How many people do you know IRL that had a HB?

[barefootpoetry]

I know tons of people online who've HBed, but only four IRL. Three of those are part of a birth circle meet-up I go to, and the other is my midwife. I live in rural VA, and we have a good-sized Amish community who I'm sure HBs, but I don't know them. How many people do you know who HBed? Are there a lot in your area?

[scrapadoozer]

Two. My midwife and a cousin of a friend (UC). I really don't think there are a lot of homebirthers in my area.

[dogmom327]

A few but no close friends. Birth centers are also really popular around here.

[DomerJen]

just one friend... my midwife did, so I guess 2.

[Gena 22]

Good question. Of my friends, only 2, one who was also my doula and a college friend who became a midwife.

Oh right, and my MIL! She had one HB, and one HB that ended in a transfer.

Doesn't really count, but my great-grandfather was a doctor and he delivered my grandfather at home, not far from where I HB'ed my twins. So just two generations of the family (my mom and I) born out of the home! Hope my girls get to HB too!

[Amila]

Me, and three of my close friends

We are probably the only ones in the whole state though, lol.

[rere]

Well just 3 as far as I know.But there are plenty of people who know me but don't know I birthed at home so I guess I could know more but not know it?

[cathicog]

Originally Posted by barefootpoetry

I know tons of people online who've HBed, but only four IRL. Three of those are part of a birth circle meet-up I go to, and the other is my midwife. I live in rural VA, and we have a good-sized Amish community who I'm sure HBs, but I don't know them. How many people do you know who HBed? Are there a lot in your area?

Probably a couple dozen. Some in Virginia, some in TN, One in NJ, and a few in NC...I run across them here and there. Most don't mention it til they see my license plate.....or bumper sticker...What part ofVA are you in, if its OK to ask? I lived there for 30 years, and know quite a number of midwives...

[JesiLynne]

I know several ( MY Mom included ) but most are of my mom's generation. I only know of one my age or close to.

[D'sMama]

One, who has adult children now. Five, who were in my childbirth class for homebirthers!

[Mamabeakley]

Let's see. 8 for sure - my mother, MIL, and friends of theirs, midwives & doulas I know, my SIL and DH's cousin. Plus myself. I'm sure I know others as well, but those are people I can think of off the top of my head who I have definitely talked to about it. I don't think it's that homebirth is particularly common where I live or lived; it's just that I've lived most of my life in "fringes" of mainstream culture, so a lot of the people I know well are in that "fringe" who are most likely to have a homebirth.

FWIW, my mother is the only woman in my matrilineal line who was born in a hospital. My grandmother, great-grandmother, and further back, were all born at home. My grandmother's birth was supposed to be attended by a doctor, but he didn't make it in time, so my great-great-grandmother caught my grandmother.

[barefootpoetry]

Originally Posted by cathicog

Probably a couple dozen. Some in Virginia, some in TN, One in NJ, and a few in NC...I run across them here and there. Most don't mention it til they see my license plate.....or bumper sticker...What part ofVA are you in, if its OK to ask? I lived there for 30 years, and know quite a number of midwives...

The Shenandoah Valley.

[DahliaRW]

At least a dozen, but A LOT in my local AP moms group have and I took a natural childbirth class where nearly everyone did. I know a few more who had birth center (free standing) births and a couple other who attempted homebirth but had to transfer for medical reasons (one of them baby was tangled in the cord and not decending and required a c/s to get him out).

[layla983]

Don't know a single person whose had a HB. Well, my grandma had her first couple babies at home but that was about 60 years ago so I don't really count that. Everyone around me thinks I'm a freak of nature because I'm planning one. My state has less than 1% homebirth rates. Even birth centers are looked down on in my state, only a handful of them exist.

[Veritaserum]

Lots. Dozens. When I had my first home birth, though, I didn't know anyone. Since then I've run in more natural circles. Almost all of my close friends home birth. One did a UC.

[rmzbm]

None. Zero. I don't even really know anyone well online who has. Sad.

[joannamf]

zero here too. I'm looking to get to know more people though, my midwife gave me one womans name, so I'm going to call her sometime.

[Jilian]

I'm lucky to have a group of MDC mamas that I get together with regularly and most have had out of hospital births for at least one of their children. There are 6 of us who have had birth center or homebirths.

[happyCOmama]

Out of my group of pals.... probably half had a home birth (so about a dozen). Another quarter were at a birthing center and the rest were in the hospital. I don't know anyone who had a planned induction or planned c-section.

[texaspeach]

3, and 2 other friends had their babies at FSBC.

eta: no wait, one of those was a transfer.