Why did this woman live tweet her home birth?

Ruth Iorio documented her home birth on Twitter and Instagram. Photo: Instagram

Ruth Iorio, of Los Angeles, went into labour on Boxing Day and said the decision to document her home birth was "pretty last minute".

The British-born author of Girl, undressed, a memoir about working in a New York strip club, says the primary motivation to live tweet her baby's birth was to make a political point.

Iorio, who writes a blog titled The World Breaks Everyone, told The Telegraph, “In the US, the natural homebirthers are divided into the crunchy-granola-munchers and then there are the epidural lot who don’t question going to hospital. I don’t fit either of those stereotypes. I’m somewhere in the middle.”

She goes on to express her fears about the direction the US is taking when it comes to pregnancy and birth. She says “I know homebirth isn’t for everyone, but we need to question what’s happening. The US is basically trying to get rid of midwives.”

With home births in the US accounting for less than one per cent of all births, Iorio says she wanted to show her “unique experience, whether attractive or not and just to be honest about it." And with home births reportedly costing 60 per cent less than hospital deliveries in the US it's easy to see why she wanted to share her experience.

Photo: Instagram

Iorio began tweeting when her contractions started on Boxing Day, using the hashtag #ruthshomebirth

Her labour lasted for around 12 hours and throughout the process Iorio continued to post updates to Twitter and Instagram. She was supported by her husband Jared and her midwife and doula for the entire period.

After son Nye was safely delivered, she experienced complications delivering her placenta and her midwife made the decision to have Iorio transferred to a hospital. She had follow up treatment and a blood transfusion before being given the all clear.

Iorio was back at home the following day with baby Nye. She has received a lot of positive feedback and support from friends and followers for her decision to post details of her birth on social media.

What do you think of Ruth Iorio's decision to live tweet her home birth?

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