Let me be upfront with my bias -- I'm not pro-homebirth and I'm not pro-hospital birth. Frankly, I can see both sides of the argument. In this fight, I am Switzerland; especially since my baby birthing days are done. Still, the recent bumper stickers passed out at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) really pissed me off. What did they say?
"Home Delivery is Only For Pizza."
Seriously? Are they docs that threatened by the practice of homebirth that it required a snarky bumper sticker? Apparently, yes. So their biggest fear is that the 1 percent of births that take place at home might grow to a whopping 2 percent? Are you kidding me?
For a well-balanced take on the topic of home v. hospital births, this Baltimore City Paper cover story, which is where I found out that ACOG tidbit, is a good place to start. For a personal account of what it's like to break the law by giving birth, the 'derby's own Ms Holler wrote an essay about her illegal delivery.
As for me, I'm going to go walk until I don't want to smack someone. At this rate, I might end up walking to Vancouver.
Photo credit: Michelle Gienow
