Seriously Maclean's?

An article by Maclean's Magazine ......

"Are home births safe?

Home births may need less intervention and cause fewer injuries for mom.

But they may be riskier for babies."

I have several issues with it! But first I would just like to say that it made me appreciate and love my midwives that much more (web hugs to my awesome midwives).

Ok so I'm not sure why the author chose to use stats and experts from the U.S and abroad when commenting on the safety of Canadian homebirths especially when these other countries do NOT have the same education level, training or regulations that Canadian midwives have. A little like comparing apples to oranges don't you think? Not to mention that none of these experts commenting of the safety or lack of there of have actually attended a homebirth in Canada.

Secondly, choosing quotes from the clearly anti-homebirth group and then the freebirth fringe isn't really giving a true picture of what homebirth is all about. The article alerts us about the risks and dangers of homebirth and yet quickly brushes off the fact the  “A healthy young woman, coming into this hospital now for delivery, has almost a 40 per cent chance of having some sort of intervention that is not desired.”.  What outcomes does that have on the mother and baby? The article continues on about "Because of modern obstetrics. Modern obstetrics has lowered the neonatal mortality rate 90 per cent and the maternal mortality rate 99 per cent over the past 100 years.” which is wondrful and thank goodness advancements have been made in both maternal and neonatal care! But the article gives the impression that midwifery is still the same as it was in the 1800's, when in fact modern (Canadian) midwives balance the best of both worlds!

While I was miffed at their article on homebirths- they did redeemed themselves in my books with this article on McMaster University's first male midwife.
"Men are attracted to obstetrics, so why not midwifery?"

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2011/08/28/meet-mcmasters-first-male-midwife/
http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/11/20/a-midwife-crisis/