s) Romany will pop in to remind us all again that she lives and works in China!
t) pynchme will drop bombs of heavily researched (that's heavily biassed too) feminist propaganda just to get anti excited, then leave him cold for a week with no reply to his retort.
u) anti never understands he's being messed with in this way.
v) anti may say something that actually is hard to refute and is quite a good point, but since it comes from anti it gets ignored.
w) Fractelle will point out how abusive anti is.
x) I'll look through all the posts and often not find anything particularly abusive, certainly not as bad as some of the stuff that he's copped.
y) There's a strange 4 or 5 posts that are actually about the original topic right near the end.
z) All the women have left, as the men are just getting too ridiculous. Seeing as how they started out by addressing a topic about women being raped by discussing how bad men have it because there is a minister for women, I'm always surprised it too that long.

My first daughter was a difficult delivery. she was born in hospital, delivered breach although her mother was being prepped ready for a caesarian.

Had my ex-wife had a home birth, I doubt they would have both survived.

My recent long-term partner had had a first birth home delivery. It did not go smoothly and she beleives her first son suffered oxygen starvation during delivery. He subsequently had a difficult life, dealing with a borderline intellect (borderline with retarded) poor emotional and impluse control.

To be honest, whilst I would never assume it was my ultimate choice, I would seriously ask any woman who was considering a home birth only to proceed with i ift her previous deliveries had been free of drama and certainly to only consider having her first delivery in hospital, with all the services on hand.

The alternative, whilst it may seem a nice notion, is to impose serious avoidable risks upon the unborn child.

Fractelle: “I don't think anyone is suggesting a return to the old ways of birthing, just a more humane approach to such an important event … so a mother can give birth in serene rather than clinical surrounds - while still close to medical aid should an emergency occur.”

How can anyone argue against choice or serenity? Pure motherhood stuff for those that wish it, yet far enough away from the clinical paternalism to allow for alternate outcomes, if one was so to desire it at the last minute. Women’s business should remain women’s business, right? But with safety and serenity.

Houellebecq, you’ve now spoilt my sense of surprise. It now seems futile reading on.

most readers appear to be overlooking one of the main points in this article. That despite current and proposed policy and current public opinion about homebirths, the peer review literature shows that homebirth is as safe an option for low risk women than hospital. Peoples personal opinions keep ignoring this point! The past head of the WHO is a home birth advocate based on the science. Most of thee studies also show that morbidity stats for women and their babaies is higher in hospital. paternalism in this case relates to those in power NOT recognising the science in addition to their attitudes about self determination for women.

MsMoo

While your post is completely correct, on topic and rational. You have interrupted a flow of vitriol from Houellebecq and other disenchanted males in their splatter gun targetting of people who hold different opinions from them.

This topic is not really about a woman's right to choose how she births, it is actually a meeting of Whingers-R-Us.

I think you're making progress Fraccy!

'.. *people* who hold different opinions from them. '.

Normally you would say

'.. *women* who hold different opinions from them. '. Or 'daring to hold an opinion while being female.'

Well done!

Really. xx