The Home Birth Advantage

Interesting!

I was a patient of the Home First practice in 2000. Dr Eisenstein did not attend my birth (another equally wonderful Doctor from the practice, as well as a midwife and a nurse attended me), but I did have many conversations with him on the telephone that made a lasting impression on me of what a wonderful, caring man he is!My homebirth experience was WONDERFUL! I had my first baby in the hospital and it was a really traumatic experience for both myself and my daughter filled with unnecessary interventions. My home birth was safe, calm and perfect! :) Though they had some equipment in case of an emergency, I was not hooked up to an IV or any monitors and was allowed to do as I wished during labor - a really big change from my hospital experience where I was "told" what I could and could not do.I have since had one more wonderful home birth with my 3rd child and am now in my 33rd week of pregnancy with my 4th child who will also be born at home. I do not live in the Chicago area any longer, so will be delivered by midwives who have given me care that is definately comparable to my home first experience! Once you've had a homebirth, it really is almost impossible to even consider doing it any other way.A great read and a wonderful medical practice!

I haven't actually read this book, but I had a home birth through Doctor Eisenstein's "Homefirst". It was totally awesome! Yes there is medical equipment there just in case, but unlike how some of the other reviewer assume, it is nothing like the hospital. I never even saw any of the instruments except for the battery powered doppler,the scale that is used to weigh the baby, and the IV that I had to have (see below). You take all of it home in a sealed box (couldn't weigh more than 10 lbs) a month before your due date. That's it.Yes, midwives are a good choice also, but personally, I felt more comfortable knowing that just in case, there was a doctor there. I had to be on IV antibiotics during the birth because I tested positive for Group Strep B bacteria (1 in 5 women do). I'm not sure if I could have even done a homebirth with a midwife because of that.Anyway, don't knock physician attended home births unless you know what you are talking about.

I can wholeheartedly appreciate Dr. Eisenstein's account of how hospitals and most obstetricians in our country have caused more harm than good to mothers and babies during birth - however...I did not see one account of homebirth midwives in his book. It is very rare to have physicians attending homebirths - I believe that Dr. Eisenstein's practice the only one of its kind - and most homebirths in the US today are attended by midwives - both Certified Nurse Midwives and direct-entry midwives. Why does he not mention them in this book? Did I miss this reference?By reading this book, one would assume that homebirth is only safe with a physician in attendance. This is absolutely not true. I would have loved to see more references to midwives, specifically journal articles and statistics that show that homebirth with midwives (and quite possibly physicians) are as safe, if not safer, than hospital births.Illinois is a very hostile state to homebirth midwives. I would hope that Dr. Eisenstein and his partners are helping homebirth midwives (edited to confirm that NO they are NOT). If not, I would strongly encourage them to remember that midwives are the main reason why homebirth is so nationally recognized and available for most American women. Support of their practices, efforts, and legalization is needed! We cannot continue to criminalize women who are skilled at helping women and providing a safe, reasonable alternative to insitutional childbirth!Above all, the message that homebirth is safe is great, but it's erroneous to assume that homebirth is only safe with a physician in attendance. I would trust the loving, educated, and skillful care of a midwife for any homebirth.

I'm glad there is one more book that states with no uncertainty that homebirth is a safe and effective option for women. This book may be good for women interested in homebirth to share with others in their lives so they can be convinced it's right. I had the privilege of hearing the author speak at a conference after I read the book. His passion for normal birth is refreshing.

I myself was delivered at home by Dr. Meyer Eisenstein back in 1981. He was also at the homebirth of my older brother in 1977. There was no question in my mind that I wanted to have my second child at home (my first was born a month premature so homebirth was not an option) using the services of Homefirst (Dr. Eisenstein's homebirth practice). Yes, they do bring a lot of medical equipment JUST IN CASE it is needed. I wanted a homebirth because I wanted to have a natural birth in the comfort of my own home surrounded by my loved ones and have no medical interventions. This is exactly what I got. It was the best experience of my life and I felt safe knowing that *IF* something went wrong the Dr. had the necesary equipment on hand. (There is a detailed list in the book as to exactly what the Dr. will bring). I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone interested in homebirth.

This book is a must read for every expectant couple. Not only does Dr. Eisenstein give us valuable information concerning pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, he brings these issues to a higher level where he touches upon the core values of human life. At the same time his approach is one of wisdom, humor, and abundant common sense. Anyone who has read the works of Dr. Eisenstein's teacher and mentor Robert Mendelsohn will find this book an excellent companion piece.