S/O: If you could have a "homebirth in the hospital," would you? - Page 5

[rad]

No, I like having homebirths because I'm really home. A hospital can maybe be homelike, but it will never be home.

[ebethmom]

I voted yes. I loved dd's homebirth, but I really missed having my Mom there. My Mom refuses to acknowledge a homebirth or honor one with her presence. If I could have a hospital birth completely my way, I would just to have my Mom there with me. My answer is total fantasy, since we aren't having another baby.

[Arwyn]

Nope, but I really, really wish all that were seen as standard maternity care even in the hospital, because it's all much safer (as the default, until problems present themselves). It should be an option, even if I still wouldn't choose it.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by barefootpoetry

Yes, but what I'm suggesting isn't freestanding. This would be within a hospital.

This was tried in the early 80's. They called them Alternative birth centers. There was basic a room or two with nice wallpaper, no drugs, a big birth tub and such. They were a great marketing tool for getting people to come to hospitals, but the percentage of women who actually birthed in them vs. who wanted to was very low. There'd be something that would "risk" the mom out and they'd have to go to the regular l&d. It was like a bait and switch.

[UhOhWhatNow]

Yes, I think I'd at least consider it- I kind of AM having that- at a birth center.

Problems I have with the center, that a homebirth would have handled:

I can't bring my dog (and I am dependent as hell on my dog- I have a lot of mental health problems and my dog is my life line) which sucks because I can't imagine a time I will need or want my dog more, or be more afraid and helpless feeling in my life. I fear dying and I want my dog with me if I die, and I want to be able to say goodbye. He's my soulmate.

I dread and fear the car ride... screaming and crying in pain... ugh, and it's a half hour drive to my center

Again the death thing- if I am going to die, I want my last moments to be non medical, since my biggest fear and biggest hate in life is needles, being touched, and medical anything. I am a SEVERE phobic.

So... I don't know... I still wish I could have a home birth- and home vs hospital doesn't ease my desperate terror that I will die. I think labor looks so horrible to me that I cannot imagine I could survive it... mentally or physically. I don't want any medical intervention, so I don't feel a hospital would help me all that much- I am so phobic, I'd have to be knocked out and have things done to me against my will to accept any type of medical care.

Yeah, I'm a freak with SERIOUS issues who should never have gotten pregnant because of those issues... so I doubt my answer would represent any one else!

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by Belle

This was tried in the early 80's. They called them Alternative birth centers. There was basic a room or two with nice wallpaper, no drugs, a big birth tub and such. They were a great marketing tool for getting people to come to hospitals, but the percentage of women who actually birthed in them vs. who wanted to was very low. There'd be something that would "risk" the mom out and they'd have to go to the regular l&d. It was like a bait and switch.

Our hospital only has L&D rooms- you labor and deliver in the same room. There's nice wallpaper, a tv- it's decorated. However, you do get moved after delivery, I think (which was always the annoying part for me).

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by UhOhWhatNow

Yes, I think I'd at least consider it- I kind of AM having that- at a birth center.

Problems I have with the center, that a homebirth would have handled:

I can't bring my dog (and I am dependent as hell on my dog- I have a lot of mental health problems and my dog is my life line) which sucks because I can't imagine a time I will need or want my dog more, or be more afraid and helpless feeling in my life. I fear dying and I want my dog with me if I die, and I want to be able to say goodbye. He's my soulmate.

I dread and fear the car ride... screaming and crying in pain... ugh, and it's a half hour drive to my center

Again the death thing- if I am going to die, I want my last moments to be non medical, since my biggest fear and biggest hate in life is needles, being touched, and medical anything. I am a SEVERE phobic.

So... I don't know... I still wish I could have a home birth- and home vs hospital doesn't ease my desperate terror that I will die. I think labor looks so horrible to me that I cannot imagine I could survive it... mentally or physically. I don't want any medical intervention, so I don't feel a hospital would help me all that much- I am so phobic, I'd have to be knocked out and have things done to me against my will to accept any type of medical care.

Yeah, I'm a freak with SERIOUS issues who should never have gotten pregnant because of those issues... so I doubt my answer would represent any one else!

I'm sorry you can't take your dog. I'm sure you will do great in labor. Your body is amazing.

[UhOhWhatNow]

Thanks I am having a really bad day worrying about this. I'm so lonely too. I don't have anyone to talk to who even pretends to understand, and I have no friends here (in my city). My husband is the quiet type, and I can tell he doesn't want me around lately so I keep to myself as much as I can stand it. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by UhOhWhatNow

Thanks I am having a really bad day worrying about this. I'm so lonely too. I don't have anyone to talk to who even pretends to understand, and I have no friends here (in my city). My husband is the quiet type, and I can tell he doesn't want me around lately so I keep to myself as much as I can stand it. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

I have some milder phobias that used to be much worse than they are. Feel free to pm me if you need to talk.
It's hard to make friends when we get to be adults for some reason.

[UhOhWhatNow]

Yeah... and it's even harder since I never get out. I haven't any money for gas. I don't have anywhere to go even if I did. I don't have money to take classes at the dog training club. I was too sick with morning sickness to take college classes this semester, so I am missing that outlet. Oh, well. I'm just no fun today at all. It just gets hard sitting here in the bedroom alone all day bc I know my DH doesn't want me around, and I haven't anywhere else to go.

[Arduinna]

How exactly do you have a HB at a hospital? I don't live at a hospital.

[barefootpoetry]

Originally Posted by UhOhWhatNow

Yes, I think I'd at least consider it- I kind of AM having that- at a birth center.

Problems I have with the center, that a homebirth would have handled:

I can't bring my dog (and I am dependent as hell on my dog- I have a lot of mental health problems and my dog is my life line) which sucks because I can't imagine a time I will need or want my dog more, or be more afraid and helpless feeling in my life. I fear dying and I want my dog with me if I die, and I want to be able to say goodbye. He's my soulmate.

I dread and fear the car ride... screaming and crying in pain... ugh, and it's a half hour drive to my center

Again the death thing- if I am going to die, I want my last moments to be non medical, since my biggest fear and biggest hate in life is needles, being touched, and medical anything. I am a SEVERE phobic.

So... I don't know... I still wish I could have a home birth- and home vs hospital doesn't ease my desperate terror that I will die. I think labor looks so horrible to me that I cannot imagine I could survive it... mentally or physically. I don't want any medical intervention, so I don't feel a hospital would help me all that much- I am so phobic, I'd have to be knocked out and have things done to me against my will to accept any type of medical care.

Yeah, I'm a freak with SERIOUS issues who should never have gotten pregnant because of those issues... so I doubt my answer would represent any one else!

s: I'm sure you will do great mama. I can't relate personally to much of your post but I empathize with you. I was afraid of the car ride to where I birthed (it was a homebirth, but not at my house!), but it turnsout it wasn't that bad. I was in active labor, so the contractions were more intense, but I just gripped the door handle and breathed through them and I was fine.

[prothyraia]

Prior to my first homebirth, I would have definitely preferred the 'homebirth in the hospital' scenario.

Now the idea of getting into a car while having contractions just seems ridiculous. No, thank you, my birth attendants can come to me.

[Dame]

Yes. I've never lived anywhere as of yet where I would feel comfortable giving birth. Plus for my own peace of mind, I'd feel more comfortable in the hospital.

[RachaelsMommy]

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

ITA!

[Mainstream Hippie]

Originally Posted by rhiandmoi

I think the one thing most people are forgetting is that just like if you're at the mall and you start to feel like you're in labor you go home and hunker down. Instead you would go to the birth suite as soon as you felt like you were in labor. So you wouldn't be travelling while you were in transition. You'd already be in the birthing suite.

With my first, I never fell into a "standard" labor pattern, and knew I didn't want to go too early in labor and be stuck there for hours upon hours, maybe even days, or have to come home and then second guess myself when I thought it was time again. So, I ended up heading to the hospital during transition. And while my second labor was very different, I still didn't feel the need for assistance until I was in transition again. I had my first about an hour and a half after arriving at the hospital-attached birth center. My midwife arrived a little more than an hour before my second did.

Very likely, if I did go somewhere during labor, I would be going during transition. I wouldn't want to go until then.

[Mainstream Hippie]

Originally Posted by ebethmom

I voted yes. I loved dd's homebirth, but I really missed having my Mom there. My Mom refuses to acknowledge a homebirth or honor one with her presence. If I could have a hospital birth completely my way, I would just to have my Mom there with me. My answer is total fantasy, since we aren't having another baby.

I'm sorry, but this made me chuckle. Refuses to acknowledge a homebirth? Like, just feels attending would be "condoning", or like, doesn't acknowledge they exist? Does she think the stork brought your daughter?

I'm sorry she was Kathy Killjoy on your birth day.

[greengirl_]

I voted no. I think I would only have been comfortable at home, with my own stuff and my own germs. Birth for me is a personal and private event and to have my baby anywhere else was out of the question. It's nice to try to replicate the homey feel in a hospital or even a birth center, but I know I would never have been able to have surrendered to the moment in the same way anywhere else.

[Funny Face]

Nope.

I work in a hospital and germs are one of the many reasons I want to stay at home. I didn't even want to birth at the FSBC because I want my own cooties and nobody else's!

Not to mention the hellish car ride... I'm adamant about avoiding that this time!

[angelpie545]

I would, but only because of health problems that have recently surfaced that may require for medical technology to be nearby if I do give birth again. My two previous births were at free standing birth centers and were pretty much home births outside the home, if you will. The place was like a warm hotel and for my second birth was literally down the street from my apartment, so I still felt "homey".