Home Births Latest Casualty in St. Vincent's Closing

(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Yesterday's closing of St. Vincent's hospital could put an end to home births in the city, as 22 midwives—seven of whom practiced home births—were left without a hospital. According to state law, midwives must partner with a doctor or hospital to practice, and St. Vincent's was the only hospital in the city that supported home births. One expectant mother told the Daily News, "Home birth is what I want. I don't even know what my options are now."

Those midwives accounted for half of the city's home-birth midwives, who now must look for new doctors to support their practices. However, MBP Scott Stringer said in a statement he did not want to "send the practice of homebirth underground." Stringer met with midwives and members of the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation to discuss options, and said, "While we were unable to reach an agreement, I applaud HHC for undergoing deliberations, and I call on all hospitals and healthcare facilities around the city to do the same."

Former workers also continue to mourn the hospital's closing. Hospital mechanic Aubrey McKenzie told the Post, "I was here to put these signs up, and now I'm here to take them down. I got this job right out of high school. It's the only job I've ever known." Mayor Bloomberg said on his radio show that he felt sad, but the closure was inevitable. "I wish the hospital could stay open. But the bottom line is, it's not going to."

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By Jaya Saxena in News on May 1, 2010 11:30 AM

Comments [rss]

Mr. Shankly

Yeah yeah. Everybody likes the warm and fuzzy until the SHTF and the result is a vegetable.

nicemarmot

Gah...I'm planning on trying for my first kid in the next year. I need MORE birthing facilities, not less! I don't want to give birth in a regular hospital ward, but it looks like I might not get much of a choice.

VanessaNYC

NiceMarmot,

Check out the Natural Birthing Center at St Lukes Roosevelt. This is where I plan to give birth in September. It's not a perfect solution -- they can deny your admission for any number of reasons (such as early or late delivery, even by a week) but if you're looking for a natural birth then this is the place in NYC.

I was looking into home birth but when I heard about the possible closing of St Vincents I decided to go with the Natural Birthing Center instead of being left high and dry (without an emergency doctor) come September.

Another piece of information: As soon as you get pregnant, find a midwife. If you don't get one promptly you could end up with no choice but to be with an OB in the hospital.

Good luck!

Mordicai

Given the escalating rate of needless c-sections, I can definitely understand the impetus behind home birth. The fact that shady insurance policies can influence health decisions to such a degree is yet another stone on the scale damning privatized health insurance.

Trilby16

I had 3 home births, none in this city, but my midwives were all outlaws, I guess you'd say. They didn't "partner" with anyone besides their apprentice/helper. One of the great things for me about homebirth with a midwife was taking myself OUT of the hospital/medical establishment.

Yep, I'm an old hippie.

drewo

OMG! How did you (and the babies) ever survive without the oversight of institutionalized medicine!!!

Oh, everything went fine and everyone is healthy and happy? Good.