his biggest bug bear is the lady that died after delivery story in the papers
If your dh is going to have the most important decisions in his life directed by the Herald Sun, Andrew Bolt, Susie O'Brien and Miranda Devine, his life will be wrecked.

The media assault on this family and the way they have used it as grist for their mill to further discredit homebirth is appalling.

Your dh needs to know that Caroline did not die because of a post partum haemorrahge as Devine uncrupulously tried to hint.

She did not die because she had a homebirth.

She did not die of anything to do with the venue of her birth.

Every one with a shred of integrity if not speculating about her cause of death, until the Coroner's report is made, out of respect to the family, and because that is what is professional.

But we do know this simple fact, and so do all the media sharks who spun the facts to use for their anti-homebirth, anti-woman agenda.

Caroline was taken to the Austin hospital. This is a medical hospital. It is right next door to an obstetric hospital, the Mercy Women's Hospital. If she had died of anything related to an obstetric, birth-related issue, she would have been taken to the Mercy. Not the Austin. Devine wrote in her OPINION piece that Caroline was taken "to hospital". She knew full well that it was the Austin, not the Mercy - and the implications of that. But why let the facts get in the way of a story - or an agenda?

Regardless of where a woman chooses to give birth, and what her birth choices are, remember:

1. Do not let fear make your choices
2. Do not let dis-information or poor information guide your choices
3. Do not let anyone who is not going to be doing the labouring and the birthing veto your choices - not even the baby's father.

It is one thing to say, no don't have a homebirth, I'm not comfortable (well, really, it's about your comfort and what feels safe to YOU - not to him.) It is another thing entirely to base one's stand point on a lack of independent research and homework.

I would challenge your dh to get his information from facts, from evidence and from statistics - not from the poular media who spin a bunch of total lies to cow people into conformity.

I have got the 2009 Mothers and Babies report from the Perinatal data Collection Unit sitting right here on my desk, and if your dh could read that, all 100 plus pages of it, no way would be want you going to a hospital to give birth. Tell him page 59 and 60 relate to homebirths.

Summary:
863 PLANNED homebirths (many more unplanned)
25% were first time mothers
99.5% non-instrumental vaginal birth rate
99.8% babies live born
No maternal deaths

The rest of the report is page, after page, after page of birth trauma.

If your dh bases his impressions on, and fuels his fears on, and then makes his decisions on, the smear campaign of coercions and disinformation about birth choices for women in this society, led by an inscrupulous and inenquiring press, he will be allowing the forces of patriarchy to control his life - and then expect that you should do the same.

I really hope he does his own critical thinking, inquiry and research. He will be appalled at the lies and manipulation being fed to the public.

Regardless of his position, whether he informs himeself or not, don't hand your power over. This is your body, your baby, your choice, and it is you who has to live with the repercussions.