowledge that they can give birth and enjoy it!!
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