HI/LO Homebirth (We all have one!)

[Funny Face]

"The best thing about my homebirth was ____________."

"The worst thing about my homebirth was ___________."



Let's hear it!

[kJad29]

"The best thing about my homebirth was that I did it! I really did it and nobody can take that sense of accomplishment away from me. No matter how much anyone would try to diminish my power by telling me that I don't get a medal for it or that it's nothing special or that I must like torture or anything negative like that. Also my beautiful son. I'm so happy to have him in my life. Even on the challenging days. Just having him here is wonderful."

"The worst thing about my homebirth was how long it took. If there was anything I could change about my homebirth it's the timing. I wish it were so much quicker even though I'm sure that it was necessary for it to be so long. I mean this was my first baby. My labor and birthing was 33 hours long. Yeah, I know that it is nothing compared to other labors, but still it was long enough. So I wish that my labor was shorter.

[seraphim0517]

Best.. Everything, seriously. But for just one, I'd say not being on anyone's time table, and all the stupid mess that goes with that. No one threatening interventions that were unneeded, and not wanted, just because it was 44hrs. The freedom to move and eat and drink and rest as I chose.
Worst... Nothing... Hmmm... I suppose the fact that it wasn't my house so I had to leave eventually. We were in an apartment I didn't want to birth in. It was my parents home where I grew up, so I was very comfortable there. But it will be nicer that the one coming up will be in our own home.

[emamum]

best... i was comfortable,i was in charge i could get in my own bath and bed afterwards, make myself something to eat, lock the door when i didnt want visiting, my baby stayed with me, my ds stayed with me, no one was pushing me to have drugs because there werent any!

Worse...i had to clean up the mess i made! and i didnt get to have a decent rest afterwards, even tho i laboured all night.

[JorgieGirl]

Best: The best thing was everything! It was perfect! My daughter came 3 days before her due date on a beautiful sunny spring morning. The sun shone through the patio door onto the birth tub where I pushed her out from a 4 hour labour. No tearing and barely *any* bleeding at all. Breastfeeding started off great and I was down for a nap before noon with my baby, snuggled in our bed.

Worst: honestly, nothing.

[RJones1204]

Best: Being in control and having no worries about my baby being taken away or unnecessary interventions. The entire experience was great

Worst: Honestly nothing.

[i*wish]

BEST: my baby, of course, healthy and RIGHT ON MY TUMMY! Not taken from me, not pricked 3+ times for blood sugar tests (she was 9lb)....I could do whatever I wanted, when I wanted and the only 'intervention' was listening to baby and BP once.

WORST: i underestimated the pain and my reaction to it...i changed my mind about having dd1 there d/t the pain and my fear... Also, wish I had planned better for care for my dd1 *after* the birth...a napless 2.75yo and exhausted parents is NOT a good combo.

[Sihaya]

Best: Another one who says Everything! Perfect length, time of day, peaceful, private, comfortable. My midwife wasn't all up in my face but she was available when she was needed (dystocia & short cord). Post-birth support was just enough to be helpful without feeling like they were intruding on us. Just amazing!

Worst: Not bad necessarily, but the way my husband behaved and reacted was completely unexpected. I thought I would need his support and that he would be my rock. In actuality, he was a hyperventilating mess and I didn't need or want him 'helping' me anyway.

[Say]

Best: It was all hard and wonderful, but I love most that I have funny memories. My husband misplaced my old sheets and wound up grabbing my Star Wars sheets from fourth grade. I'm a huge Star Wars fan, and it amuses me to no end that my daughter was accidentally born on them. I also fell over a few times with contractions in our hall squeaking out "baaaaallll!" (that was all I could get out with the pain). My husband would grab the birthing ball for me to fall over, and once the contraction ended we were both in hysterics over my pleas for the ball. I just sounded so hilarious!

Worst: I wanted a nap after she was born, but nope, I was now a mom!

[jennyfah]

Best: The labor and birth. It was beautiful. . . candlelight, music, laughter, good food, and then DS born in the water as the sun was rising.

Worst: DS being transported to the hospital for breathing problems. I feel like I missed out big time on the awesome postpartum days we could have spent in bed with him.

Even though we ended up with a transport after the birth, I wouldn't change a thing---in fact, my belief that homebirth is safe and wonderful was only strengthened by my birth team's handling of the situation. I think it would have been 100x more stressful and awful in a hospital setting.

[Belleweather]

Best thing: The water, the support, and being able to curl up with my tiny little boy in my own bed under my own sheets.

Worst thing: The snowstorm, which I would have very much liked to NOT worry about. Also, not waking my oldest up and letting him meet his very brand new baby brother.

[Burnindinner]

The best thing about my homebirth was I did everything my way with no interference and I didn't have to justify it to anyone.

The worst thing about my homebirth was passing out afterwards because I didn't feel like eating and it took 1.5 hr to deliver the placenta.

[treehugginmama]

Best- I was in my own space. Did things the way I wanted and when I wanted.

Worst. Not a thing! It was the best.

[shell_sea]

Best: The amazing feeling of empowerment and strength I gained from the birth. I felt really confident and great about the choices I'd made through pregnancy and I felt like if I could handle birthing a baby I could do anything.

Worst: The student midwife who assisted took the hose off the bathroom tap in order to close the door, and ended up draining part of the birth pool onto the carpet. Um, were you worried about privacy while I'm in the bedroom laboring naked? In any case, the stain wasn't a big deal because we moved out of that house a month later and didn't get dinged for the damage deposit because of it.

[Full Heart]

Well I've had a lot of hbs. Its hard to pick because they were all different. So these are from all my births not just one.

Best - Catching my own baby, being able to move like I wanted, taking a walk in my own neighborhood, privacy in my own bedroom with my dh, kids being there to see their new sibling immediatly

Worst - passing out due to dehydration (wish I could have had an iv there), walking down the stairs to transfer pp, staining my mattress (make sure you have that plastic secure on your mattress ladies!)

[lindsayjean]

I feel a sticky coming on. I haven't had a HB yet but I *loved* reading this... keep them coming!!

[Amber Lion]

BEST: I birthed on my own terms. The people there helped me do what I needed to do, but not once did someone TELL me what to do. I would even say I had a complicated delivery; contractions that were WAY longer than a normal contraction (8-9 minutes, seriously!), throwing up all over the place for hours, and had some bleeding after the placenta. I know had I been in the hospital they wouldn't have known what to do with me and would have tried to control the situation. It didn't need any controlling, it was how I birthed my baby.

WORST: I'm really wracking my brains here b/c I want to be honest and not just say "nothing", but it's really hard! This may sound silly to some people, but the "worst" part of my homebirth was it was all so normal, everyday, nothing special. I kind of thought it'd be more exciting or SOMETHING, but I just had my baby at home, no big deal. I know that's not really bad... but I think next time I'm going to try and make the experience more special in some way.

[i*wish]

Originally Posted by Amber Lion

BEST: I birthed on my own terms. The people there helped me do what I needed to do, but not once did someone TELL me what to do. I would even say I had a complicated delivery; contractions that were WAY longer than a normal contraction (8-9 minutes, seriously!), throwing up all over the place for hours, and had some bleeding after the placenta. I know had I been in the hospital they wouldn't have known what to do with me and would have tried to control the situation. It didn't need any controlling, it was how I birthed my baby.

WORST: I'm really wracking my brains here b/c I want to be honest and not just say "nothing", but it's really hard! This may sound silly to some people, but the "worst" part of my homebirth was it was all so normal, everyday, nothing special. I kind of thought it'd be more exciting or SOMETHING, but I just had my baby at home, no big deal. I know that's not really bad... but I think next time I'm going to try and make the experience more special in some way.

Bolding mine.
Really? that wasn't bad? I only ask b/c I felt so awful for you reading that!! (had some flashbacks...)

[sg784]

so many awesome replys!

Best: The water. I had maybe 3 contractions on the toilet and maybe 3 or 4 on the bed. I have NO IDEA how ppl do that! It was HORRIBLE! Pain in water was tolerable.

Worst: hmmm....i wish i took a shower before i got into bed after all was said and done. my hair was sweaty and smelly and yucky for a day or so before i got a shower finally...gross. Also, DD wanted to be there very much and due to a misunderstanding/lack of communication, didnt make it back in time. This time around, she just wont leave!

[Munki'sMom]

Best things were: I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I was and forever will be SUPER WOMAN and I love that! lol My labor was short (1.5 hours) and not that painful (or I just handled it really well). I labored how I wanted, which was simply walking around my house and watching the news. LOL I pushed for 10 minutes. My family and friends were there with me. Baby and I were healthy and happy. My baby was really alert and calm after he was born. Baby was never ever away from me. It was ALL really great! :

Worst things were: The pushing part was difficult for me but lastest only 10 minutes. I had to deliver on my bed instead of the tub. Thats it really!