Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed their bundle of joy, Blue Ivy Carter, Saturday night in New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital. Despite their joy, there are reports of an upset parent who complained out Beyoncé’s security and the inconvenience it caused within the hospital. It’s been reported that Beyoncé and Jay-Z rented out an entire floor at the hospital for $1.3 million. Privacy and security have been stated as reasons for the expensive reservation. Did Jay and Beyoncé consider a home birth at all? Their options are limitless, especially for $1.3 million. Was renting out the entire floor at an hospital reasonable?
At home births
“Homebirth is about creating a safe birthing environment in your home while protecting the woman’s privacy and maintaining an intimate family atmosphere”
Advantages of home births
- Statistics show home births are as safer or safer than hospital births, as long as the woman is at low-risk, has adequate prenatal and a proper midwife.
- At home a woman can be comfortable in her surroundings, and is able to choose everything from her attire to who is in the room.
- The risk of infection is lowered from mom and baby.
- Studies show that the risk of infection is reduced for both the mother and the baby.
- Mid-wives are a huge help. They give continuous one-on-one are to the midwife, and provide an ongoing assessment of the the baby and mother’s condition. Their relationship is established in trust.
Disadvantages of home births
- Since the hospital is the currently socially acceptable location for birth, choosing otherwise may result in negative judgments and lack of support.
- lient’s must assume a greater level of responsibility for their own health: physical, mental and spiritual. This requires active ongoing participation in decision making in all aspects of their care, and a willingness to accept the consequences of those choices and decisions.
Advantages of a hospital births
- It gives mothers a sense of security. It’s where they feel most safe.
- If a mother has a medical condition that classifies her as high-risk, a hospital is the safest place to be.
- If the mother needs emergency treatment, personnel is available.
- Being in a hospital is a must if the mother is having a cesarean section.
- If the baby needs medical care, a hospital can provide that immediately on site, versus having to take the child off site.
- There is help for mother and baby around the clock.
Disadvantages of hospital births
- Less sense of control of the environment.
- Having a baby is not an illness. Hospitals are usually associated with being sick, thus that’s how the mother is treated.
- Hospitals can be emotionally cold and intimidating.
- Not as much privacy as one would have with a home birth.
- Fathers are not as involved in the birth.
- Risk of infection is greater.
- The mother is a high risk of having a cesarean section that is unnecessary.
- Separate of mother and child is routine.
- Not much rest is allowed for the mother.
What would you have done if you were Beyoncé and Jay-Z?
