Do you agree or disagree with Grace's views of delivering a baby in a hospital versus a birthing center versus at home?

Grace expresses strong views on the differences between delivering a baby in a hospital versus in a birthing center versus at home. Do you agree or disagree with her?

I think a woman is entitled to make that choice for herself, and should have access to a safe, supportive environment in which to give birth. If a woman seeks out the care of a midwife, she already has the mindset for a successful birth experience.

I do not agree or disagree, it is a personal choice. I had both of my children in a hospital and was perfectly happy with the care that was given to me. My daughter in law chose midwives at a hospital. At 25 weeks one evening at home she started having seizures. She was taken to the nearest hospital and in the emergency room my granddaughter was delivered by c section. 1 lb 6 oz. Her mother had eclapsia and was not expected to live. The baby was in the hospital for four months. Happy to say both mother and baby are fine. Would a doctor have picked up on the problem? I do not know. My choice for future babies would be delivery in a hospital under a doctors care.

This is an individual choice. Birthing centers in hospitals are very family centered, not cold and sterile as in years past.

I agree with the practice of midwifery. However, I don't think it is necessary to promote hostility to hospital delivery. There's room for both.

As someone that doesn't have many options in my area and who would like to give birth to my second child in a more inviting environment then the first one, I can see the need for both but think that Grace has the right idea about the view that hospitals have about birthing mothers and babies. Both are just ways to make money for them.

I think that the selection of the way to give birth is a decision of a woman and her husband. I do not know enough about the doctor's feelings or how much the desire not to lose money enters in.

I think she was very rigid and intolerant of choices that were different from her beliefs. Each woman has to decide on her own. While most midwife births turn out well, I, myself, would be anxious just in case there was a serious problem and am glad I gave birth in hospitals.

I believe it should be entirely up to the individual, where they choose to have their baby. I was annoyed that Grace was so opinionated about hospitals and doctors, although I can understand why she felt that way. I just think all options should be considered and each birth, mother, and situation should be considered.

I do believe a baby should be delivered in a hospital as there could be all manner of unforeseen complications.

This is a woman's choice, but can have a bad outcome if extra measures are need.

It's been coming up 58 yrs. since I delivered my last baby, all in a hospital as you can imagine. One thing I had a difference with the hospital after my first child was born (almost 62 yrs. ago) was that I planned to nurse my baby. It was not "popular" to do so at that time, and I had to remind the nursing staff more than once that I was not bottle feeding my baby. I believe a midwife would have been more sensitive to my wishes. I am in awe at the classes, choices and wonderful options available to mothers today and I applaud society for making them possible. As to which to choose, I echo prior commenters here, that it's the choice of the mother and father as to where the baby is born. All options have merit, IMO, and choice is good.

I think I would not have agreed with Grace 25 years ago when I was having children because I would have been afraid of something going wrong and thinking I would need a doctor. But now, I do think that a hospital can be a place where the mother's feelings and needs may not be taken into account. And we do hear of infections and mistakes at hospitals, too. I had children in three decades, the '70's, '80's, and 90's. The change over those years was dramatic. My first child was delivered almost like I was having an operation. Even my hands were strapped down. By the '90's I was in a birthing room and it was much more relaxed but still had that hospital feel. My own grandchild was born this year and I saw more change, but I also saw there is more dependance on pain medications. When I had children it was the age of Lamaze classes and having no medications. I thought it would have been a comfort to have Grace or Neva deliver my babies.

It's each woman's own choice to make.
For me personally...I chose a hospital because there were just too many unknowns for me. I felt safer in the event that something went wrong.

I am very hesitant to support birthing at home. If there is a complication in the delivery it is better to be in a hospital or medical birthing center. I know "in the old days" it was very common to give birth at home. But quite a few babies - and mothers - died. How many of them would have lived if in a hospital today?

What bettyt wrote is close to my beliefs. Granted, in the 60s when I had my babies the hospital atmosphere was geared to undermine the mother's wishes and there was no other choice. But I sure would have been open to the option of midwifery within a hospital setting. I didn't know that was a possibility until I read this book. I think Grace was too harsh in her beliefs and not open to obstacles which could (and did) occur.

She has a right to her belief, but her lack of seeing a whole picture is disturbing. Then again this gave a critical story line to the book. We humans can get stuck when we believe that there is only one right way. How often that happens , sometimes it is needed just to feel safe.