Carry it forward

I had a hugely satisfying moment last week. I visited my old prenatal yoga group and spoke to eight or so pregnant ladies about my home birth. My intention was to tell the story, and as much as possible, not give them the impression that it was something only for medical outliers or masochists. It was also to promote a normal birth in any location (home, birthing centre, maternity ward, without intervention). I think I pulled it off. My instructor even told me that I was a natural public speaker - ha! Me of all people.

Labour saving

A recent paper published in the British Medical Journal reported the cost effectiveness of home births, particularly for those expecting their second and subsequent children.  Links to the paper and a BBC news article included below, and a little splurge by me covering the costs (of many forms) associated with intervention vs. no intervention (i.e., a normal birth).

Oxford study source: Schroeder et al., (2012). Cost effectiveness of alternative planned places of birth in woman at low risk of complications: evidence from the Birthplace in England national prospective cohort study. BMJ 2012;344:e2292. For the abstract summary please see end of this blog*.

BBC news: Home births are more 'cost effective', says Oxford study