God's Will: Home or Hospital?

Denver's Chanel 7 News ran the story Home or Hospital Birth? Read the article in its entirety and watch the news video.

I want to highlight the following part of the article:

Although many studies provide conflicting data, most experts agree that about 16 percent of women planning to give birth at home are transferred to a hospital for delivery. One other British study found about 40 percent of first-time moms were transferred to a hospital.

Doctors say a homebirth is definitely not for you if you are diabetic, have high blood pressure or experience pre-term labor.

I was involved in a discussion this week about Unassisted birth. We were talking about the Lord's will for childbirth in regards to location as well as the stillbirth of babies. I have highlighted the above section of the channel 7 article because it ties in with what we were discussing.

You see, it is my belief that we need to use sobriety, or wisdom (which is only part of the meaning of sobriety, by-the-way) during pregnancy and birth. And I believe that it is generally wise to not plan a home birth in some instances like severe diabetes, high blood pressure, or pre-term labor.

I will now share with you part of my comment that I made in the discussion that I mentioned I was involved in this week about God's will for childbirth:

I think that God does care where we give birth in that every experience is part of our progression and in all things there is a right and wrong way. Not to say that we can make blanket statements, but for each one of us there seems to me that there must be a line of demarcation. I think that we must follow the spirit, or our feelings, and also act wisely.

1 tim 2:15 says we are to birth in faith, holiness, charity with sobriety. I think that sobriety means being alert and conscious on different levels, being aware and having wisdom.

I get confused sometimes because one could say, for example, that having twins at home in a birth pool unassisted is not wisdom, or in keeping with sobriety because it is putting babies at risk. But then on the other hand some would believe this to be the wisest and less risky. Who is to know? Especially if the mother and father don't feel strong spiritual promptings.

I guess we must seek confirmation about our choices and be willing to live with the consequences. This is where the faith comes in I think. Having the faith to accept where the chips fall.

Just because we are prompted to birth at home or uc does not mean that bad things may not happen. Although I think God favors life, death is part of this world and can not be denied as part of His will.

I don't pretend to have the answers. Just some thoughts.

The following is a well put response to my comment above:

I disagree. I think when stating principles you DO make blanket
statements, but you also understand that if there is an exception to
the rule, the spirit will guide you.

When we are talking about the true principles of birth (or anything
else for that matter) I think we will make blanket statements, but as
LDS women we should always understand that there are exceptions to be
governed by the Spirit. We understand that, but we should always
proceed towards the general rule unless acted upon by the Spirit, and
trust that if there is an exception, the Spirit WILL speak to us.

I guess it is for this reason that I don't think it necessary to
apologize or qualify statements. We all know that there might indeed
be a rare emergency in which a c-section is necessary, but is it a
rule or the exception. It is my thought that it is an exception only,
and not the kind of birth our bodies are meant to have. Exceptions
come in any sort of number and variety depending on the basic principle.

I think our culture has become more obsessed with the exceptions so as
not to hurt any feelings, that they have forgotten that there are
general rules and guidelines. Those principles, rules, or what have
you are there to help guide us in making our decisions. Even things
that appear set in stone can have their times when the Lord decrees
other wise (like not sinking in water?) if it suits His purpose, or in
mercy to us in our weakness, or as a challenge to us in our strength.

In re-reading that last sentence it sounds like I think any variations
are by design. I don't. I think there are three ways that trials
come about.
1. Rain falls on the just and the unjust. Some things just happen.
2. By choice. Ours or someone else's that leads to consequences.
3. By deliberate design-- God's or Satan's.

What are your thoughts?