"We want a home birth. We're going to try, but we're not going to risk Mom and Baby's life."
-Austin Forsyth
Tonight on a new episode of Counting On, Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth are preparing for Gideon Forsyth's birth (see video below). And newlyweds Joseph and Kendra Duggar show off their house and make a big announcement to the family. Meanwhile, Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo shop for a piano.
Counting On "Make Room For Baby" starts at 9pm ET/8pm CT and lasts two hours.
Photo/video courtesy TLC
We've seen this birth already. I don't know how either of them thought she could deliver a baby that size at home on her first try.
ReplyDeleteWe saw the birth but we never saw the pregnancy. Also the birth preview we saw was only 20 mins long. When they re-air the 1hr version we’ll get more details as well as couch interviews of the moment.
DeleteMy friends first baby was delivered at home in her bath tub and he weighed 10lbs 5oz, two ounces bigger than Gideon. Some people are just built for birth better than others, and Gideon was breach so that didn’t help anything.
DeleteGideon looks smaller now than when he was born.
DeleteI don't think they would have known how big he was.
DeleteJinger and Jeremy buy southwestern gifts. Jinger and Jeremy move books and furniture. Jinger and Jeremy roast coffee beans. Jinger and Jeremy draw pictures of each other. Jinger and Jeremy shop for a piano. Jinger and Jeremy are trying to stay visible and relevant on this show until they can have that baby, the real ratings getter. No wait - that was when Jeremy's grandmother made pasta sauce! LOL
ReplyDeleteWatching them is still more interesting than a Duggar couple telling us for the 1,000th time what courtship is or TLC rehashing wedding prep for a couple we've already seen get married.
DeleteI like watching Jinger and Jeremy have fun together even if it is something as mundane as playing tennis. They are a fun couple and don't make passive aggressive digs at each other.
Their work with SWAN4kids has real life relevance. Good for the Vuolos for using their platform to promote this organization.
DeleteDo you think they would have traveled from Laredo to PA to attend this event if they weren't being filmed in the process? It's the things people do when others AREN'T looking that matter. I think they used their show to publicize something on purpose.
DeleteYes, they would have because it is Jeremy's mother who runs the nonprofit. The gala was important to his mother and they support the organization's mission. Jinger and Jeremy were involved before they showcased it on the show. Of course they used the show to promote it on purpose, they want people to know about it and support it. It's work that actually benefits underserved children. The Vuolos get no financial gain from it. We need to show the world what others are doing to help the most vulnerable to give such organizations support and hopefully others to spread such efforts to other communities.
DeleteI like to see “star” or famous/semi famous people use their notoriety to draw attention to worthy causes. Yes, I think they would have done this event even if Counting On was not filming....it is his mothers charity.
DeleteActually I DO think the Vuolos would have gone even if TLC didn't film the event, considering the charity is run by Jeremy's own mother. But since they did, why not provide publicity for a good cause?
DeleteYou can take that cynical POV on pretty much all celebrities who go to charity events, that they're just out for a photo op to improve their own public image (and hence bottom line). In the end only God knows their hearts.
I would have never guessed that Austin had seen more births than Joy. I had no idea he was an EMT.
ReplyDeleteSince that "home birth" didn't work out for Joy, you'd think they would skip that segment.
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight. She labored at home for 20 hours, when the midwife decided professional medial attention was required. They were "only" 30 minutes from the hospital? Sounds like they're lucky to have had a happy ending. I feel sorry for Joy- hope there wasn't undue pressure to have a home birth. No one is handing out gold stars for suffering needlessly.
ReplyDelete20 hours is not long for a first time birth, at home or in the hospital. Hospitals sometimes will try to rush things along but that’s not always the best decision. In this case Gideon was breach and weighed way more than the average baby.
DeleteVery lucky. 30 minutes is a long ways away in an emergency.
DeleteMost babies lose up to 10 percent of their birth weight within the first day or two after birth and they generally regain it with the first 4 to 6 weeks.Also, 20 hours isn’t long at all for a first time mom. An average time for active labor is 24 hours (some longer and some shorter).
DeleteDidn't you hear her say SHE wanted a homebirth?
DeleteMidwives are medical professionals.
DeleteThere was no emergency or hurry. The baby was not in distress, he just wasn't going to be able to be born vaginally because he became breech.
Going to the hospital was the right call. But laboring at home first is always a good idea whether a hospital birth is planned or not.
Julie K: I think it's going too far to say that laboring at home is "ALWAYS" a good idea. If you're right, then Jinger's choice to be induced into labor at the hospital was NOT a good idea.
DeleteAnd how long do you think mothers should be in labor at home before going to the hospital? What if the mother has a high risk condition such as placenta previa (as Erin Bates did), or goes into labor prematurely, or comes down with a fever?
10:07 AM - You're right; I apologize and take it back. After I posted that, I looked it over and realized it was an overgeneralization to say that laboring at home is always a good idea. It's *usually* a good idea to labor at home first even when the plan is to finish at the hospital or birth center. Being 30 minutes from the hospital isn't a big deal and doesn't change that. But you're right, there are many exceptions, such as the ones you list, when it would not be medically advisable to labor at home first.
DeleteI labored at home 24 hourz before going to the hospital. Even if you are doing a hospital birth they usually dont want you to come in until your contractions are a certain space apart and last for a certain amount of time. First babies often take longer to come.
DeleteAustin’s comment regarding their baby’s birth is both smart and caring. Hopefully, Ben and Derick are paying attention!
ReplyDeleteWhat has Ben ever done wrong at a birth?
DeleteHmm, are you implying Ben and Derick DID "risk Mom and Baby's life" and...Austin didn't? The same Austin who let Joy labor for 20 hours with a 10 pound breech baby?
DeleteI can even argue the Seewalds actually have a BETTER record so far than the Forsyths in terms of successful homebirth. Only a 50% emergent hospital transfer rate so far and a 0% emergent c-section rate. Whereas the Forsyths rate for both would be 100%.
Or maybe we can give ALL the parents the benefit of the doubt that they did what was thought was best and didn't just flippantly risk their loved one's lives on a whim?
Not sure if it's just the midwives they're using (and there are some awesome midwives-my 5 nephews are proof), but these young ladies and their husbands are waiting far too long laboring at home with too large/breech babies. I hope someone at their hospital is tracking how many of this midwife's patients are coming through for Emergency C-Sections. As long as they're delaying to go to the Hospital with each birth, I'm seriously concerned that eventually the odds aren't going to be in their favor. God expects us to use wisdom.
DeleteWell at least the midwife did check Joy's blood sugar, something that I recall some posters here doubted was ever done. Though knowing it was a "little high" even if she didn't meet criteria for an official "gestational diabetes" diagnosis, you'd think she'd realize earlier that she wasn't a good home birth candidate.
DeleteWhile most people who prefer home birth realize it is only safe for low risk births and readily agree to a hospital back up plan, some people want a home birth as part of a more wide-reaching "natural medicine" ideology, mistrust of "standard medical care" in general, and consider it a "failure" to go the hospital, and certainly to have a C-section, and so wait as long as they can.
Indeed while so far comments here have been overall positive regarding Jinger's birth plan, I know some people elsewhere were appalled that Jinger was induced and almost had a C-section "when it wasn't medically necessary" and are pointing to her care as a reason why women should NOT go to the hospital for birth.
Jinger didn't almost have a c-section. It was an option they talked about if labor didn't progress. The epidural relaxed her body and allowed her to fully dilate.
DeleteA study just came out that showed inducing labor for at-term, healthy women actually resulted in better outcomes than those who went into labor naturally. They ended up being 3% less likely to have to have a c-section than those who were not induced. Jinger's doctor and midwife were up-to-date on their research and implemented a birth plan that took Jinger's wants and concerns into consideration. Medical interventions obviously helped Jinger avoid c-section.
Anon at 1012PM: Jana gave the impression a C-section was imminent, but that could have just been her take on it, I guess. It was interesting how the epidural helped Jinger to dilate. Most people claim epidurals slow labor down and that's one reason some mothers avoid them.
DeleteAnyway, I'm sure die-hard home birth advocates would claim the study you cite is biased and must be funded by the maker of Pitocin or something. Their claim is that inducing and epidurals make C-sections MORE likely and that's what the greedy "birth industry" wants to happen.
is this a nurse midwife's office? I have never been to an office like that. The Duggar women have such large babies and don't ever mention anything about prenatal care which is a concern.
ReplyDeleteThey don’t have to mention it since they showed her at an office getting checked out. Obviously she had a midwife or doctor.
DeleteI'm not sure what sort of pre-natal care they have. They have many fans. It would be nice if they did try to influence their fans into getting proper pre-natal care.
DeleteEveryone is different some people prefer home births while others choose to deliver in a hospital. Hospital birth's are the safest way to go though in case of emergency you're already right there. Anything could happen during labor and delivery.
ReplyDeleteWe’ve seen this!! I’m tired of all the replays.
ReplyDeleteI really don’t like all the negativity be attention the duggars have gotten due to failed homebirths and people questioning care from midwives. There are amazing midwives out there- I’ve had two. I had a home birth with my first and had my second at a birthing center with midwives. My care was thorough, complete and professional. It included monitoring my diet, paying attention to protein and fruits and veggies, I had an ultrasound at 20 weeks to check growth and size and sex, and had weekly appointments toward the end. Each time I was measured and listened to heartbeat, and every time baby’s position was checked. It seems like the Duggars have a tendency for breech births? There are positions and exercises you can do to help this. Anyway, I hate that they’ve had so many failed ones because I found my care exemplary. My midwife came over at 9pm postpartum when I was getting flustered and stressed about baby’s latch while nursing. Their support was amazing. Please don’t judge because they can’t seem to get it to work. I’ve also known a few people who had 10 lb babies at home and also vaginally in the hospital. It can work out just fine, depends on the person and situation. Deciding to transfer to a hospital is sometimes necessary but honestly I wonder how these undetected breech labors go on so long? I feel any midwife when faced with a long slow labor would check baby’s position and make sure mom is in a good position to encourage labor and baby to move down if baby is not breech.
ReplyDeleteThe Duggars do not have a tendancy for breech births (Joy has been the only breech so far). They do have a tendancy towards very big babies (Jinger was induced a little early to prevent her baby being any bigger), which can cause complications. Midwife led births can be wonderful, however it appears that not all of the girls have made the best choices with the midwives they use, and Jill with all her training had two really dangerous births. A qualified midwife would never have allowed Joy to have such a long labor with a very large baby in breech position, and Jill should never have labored as long as she did with Israel, or tried a VBAC at home with Samuel. The outcomes of the Duggar daughters births has not painted homebirths or midwives in a very good light, and I was glad to see both Kendra and Jinger go the hospital route, deciding it was best for them.
DeleteHuge difference. You had professional care, proper prenatal care and a CNM. The Duggars use Jill who is a "lay midwife". Their prenatal care is unknown but since they usually have huge babies and whoever gives the care doesn't seem to have the monitoring equipment that was available during your pregnancies and births, they run into problems.
Delete9:27 I would guess that your midwife was a registered nurse. As such she had more years of training as well as more intensive training and education than a CPM. Agree completely, midwives are amazing and provide excellent care. In my opinion, all midwives should be registered nurses with the extra years of training in midwifery.
DeleteSometimes babies flip during labor, so I think they like to give it time in case it happens. Most doctors and midwifes don’t recommend c-sections until there is no other option.
DeleteAgreed. The Duggar girls have had some very difficult births, but this is entirely due to the size and position of the babies, not their choice of birthing location. The outcomes wouldn't have been any better if they had planned hospital births rather than home births.
Delete2:40, wrong, Israel was also breech.
DeleteAnon @ 12:33 You are correct that sometimes babies can flip during labor, however this usually happens with smaller babies. Once a babies head is engaged it usually stays that way, Gideon at 10+lbs was too big to 'flip', and this could also possibly be the reason he didn't engage in the first place, he didn't have the room to turn.
DeleteMy second son and I both almost died after his premature birth, all laboring/delivering done in the hospital. Things were going well and then suddenly they were not...and complications after his birth almost did both of us in. A hospital isn't a magical place where maternal/infant death never happens. I am personally not a fan of the idea of home birth, due to how quickly the situation with my second son deteriorated, but it works for some people and again, mothers and babies die in hospitals across this world every single day, even in America.
ReplyDelete12:35, even if you were someone who planned to have a home birth of your baby was born prematurely that wouldn’t have happened, and with a premature birth there was a raised likelyhood that something would have gone wrong.
DeleteJoy was not ready to have a baby at all in this time of her life. You can see she just was afraid and not really mature enough NOR was she adjusted to married life. She, Jill and Kendra conceived asap. Not always the best situation. Joy's was not either.
ReplyDeleteAgree
DeleteWith all the negativity and hate going on these days and shows like the view and r rated cartoons. It is refreshing to find something of a positive nature to watch. The Duggars have had their fair share of trauma as we all do which makes them normal. Not saints. Its how they deal with the trials of life that make it encouraging. I don't hear any bashing or trashing from them for those who believe differently. Unlike the hollywood crowd who seem to beleive acting gives them rights to judge and condemn anyone with a different belief. So if this show and the real life participants offend, change the channel. Christ for all
ReplyDeleteAMEN AMEN!!
DeleteAgreed!
DeleteYes, there are great midwives out there who are professional and properly trained and educated. Too bad the Duggar daughters (except Jinger) haven't used any of them.
ReplyDeletenice to know Austin was an EMT
ReplyDeletePoor Joy, had to have a c-section, which probably means they won't get to have as many children as they want. Poor Jill had to have one both times. I have a feeling Jill can't have any more.
ReplyDeleteThis is pure speculation but based on the reactions and hushed mouths after Samuel's birth, I think she had to have a hysterictamy.
DeleteIt is just so touching to see how many people in the comments know so much better than the duggars. The amount of professionals here who know exactly what they did wrong and how they should’ve done it differently is just astounding!
ReplyDeleteIn my country we have a saying: “de beste stuurlui staan aan wal” which translates to “the best skippers are ashore”. Wrap your heads around that one.
Joy, I feel just like you do with pregnancy. It's encouraging to watch you and Austin.
ReplyDelete