Curious---what are your birth plans? - Page 2

[sjlparis]

We're planning on a waterbirth at home. DP really suprised me when I first discussed it with him by saying he was all for it as long as we got a doula aswell as the midwife He's not sure how well he will be able to cope with the birth so wants me to have someone else there I am comfortable with in case he faints!

[DallasAnn]

eta: Oops! I'm in the wrong DDC! lol

[chicaalegre]

We are planning a second homebirth with the same midwife who assisted at my daughter's birth. Hopefully the same doula, too. They are pretty hands-off and I'm going to wait until way later to think about who else I want at the birth.

At my daughter's birth I had my husband, midwife, doula and my mother and I was really happy with that. I'm not sure how I'll feel with this one, but I have a feeling that I might want to be alone, and then maybe just with the midwife, my partner and my daughter if she seems up for it.

[IceyTheBatmom]

I'm hoping like crazy for an HB with a MW. I haven't decided on water or not.

I went the standard OB/hospital route last time, almost ended up with an emergency c-section in the labor room because DS's heartrate went insanely low. Thank you, pitocin. : He almost died, and it took me a long time to forgive myself for letting them induce me when I knew the risks.

[fyrebloom]

UC at home with my family. My son was a birthrape in a hospital with an OB, my twins were a failed UC (developed Pre-E in the 39th week) and had a C-section, this one will be a UBAC. I'm so excited!

[Lisa1970]

I feel like I had hospital birth rapes too. I wakke up 3-5am each morning stressing over it. I still am quite traumatized by it and 3 of my children had lasting effects from rotten hospital and medical people. (one of those 3 being killed by the stupid "doctor.")

Ok..so here is what I would do if this countries pro-choice laws actually meant a woman has the right to chose what to do with her body rather than just that she can have an abortion. In reality, women do not have much control or choices with their bodies....but here is what I would do...

I would go in to labor naturally. I would be allowed to move around as I please. I would be allowed to be on my knees or anything. My water would break naturally-when my body and baby are ready. I would not have tons of people in the room watching me. I would push when MY body is ready to push, not when some nurse looks at a machine and then screams push at me. I would not be tied down in any way. When my baby comes out, I would be allowed to see her and hold her. The cord would not be cut right away. She would not be promptly whisked off to some nursery away from our sight for God knows how long. I would have anyone with me that I want and no one with me that I do not want. I would not have bruises on my arm from an over tight blood pressure cup permanently attached to my arm, reinflating every 5 minutes,

I am seriously considering a UC also. I do not want to put me or my baby through what the hospitals put us through. For the record, plenty of educated and financially doing well people chose UC and homebirths. Despite what the medical community would like us to believe, it is not the backwoods hicks who are too dumb to figure anything out doing it. The mothers who are doing it do it because we want the best for our children and we do not want the harm or powerless victim type births that we have been having.

[fyrebloom]

Originally Posted by Lisa1970

For the record, plenty of educated and financially doing well people chose UC and homebirths. Despite what the medical community would like us to believe, it is not the backwoods hicks who are too dumb to figure anything out doing it. The mothers who are doing it do it because we want the best for our children and we do not want the harm or powerless victim type births that we have been having.

I can attest to that, I went to college and I'm a very bright woman. My son was hypoglycemic, nipple confused, and spent time in the NICU. If I hadn't been induced and pumped full of pitocin and iv fluids he'd have probably been fine. I was about 30 seconds away from the OB ripping him out with forcepts if I hadn't given him a big push when I did. They deep suctioned him for meconium (there was no need for it, he was VIBRANT at birth with 9 and 9 for apgars) and wouldn't give him to me even though I screamed for him for 90 min. No thanks. My C-section was better then that and there is NO way that should ever happen. Now since I'm VBACing I would have to have CEFM, no waterbirth, no going overdue. Again, no thanks. I'll bring this baby into the world at home in peace and with joy not with fear and risking being cut open or violated again.

[firewoman]

We are planning our third home waterbirth. The first two babies were born at the hospital and while I didn't have a bad experience there, I feel most comfortable birthing at home without someone telling what I can and can't do. Plus my last baby was born in 90 minutes from start to finish and I really don't like the idea of having the baby in the car on the side of the freeway!

[piratemere]

We had planned a midwife homebirth with DS, but four days after my waters broke we transferred to the hospital for a C/S. Despite the tragedy of having to deliver him that way, it was a great experience with my midwives and the nurses and such.
We have moved from Western Canada to the Midwestern US, so my plans are definitely going to have to be different this time. We are looking into driving into Ontario and delivering with midwives there (possibly a "hotel" birth, if they will allow it) or hiring midwives here in Michigan. Whatever we do, we are staying far from the hospital where I am so afraid they will take one look at my scar and wheel me in to the OR.

[hapersmion]

Fyrebloom and Lisa1970, I'm so sorry for your bad experiences.

And I agree - I think homebirth and UC are great choices! I might go for a UC myself if I thought my husband would be able to handle it. (Don't want him begging to go to the hospital because he's nervous or anything like that!) It would certainly be cheaper.... :P

[piratemere]

So, I just got the call that I can deliver with midwives in Ontario. I am excited because I live in Michigan, but I'm an Alberta resident, so I'm kind of in the limbo of birthland right now. The sad thing is that I will not be able to have a home birth, but in Canada the midwives have hospital privileges, so I won't have to worry about the doctors if I am in the hospital. This has taken such a weight off my shoulders.

[mrscompgeek]

Hey ladies, just found out im PG today so really excited. This is our first child and we are planning a Home water birth with a midwife and hopefully a doula. We are so excited but I am very nervous if I can handle the pain or not. Definetly doing bradley birth classes too!

[treehugginmama]

We are planning another homebirth. Our last child was a transport due to hand presentation, my experience at the hospital was horrendous. I'm hoping to get over my issues with it by the time this little one comes.

[RMM1117]

I am planning a waterbirth at a birthcenter about 25 mins from where I live. Very excited at the thought!!

[zjande]

Our second

[MandyB]

For this baby (our 4th), we plan on doing another home/water birth. I was considering going unnassisted, but I think I REALLY love having our midwives there taking care of me and doing the cleanup afterwards! They're very into letting "me" birth the baby on my own anyway.

I can't believe I'm pregnant! What a surprise!!!!

[Serenyd]

I want another ! My plan is to have the garden tub fixed and have candles lit and flower heads floating in the water, sweet incense burning and calming music playing in the background .... but we'll see! Mostly I'd just like to get this baby out safe and sound and healthy!

[cileag]

I'm a little torn. I'm a huge home birth supporter, but am also a L and D nurse and know the midwives at my hospital really well, so I feel as if I could bypass some of the silly protocols. There's also the price issue as well--and now, just to make my decision even more difficult, a new birth center is opening up in my city! The home birth midwives I really liked are out of town for the MANA conference, so that puts a little bit of a damper on that arena. I still plan on interviewing others and seeing how I click with them.