So here's the skinny (I'll try to keep it short -- but that's hard for me!). With my last little one, after I found out I was pregnant, I did a lot of research and decided, along with talking with a good friend who had done homebirth a couple of times, that HB was the best option for me. My labors have been too fast for pain medication (yes, I was a naive little mama!) and I really don't like all the poking, prodding and pushing that goes on in hospitals. My previous 4 children were perfect pregnancies -- no problems.
I found myself a great midwife who did my prenatal care. 4 weeks before my due date my blood pressure was rising and my midwife put me on modified bed rest (after all, I still had 4 other little ones to take care of). 2 weeks before my due date my blood pressure was so high that my midwife actually made an appointment with the high-risk OB in town and told me that I was possibly in the beginning stages of pre-e. (Yes, it was that bad, even after lying on my side for an hour). That night my water broke. Unfortunately, my BP was ridiculously high still so off to the hospital we went. My midwife and her apprentice acted as my doulas (oh they were so wonderful!) and I still had a natural, drug-free birth -- the absolute best hospital birth of all. Baby was teeny -- but strong as an ox, not needing any neo-natal care. I had my midwife do my after-care too, along with the baby's initial care. (I already paid for it!)
Now, I feel it is important to mention that 4 weeks before my due date my grandmother (who was quite young -- in her 60's -- and who I was close to) went to the hospital with a bad case of the flu and was immediately put in the ICU. 2 weeks before my due date, the doctors told my family that she had cancer, her lungs were pretty much shredded and there was nothing they could do but make her more comfortable as she dies. I got this news the same day that my water broke. I actually gave birth in the same hospital that she was dying in. She got to see the baby the day before she finally passed. I mention this because I think it's quite possible that this might have exacerbated my BP problems.
Now with all that information... I'm about 8 weeks along with baby number 6. This is quite possibly our last little one. Initially, I thought with the blood pressure problems with my last pregnancy that I might be risked out of HB already with this one.... but I also take into consideration the circumstances surrounding Reagan's birth as well. (I didn't mention that my mother had moved to a new town and that my cousin was planning her wedding -- the same day as my due date!).
Am I crazy to think that maybe I can still try for the homebirth I desperately want? I've moved to a new city and into a much bigger house -- so calling up my midwife is not an option. I'd love to hear what you think? I've also considered a UC, but haven't done enough research on that yet.
Thanks!
I found myself a great midwife who did my prenatal care. 4 weeks before my due date my blood pressure was rising and my midwife put me on modified bed rest (after all, I still had 4 other little ones to take care of). 2 weeks before my due date my blood pressure was so high that my midwife actually made an appointment with the high-risk OB in town and told me that I was possibly in the beginning stages of pre-e. (Yes, it was that bad, even after lying on my side for an hour). That night my water broke. Unfortunately, my BP was ridiculously high still so off to the hospital we went. My midwife and her apprentice acted as my doulas (oh they were so wonderful!) and I still had a natural, drug-free birth -- the absolute best hospital birth of all. Baby was teeny -- but strong as an ox, not needing any neo-natal care. I had my midwife do my after-care too, along with the baby's initial care. (I already paid for it!)
Now, I feel it is important to mention that 4 weeks before my due date my grandmother (who was quite young -- in her 60's -- and who I was close to) went to the hospital with a bad case of the flu and was immediately put in the ICU. 2 weeks before my due date, the doctors told my family that she had cancer, her lungs were pretty much shredded and there was nothing they could do but make her more comfortable as she dies. I got this news the same day that my water broke. I actually gave birth in the same hospital that she was dying in. She got to see the baby the day before she finally passed. I mention this because I think it's quite possible that this might have exacerbated my BP problems.
Now with all that information... I'm about 8 weeks along with baby number 6. This is quite possibly our last little one. Initially, I thought with the blood pressure problems with my last pregnancy that I might be risked out of HB already with this one.... but I also take into consideration the circumstances surrounding Reagan's birth as well. (I didn't mention that my mother had moved to a new town and that my cousin was planning her wedding -- the same day as my due date!).
Am I crazy to think that maybe I can still try for the homebirth I desperately want? I've moved to a new city and into a much bigger house -- so calling up my midwife is not an option. I'd love to hear what you think? I've also considered a UC, but haven't done enough research on that yet.
Thanks!
I should also add that I did not actually develop Pre-e -- although I was probably on my way to doing so. My urine was still fine as well as the lab draw that we did that same day (that my water broke). My midwife was actually surprised that I hadn't developed it since my BP was so high!
