Home or Hospital? Holding the Space for Human Birth: Saraswathi Vedam at TEDxAmherstCollege

[@kaydiangel33]

Thank you so much for this talk! ♡ I just had my first little baby girl naturally. I had a home birth in Arizona. This talked changed my life. After watching this video I started to research childbirth. I switched from my OBGYN to my midwife. I am so happy I had my baby at home with my midwife. ♡ perfect home birth. I'm going to have all my babies at home. ♡♡♡

[@Yourlifeisgold79]

I work on a critical care floor in the hospital, and I will NOT have my children in a hospital. I had my first one there and it was a horrible experience. I was not listened too and was made to stay in the bed...I had to keep fighting for my rights throughout the whole labor process...no epidural..no iv fluids..No pitocin.. It was exhausting and traumatic for me. My next 2 children I had with midwives in birthing centers. My 4th child, I was in the hospital briefly in pre term labor and was reminded all over again why I do NOT want to go to a hospital. Constant monitoring...drs wanting to do what THEY want to do..not whats best for me..and One of the nurses actually used that statement of..ok, so you want to do this for your own comfort.." I was ready to check myself out ama....and go to another hospital, all because i did NOT want the oncall dr to deliver my baby if i was going to deliver....this dr , i was told..." If you speak up about what you want or dont want..this dr will make a point to do the Exact opposite of what you want." The bullying..abuse and lack of respect is astounding in this country for a laboring women. I was told.." We treat every pt that comes here as if they are going to end up with an emergency c-section" Thats the problem. Right there. I wish..I felt safe to deliver in a hospital. I wish i knew that I could labor in the best way For Me and my baby with lifesaving medical interventions and staff there and available if the need arose. However....I do not feel safe. Those interventions are forced upon us, from the time you walk into the hospital doors. This is America. We should have access to medical care if we need it..and should be given the freedom to decide when we should call upon those interventions if we need them. We should be trusted, that our bodies know best. There is NO mutual trust between Healthcare providers and Laboring women. I am choosing to stay home this time, because I know its more dangerous for my baby to rely on me, to bring him into this world..in the state that I would be in if I was in the hospital. The system needs to change.

[@Livingfaith_homelife]

So sorry you had to experience this with your last births mama, it's really sad how the medical systems treat birth as an emergency. How was your experience with the midwives at the birth center? Was it a better option than the hospital?

[@zahedacoovadia3434]

My deepest respect for Saraswathi Vedam! Give back the respect and confidence to women to be able to birth in the most sacred space.. as birth is death and rebirth to the mother too, and it is solemn and joyful and only experienced to the fullest within their own boundaries

[@creolenebulas]

I wish I knew more about hospital births before I had my son. I wanted a natural birth and was told dismissively "yeah, we'll see". 2 days after my due date with no complications and a thriving baby I was coerced into being induced and ended up having a cesarian. 4 other patients of my doctor were induced the same day most of us ended up getting cesarians... Before I was discharged from the hospital my doctor had already left for his vacation. I am still infuriated he deceptively gave himself a multiple c-section bonus and planned our births around his vacation.

[@eglabush]

I am so sorry that that was your experience. It is not acceptable at all. I hope you have a VBAC one day! I am sure you can do it.

[@rehemankisi3551]

what is the doctors name? i would like to know. That is such a seriuos violation. I am so sorry that happened to you. You and none of those women and their families deserved that spineless act. or robbing of your powerful love experiences.

[@nitieverlekar129]

That's exact same thing happened to me. I had a great pregnancy but the doctors in India give their social life more priority than their patients. Unfortunately we do not have a great justice system to sue the doctors over there. The recovery after c - section is hard and terrible for mother and baby bonding. I'm in the US now and my doctor is supportive of VBAC so keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well.

[@souvanypanoun7755]

Sydnei Prosper That was terrible of him. I hope he experiences the shame he deserves.

[@katizkool5039]

Sadly this isn’t the first time I’ve heard of this. I remember sitting at my sister in laws birth and wondering why they only wanted her to lay on her back and they yelled at her and were kind of mean when they felt like she was struggling. She was panicking (I would too if my family had been told to sit down and I was stuck in a bed with nurses yelling at me). Then they gave her a c-section. She had a reaction to the anesthesia so they knocked her out the rest of the way and fixed her breathing. I got to see my nephew that night but oh my gosh that was so traumatic and she says she isn’t sure if she’ll ever have another kid and now that I’m pregnant I’m signed up at a birthing center. There’s no way I’m going to be stuck on my back and yelled at.

[@tlt935]

I 100% plan on using a midwife. I just saw my sister and sister-in-law go through having babies at hospitals. They treat it more like a "disease" or "medical condition" than the natural course of life. It seemed like everything they were allowed to charge you for, they did it. My sister-in-law went 2 days over her due date and the doctor basically forced her into getting induced. The labor went way too fast as soon as the IV was administered. She ended up having a C-section because the pitocin made the contractions too strong, they worried they were stressing the baby and other complications started happening. Her baby was born very underweight and slightly underdeveloped (he caught up right away and is perfectly healthy now.) The doctor even said if they waited at least a week more, everything probably would have went smoother and he could have been a little more developed. She had to stay in the hospital for 5 days after that. My sister was lucky enough to be in labor for about 7 hours, had a relatively small but healthy baby. She kept telling them she wanted to do it without an epidural and she was doing AMAZING until one nurse came in and guilted her into getting one because "when you're stressed, the baby is stressed. We can get this over with sooner if you get the epidural." She still had to stay in the hospital for 4 days. She had zero complications, the baby has zero complications; she still had to stay in the hospital almost as long as my sister-in-law who had major surgery and her baby had to be in an incubator for 2 days. My sister was going stir crazy but they refused to release her even though they only checked on her or the baby a handful of times. My best friend used a midwife a few years ago and that process seemed way less stressful. She was considered "high risk" for a few reasons and still had to do less tests and ultrasounds than my perfectly healthy sisters. Even with her bleeding disorder, the delivery went a lot smoother with a midwife who cared more about her patients than her paycheck. There were only a few times her midwife had her go to a doctor's office during her pregnancy, but only because she had some preexisting problems before getting pregnant.

[@More13Feen]

This is exactly what I am thinking. Where are you from? I am doing some reserch on the topic and I am very intrested. Its hard to get information cuz here in ny country ppl are very privat. I defently want a birth with a midwife at a birthing center. I study to be a counceler and I strongly belive that the birth experience shape a mother and her child and set the basis of the later experience in live. Love to you!

[@BorndirectUK]

Great message, hope it makes people consider birth as a private, intimate moment not one to be observed and rushed.

[@ammakrupa]

This should become first lesson to Midwives and Obstetricians plus medical and nursing undergraduates.

[@momlulu66]

Amen!!

[@baruchservant5132]

How I wish that this could be greatly considered.

[@regularguyanonymous3248]

Pregnant with my first and I did my research on both hospital and home/birthing center (I am also a med student who has worked in a hospital) I simply made the choice that was right for me. I wanted to be left the fuck alone and let body do what it was designed to do with out being watched like an exhibit. Women and their partners need to do the research and choose what choice they feel is right for the . If u want a c-section...cool, you wanna an epidural...that's cool too, just do all the research you can. Birth is risky NO matter avenue you choose.

[@george.eliot42]

That's... So not true. Birth is natural, not risky "not matter what" and there are virtually no risks involved with a healthy mother in a more natural, holistic home birth/birth center birthing process. Hospitals, drugs, cesareans, & the over medicalization of birth have far more risks, far more maternal deaths, far more infant deaths, I really could go on. People don't like it, because we've created a fear environment around birth, but hospitals aren't necessary and carry much higher risks than natural unmedicated free births.

[@henriettewieldraaijer4282]

I will share this again and again until it is heard and understood and lived!

[@ByGulshan]

A simple intent, giving a woman her dignity and respect back at the most critical stage of her life, childbirth. An idea held hostage with the childbirth industry. Some pics here remind me of factory farms, only for Our children.

[@usufq8348]

"Holding the Space for Human Birth" is a subject of great significance to all of us and certainly this is one of the Best talks i have come across - we all must get acquaint with realities that 'otherwise Disruptive Innovations' have paved its way deep into our lives on the name of corporate-medicine!!!! Highly appreciate this presentation...

[@AnnaHermina]

Fabulous talk! May it be watched by millions! Thank you Ms Vedam!

[@michaelmeyer4915]

Hey, Anna, good one, thanks for sending! Michael

[@bc90851]

Thank you for this information! I’m not pregnant but I do enjoy educating myself that way when I am pregnant I will be 100% prepared. I will most definitely be doing an at home birth.

[@fondantswirl2019]

This is why I’m laboring at home for as long as possible. I don’t care about the pain, I do not want to be rushed and overcharged.

[@donikatod460]

Labor is absolutely a marathon. I had a 60-hour labor. 16 of those were spent in hospital and I was given space and time to labor all night without interventions. The night nurse was quiet, calm. The next day the day shift nurse came in - a very active, loud lady and said, "This baby is coming out today!" in a very happy voice. And my daughter did pop out with minimal intervention (I agreed to the epidural and it did not work, finally in the last hours we did very low dose of pitocin and that worked!). I changed my doctor at week 33. If I had not, with this labor I had I would have ended with a c-section and emotional trauma. I wanted a natural birth - I got plenty hours of that and then got to try the other stuff too in a way that wasn't pressuring me. My waters didn't break, the doctor did that right before I started pushing. She had asked earlier if I wanted that and I said No. She did not ask again after my No. She knew if I wanted that I would ask. She asked if I wanted to be cut, and I said no and there was zero pressure. I tore in the exact way the doc said I would and was fine with that versus a cut. My story is not the norm. I had a doula who looked out for me and was with me for 24 hours straight. I was blessed and lucky. Second time round, 5 years later, I am absolutely set on home birth. And grateful for the fact that hospital is an option but it does not need to be a first choice.

[@birthtimes1]

Nice talk! Thumbs up to a humanized peaceful gentle birth.

[@taisfecher9924]

This woman is amazing! I had my baby with her and it was an amazing experience! I feel so lucky :)

[@baruchservant5132]

How can I reach out to her please if you don't mind 🙏

[@chatgpt4135]

Yaa how can I reach out to her Is she a midwife Or is she a gynaec??? How to contact her for consultancy

[@taisfecher9924]

She's a Midwife in Vancouver, Canada. When I had my baby in 2018, she was a professor at University of British Columbia

[@chatgpt4135]

@@taisfecher9924 Okay thank you , but how to contact her for consultancy? I am newly gonna settle in canada, don't know the system there, thanks

[@CloudTribe]

woman need to ask questions as to why things are the way they are more often instead of blindly accepting things as truth. They also need to value their own opinion and beliefs over whats friends, family and strangers say.

[@michelleheidler983]

Yes! This applies not just to laboring women. People have this idea in their heads that drs are like some kind of demi gods. They are not. Dont just blindly accept what you are being told. (No offense to all the amazing Drs out there!)

[@ClydeVisionFilms]

I had both of our son’s at home and plan to do so for our 3rd. The first with a midwife and the second I free birthed with just my husband and I. I wrote a book called Pregnant and Empowered about my experience I truly pray more women choose to birth at home...Sara Schmidt has births on KZbin

[@acmulhern]

Medical professionals can do so much harm during birth. I only started feeling pain when the midwife arrived, in the middle of transition, and started bothering me because she couldn't see properly, although I was progressing well and confident that I knew what to do (I had done it once before). But once she installed fear in my mind and convinced me that I was doing something wrong (I wasn't, she just didn't know how to do her job) the pain started and it was agony. After the birth was over I felt disappointment and shame rather than the pride I felt after having had my first baby, which I had done successfully all by myself.

[@More13Feen]

I am sorry your labor was interupted in such a way, did you have some suport avter this experience, to work it through? I am doing reserch on the topic... cheers from swizerland :-)

[@acmulhern]

@@More13Feen No, not really. The UK doesn't do support other than pills I'm afaid, and because I wanted to breastfeed I turned those down too.

[@More13Feen]

@@acmulhern oh I am sorry to hear that :-( unfortunatly this is mostly the case. A quick "fix" with some tablets and thats it. I am studing to become a psychological councelr unfortunatly in switzerland.. but maby look some osychosynthesis from R.Assagioli up? I heard its pretty big in the UK

[@kaydiangel2445]

Exactly same thing happened to me. My midwife put fear into my mind when she showed up at my home during transition. My husband and I have decided on a unassisted undisturbed home birth for our second baby.

[@beverlyhills8988]

I tore to absolute bits when they after panicking me in the hospital because the heart monitor wouldn't stay on through contractions and it was too much if an inconvience to them to keep putting me back on. The idiots said they were going to put a monitor into my baby's head, underneath the scalp in the soft spot, so as soon as she left the room to get it, I pushed her from the head all the way out in one. I had a very easy birth, minimal pain looking back on it, no drugs, 2 hours and 15 minutes of active labour and I'm convinced that had they not told me to move onto my back and do that, I would never have torn. The pain for horrendous when I was on my back and whenever the midwife put her fingers in me. I'm never hospital birthing again, I'm having a free birth this time. If I need their help, I will ask for it, I won't have it pushed on me again. In a way I'm thankful for the horrible experiences I had in that hospital, because I would have never found the courage to take control of my own pregnancy and birth otherwise.

[@pamelastewart1274]

Lovely. For the marathon analogy, when he has slowed or stopped, add a bit of pitocin or muscle contractors to speed up his already cramped muscles and perhaps offer to numb his legs so he can't feel the cramps. Non-violent birth saying is beautiful.

[@apintek1]

I loved this! Very empowering and positive!!

[@racheln4309]

The running analogy is great and one that I use often. But I also add this: women who Birth need to prepare for it, just like preparing for a marathon! You need to prepare physically and mentally.

[@mariepaul72]

Thank You for making clear things that we seems to have forgotten all about... Thank you Ms. Vedam... Happy Holiday Everyone

[@newgirl1409]

I couldn't agree more! Bravo! Keep spreading truth and knowledge!

[@truluvrocks]

Awesome speaker and very well presented! :)

[@alishaoyola6718]

They treated me like a caged animal. Never again. I’m 5 months pregnant now and giving birth at home with my husband and midwife.

[@NicoleLakin]

Thank you!! so so so much more needs to be said about this topic, shared and shared all over the world!

[@ericamciver6948]

I despise hospital births. I was told immediately that as a high risk woman I could never have a home birth or a midwife. It was devastating. My last pregnancy was a nightmare. The staff treated me like a criminal, took my daughter for tests and immediately claimed she needed formula. They claimed this because I am on the heavier side that nursing is for healthy moms yet she was born healthy. I am not sure I would ever get prenatal care again if I ever chose to have another.

[@chatgpt4135]

They are the criminals They don't have to control n take feudal charge of mother n baby, u have to assist birth, but they do control mother n baby's existence as slaves, instead of just assisting birth

[@elliediringer3821]

Great talk, oxytocin is released all the time. When you hug someone, give away money, breath deeply, enemy when you shoot a gun.

[@ShubhanandDas]

great talk on burning issue!! thank you.

[@candicethomas9841]

I am strongly considering a home birth for my next baby if we have another, but what i find is that having a supportive partner isa challenge. my husband is very concerned about not having access to emergency personnel if am emergency were to arise. that might be the only thing making me hesitant

[@xmeeeeeeex]

Me too no one would support me last time she ended up being breech and had to have a c section and still got ptsd from the bad treatment I got I am in uk this was 7 months ago still suffering I don't even want to go to get help as I don't trust doctors no more I was thinking to run away for my next birth I don't even want my husband or anyone there I can get help from women who have don't it them selves but I can't even use my Facebook account coz my family will see and Facebook won't let me make a fake account fml 😓😤😪

[@katfox328]

there is no risk free option. i knew a women who caught meningitis at the hospital. she had a c section and both her and baby died. so i say do what you are comfortable with.

[@katizkool5039]

My husband was hesitant too so we met in the middle and went to tour a midwife birthing center and that’s what we’ve settled on.

[@michelleheidler983]

I would recommend looking into a hospital birth but with a midwife and also a doula. That is what I did. And I was a much better experience than just with a dr in a hospital.

[@CarinaRenner]

It depends on where in the world you are; however if you can get midwifery care, all trained midwives are perfectly capable of taking care of the most common emergency / complications in the time of the labor, plus they are generally very realistic about the weeks leading up to the birth and making sure you and your baby are still good candidates for home birth. If you don’t live near a good hospital where you could be transferred in case of emergency, I have heard of many creative work around people have found. It makes such a difference to have true prenatal and birthing care and if possible, to not have to birth in the medical environment. Do a little research and check out some great natural birth podcasts that are out there that share stories from normal, sane people choosing home birth. Doing It At Home podcast is a good one off the top of my head. I recommend evidence based birth on youtube as well.

[@steelcom5976]

My grandson would have died had it not been for immediate intervention at the hospital. Taking the time for a trip from home to the hospital would have been his death knell. When complications occur sometimes the tragedy is minutes or even seconds away. Taking unnecessary risks it not my thing

[@theingridaria]

Excellent. Thank you so much for this.

[@onevillagesalon]

Thank you for an awesome talk.

[@melodiesproul4109]

There needs to be a way for all midwives to be properly trained in third world countries without cost. The world so needs properly trained midwives to make childbirth as safe as possible. It has already been proven that the countries with the lowest rates of maternal and infant deaths are the countries where properly trained midwives deliver the majority of babies. United States hospitals have some of the highest death rates in the world due to the lack of midwives being the primary care givers.

[@valruzze5063]

I had my first in a hospital, It was AWFUL! NEVER AGAIN! Second was with a midwife, it was wonderful. Third will be at home !

[@debby6077]

I’m 38 weeks pregnant and I’m saddened to see this since I’m not allowed to have home birth. My family think it’s dangerous

[@Emilyw1983]

You are the one delivering, you decide :) (good luck)

[@carrieoftzie7101]

I also really wanted a homebirth, but my first was a c-section and it is illegal for midwives to attend homebirth for VBACs in the state of NJ. Also illegal for birthing centers to accept VBACs. Even though I already had one successful VBAC and am considered extremely low risk, I still don't get to choose a homebirth. So infuriating.

[@robinabel9479]

Really great points!

[@annakennedy7855]

Umm oxytocin is also released when petting animals and cuddling (many studies on both situations).

[@lindapfannerstill4183]

it's about choice

[@GoddessTMarie]

I'm conflicted because while I want to be left alone to birth how I want in whatever position I choose..if I stay home I will miss the wonderful after care that St. David's offers here in Austin Tx. And I do mean I was treated with TLC!. I would miss that should I stay home and birth

[@Shay45]

Tierra Daniels Comfort is the most important thing in pregnancy. If you are comfortable with your doctor in Austin do it with your doctor in Austin 👍🏾

[@NicoleLakin]

have a doula and all the after care that you want at home. xo

[@eglabush]

Wow wow wow!

[@melissalatham]

BRILLIANT!

[@Succeshero-yw1rl]

So it’s about choice. I live in the Netherlands where u can only deliver your baby with a midwife. You can’t get access to an ob/gyn. Only if there’s a medical problem. I think that is unacceptable. If for some reason, a question or a concern I have I want to see a specialist about my pregnancy, that should be possible. I get it if people dont want it to be to medical but in this country its the other way around.

[@Sofia-gf4os]

Midwives ARE specialists on pregnancy/birth so I don't get what exactly you're trying to insinuate? There's no reason for you to need an ob/gyn unless there are serious concerns and you/your baby are at risk. If you have any question or concern regarding pregnancy/birth/postpartum I'm sure your midwife would most likely know the answer, and if they don't then they're probably unqualified to be responsible for the birth of a child.

[@dhammainspiredliving1865]

If you want to see a specialist - midwife is your person. They are specialists about pregnancy :)

[@NicoleLakin]

THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE. OB IS TRAINED ON SURGERY, TRAUMA AND MEDICAL THINGS. PREGNANCY IS NOT MEDICAL .THE MIDWIVES ARE YOUR "SPECIALISTS" ON BIRTH. THE DOCTORS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BIRTH AND OUR BODIES. xo

[@Emilyw1983]

I'm also Dutch (and 7 months pregnant). I disagree with this statement and I strongly believe that midwives are very effective and knowledgeable. My midwife had some minor concerns this morning about growth stagnation. Less then 4 hours later she sorted a check up in hospital. My son is perfectly fine and in hindsight there was no medical need for the extra check at all. In fact, Dutch pregnancies are monitored very well and I look forward to giving birth at home, unless my midwife recommends going to the hospital.

[@aadhyashukla5884]

@@Sofia-gf4os aw

[@Summer-ju4pj]

Informed choice needs to come from woman and families.

[@sukamtokamto7053]

Trust your midwife. If there is something happen in your pregnancy

[@xxy5757]

Yea???

[@souvanypanoun7755]

10 outta 10

[@almightyyoua]

The H-Mong woman lol it’s pronounced “Mong” the “h” is silent

[@xxy5757]

11-horrible at no one listen to them?

[@MorroTreece]

Lot of opinions, but not much evidence in her argument. Fact of the matter is Home births still have a higher instance of newborn mortality, and 20-30% of home births still end up with the mother and child taken to the hospital. There's a lot of touchy feely talk, but her complaints boil down to customer service complaints of hospitals and not really the welfare of both mother and child. But what do I know, I'm a guy.