S/O: If you could have a "homebirth in the hospital," would you?

[barefootpoetry]

If you could have all the great things about homebirth at your disposal in the hospital, would you birth there? Total privacy, no machinery, no strangers, no interventions pushed on you, continuous one-on-one care, a pool, a big comfy bed, allowed to do what you want, etc. etc.? Dream up the most awesome hospital birth you can think of and tell me if you would choose that over home. I will give my own answer in a bit!

[lil_miss_understood]

:

[bmcneal]

I voted yes. Mostly for DH's benefit. I would *love* to have a homebirth, DH, not so much (yet, anyway, "we'll see how this birth (VBAC) goes first.") If "homebirth" at the hospital was available, I think DH would probably take that, and not be alright with birthing at home. At the same time, if I could have someone there without *being* there, I might be more comfortable as well, because we'd be at the hospital just in case something would happen, but would not have all the "machines" there. (Hospital "machines" intimidate me.)

[AstridS]

I voted no. I need to be on my own turf, so to speak, when I give birth. I don't feel safe at the hospital.
And I don't want nasty hospital germs on my baby.

[rachelsmama]

I voted no, the car-ride to the hospital and home again would be deterent for me. It would be nice if hb in the hospital was available for women who want it though.

[MsBlack]

No way! Not without good reason. And if I had good reason to be in a hospital, then a lot of those homebirth considerations would not be on my mind so much. Not that I would give up power by any means--just that if I were in a hospital for a medical reason, I'd WANT immediate access to medical stuff.

[the_lissa]

Originally Posted by rachelsmama

I voted no, the car-ride to the hospital and home again would be deterent for me. It would be nice if hb in the hospital was available for women who want it though.

Me too.

Not to mention, the risks of infection in the hospital. I know it is small, but my sister picked up a really bad infection in the hospital. She was born healthy, but two days later she was in the nicu for 3 weeks with an iv in her head, spinal tap, etc.

I had a good hospital birth with my first after a transfer, and I still would not have a hospital birth again unless there was a medical reason.

I think it is important to advocate for change though for women who do give birth in the hospital.

It probably depends on why you choose home birth- as a reaction to hospital birth or as a desire to birth at home. Mine is the second.

[Healthy_Baby]

there are a couple of things that just wouldn't be possible.

1. You would still have to travel there and back. (as mentioned earlier)
2. Exposure to more germs.
3. Not being in your own HOME.
4. No matter what there would need to be some regulations as to when you can leave or how long they allow you labor. It's just the way the system has to work.

the main benefit would be that if any emergency arises (whether it be with the mother or the baby) - the time it would take to get help would be reduced.

I think it is impossible. And what it would really be is a birth center birth next to a hospital.

Very interesting thought I'll be interested to see what others say.

[AlpineMama]

If I was too far from the hospital to make it there on time in case of an emergency. I UC'd but we were literally two blocks from our hospital. That reassured me. If I was far away I might consider going into the hospital. But personally I might not, too, because my labors have tended to go FAST and by the time I figured out I was actually in labor, I was already in transition.

[KBinSATX]

No. There is just something about crawling into your own bed with your new baby that's just perfect.
And my own germs (and nobody else's). Lots of things that just can't be duplicated. Having the midwives come to you rather than having to drive somewhere while in labor, etc...

[dinahx]

It depends. I would love it if a midwife run birth center had a secret OR staffed by a totally cool and skilled OB. But the hospital as it is packs a LOT of BS, typically. I fundamentally disagree with a lot of hospital policies and I don't know if you could still call it a hospital if I changed everything I wanted. (Like being attended by strangers in uniform :roll: )

[chrissy]

I wouldn't. It's still not home. I'd love to have the option though, and I'm sure many many mamas would prefer that to the regular old hospital birth.

[katmann]

No for me, but having said that, the option you describe is exactly what's missing from US maternity care. For women who aren't comfortable with a homebirth, they need something better than just a regular hospital birth. So this option should be widely available.

[Haselnuss]

Not me - I don't want to go anywhere while in labor, and I want to be on my own turf. Actually, I would be very suspicious of anyone telling me I could have a "homebirth in the hospital" - it would sound like some kind of trick. I don't have the same rights in the hospital as I do at home, whatever the window dressing is like. I don't want someone to have the right to hold my baby hostage, if you know what I mean.

[nummies]

Well, considering it is still a hospital birth no matter what you call it. No. Homebirth = at home.

[Ruthla]

Nope. It's still not home, and it still requires a car ride during labor. I couldn't even sit still during contractions- I can't imagine what kind of shape I'd be in (begging for an epidural?) if I was forced to sit still in a moving vehicle through several contractions.

And, as others have stated, I wouldn't trust the hospital to be truly "homelike" no matter what they promise or who makes the promises. What hospital would let me labor and birth completely alone and then have somebody come in after the birth to help me clean up and hold the baby while I shower?

Don't get me wrong- I'm in favor of anything that makes natural birth more accessable for more women. But something like this could never replace homebirth.

[mom2sol]

I voted no simply because you could never make a hospital "home". I want to be in my own, familiar and comfortable space. I also don't want to go any where!

[chic2chic]

i voted "no."

i already don't want to leave my house at all (major nesting) -- much less so in labor. (and no matter what the hospital, once you are no longer on your own turf, you're no longer really in control.)

[Belle]

I voted "It depends" but I guess I really meant "No"

I'd have to ride in a car there in labor. That enough is deterrent to hospital birthing. Then the fact that no matter how homey hospital can be, they're not my home. I was way more comfortable laboring at home then somewhere else.

[jrabbit]

No - almost exclusively because I wouldn't want to ride in a car while in labor.

My first birth in hospital was pretty good, as far as hospital births go, I suppose, but I arrived before labor started. I don't see how a hospital can ever be non-intervention during or after the birth, the way home is.