Doula and mother Courtney Jarecki, along with her midwife Laurie Perron Mednick, are working on an important new book about home births that result in cesareans. While we wait for the book to be available, the authors are publishing an excellent blog of their own which gives us a preview. Some of you may have experienced an unexpectedly difficult birth, and may be able to relate to the stressful impact these births can have on the relationship between a mother and her midwife (or her doula). I am very moved by the goals of the Homebirth Cesarean book, and I also invite you to read the chapter "When Epidurals and Cesareans are Unplanned" in my own book, which addresses related issues. Here is what Ms. Jarecki has to say:
Homebirth Cesarean is a book-in-progress inspired by HBC (Homebirth Cesarean) birth and the way midwives care for these moms. The name Homebirth Cesarean originated as a way for me to distinguish my birth from the existing categories that didn’t apply. I spent nine months preparing for a homebirth, and after 57 hours of home labor, was transported, where my labor culminated in a Cesarean.
When I began discussing my birth with other mothers whose experiences paralleled my own, they quickly understood the distinction, and the ways that language can both empower and set limits around a mother’s ability to tell her story. As this project has unfolded, it has become clear that part of the healing process for these mothers – and for myself – involves our abilities to reframe the story of our births, beginning with the name we give to them.
However shocking it may be, the name Homebirth Cesarean demands attention, invites inquiry, and sets the stage for the telling of our stories. Most importantly, it captures the many qualities and pieces involved in these experiences, and validates the entire process of our birthing; from home labor, to transport, to surgery, to finally holding our newborns.
Homebirths that end in hospital Cesareans are the homebirth community’s dark secret. Our work is focused on providing a platform to discuss these births so that mothers and midwives can regain the power and confidence that can be lost in the process. For mothers, we seek to hold space for them so they can tell their sacred birth stories. For midwives, we seek to provide new opportunities for them to talk to, for, and on behalf of these mothers.
On the HBC blog, you’ll read HBC birth stories, view clips from interviews with midwives, lactation consultants, doctors and others involved in the care of HBC mamas and their babies, and read sample chapters. If you are a HBC mom or birth worker, and you use Facebook, consider joining the “Homebirth Cesarean” Facebook group to share stories and receive support during your own journey.
Homebirths that end in cesareans are not the homebirth community's dark secret. Unfortunately a small percentage of home births, and a quadrupled number of planned hospital births, will end with surgery. A fact. No secret.
ReplyDeleteHello Alison, I agree that the word "dark" may not be the best choice of wording. I hope that does not take away from the important work these writers are doing -- please read their blog if you have a chance, to see how deeply they go into this powerful subject.
DeleteI will.
ReplyDeleteSo good to see this work, it is desperately needed, as both a homebirth to cesarean and then hbac and now about to sit my NARM, this book is important in so many ways!I am looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteThis will be a must read!
ReplyDeletehaving experienced one myself, as a doula and Childbirth educator, I constantly remind students and clients to expect the unexpected.
ReplyDeleteHi Ananda, I read your blog as well as the book's blog back to June of 2012. I wish there was less trauma around both vaginal and cesarean birth in 2012. I recently wrote a paper about PTSD as a result of the birth process a.k.a. birth rape. Trauma can happen when a mother fears for herself or for her baby, which can happen in all kinds of birth situations. Some women are traumatized by a vaginal birth, by a cesarean, by epidural, by bleeding, by placental delivery, by perineal tearing, by the words of care providers, by the urinary catheter and by many many other actions, words and feelings. I'm bummed that this book is singling out a tiny percentage of the population who has homebirth - about 1% of the birthing population - then is transferred - about 15% of that 1% - then has a cesarean - about 30% has a cesarean of the 15% who transfer from a homebirth of the 1% of the population who has a homebirth. So many women who birth, regardless of location, can experience trauma and would benefit from support. Regards, Joyce
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce, what fascinates me about the "Homebirth Cesareans" project is that they are looking at how an unexpectedly difficult birth affects the relationship between the mother and her midwife. As a doula, I have seen a similar impact on the relationships between doulas and their clients after a difficult birth.
DeleteOn the other hand, mothers who plan a hospital birth anticipate that their baby may be delivered by a doctor or midwife they have never seen before, and they do not have the same expectations as a home birth client. (My personal opinion is that this lack of continuity of care for hospital patients can cause major problems -- and maybe that would be the subject of another book entirely.) Then there is the fact that in the U.S. at least, home birth families who have to transfer to the hospital have no relationship with those providers, either.
I share your wish that birth trauma was not at epidemic levels. It is interesting to think about whether the issues unique to home birth cesareans (or the issues unique to the relationship between a mother and her home birth midwife, or her doula) merit a book of their own. I am personally very interested in seeing this book when it comes out.