So you're pregnant! Congratulations! Now comes all these harrowing decisions on diet, exercise, weight gain, etc... A big decision (for some) is; do I go to a midwife or an OBGYN? The "safe"choice has been the doctor who delivers in the hospital and women will choose one usually based on a recommendation or interviews. However, what if she chooses a midwife? Will her choice be a hospital midwife or an out of hospital midwife? Will she choose a birth center or home birth?
Big decisions, right? So, let's say she chooses to do a home birth with a finely selected midwife. Awesome! Now, let's look at how her partner/husband reacts... interesting. What if s/he isn't agreeable to "all of this" and wants her experience to be in a hospital where "it's safe - just in case something happens" with a doctor who has gone to medical school and has training and a staff prepared to intervene. And drugs, let's not forget the drugs - because we all know partners can't stand to see their women in pain:)
So, not considering parenting styles and methods (a whole other subject) let's discuss the whole birth topic and whose decision it really should be. I know a lot of women will say it's mutual, but, some women relinquish their dream birth experience to appease their mate - is that acceptable?
Thoughts, anyone?
