Homebirth, Birth Center, or Hospital?

[FertileMertel]

I was just wondering what type of birth everyone is thinking about. My last was in a birth center, but this time we are strongly considering a homebirth. I'm still pretty nervous about this one.

[Keeta]

I answered "unsure" because we're between the birth center and home birth idea.

My first was in a birth center that was IN a hospital (but they were separate for all intents and purposes). But, we've moved across the country since then, so I need to research my new options. I know there are a few free-standing birth centers around, and LOTS of homebirth midwives. So DH and I are in research mode about the pros and cons of those options.

We just don't want to go the hospital route, that much I know.

[starshine1001]

We're definitely going for a homebirth this time. My first was in a hospital with midwives and the second was at a freestanding birthing home with a midwife. The out-of-hospital birth that we had with our second settled it in our hearts that it's safe and O.K. in a normal, healthy pregnancy. We had our concerns before it, but afterwards we realized that the only difference would have been the fact that we wouldn't have to pile into the car and drive home 4-5 hours after the baby was born! I don't think I'd ever intentionally UC...I like having the support of a midwife there, as long as she's content to leave me be until I need her.

[Lauren31]

Not sure, we are moving to Germany with the Army in a couple months so :

[soveryblessed]

I picked homebirth. My first birth was an uneccessary c-section of my twins. The OB was evil...and I mean it in the meanest of ways. She kicked my DH out of the room, drugged me up on stuff, touched me without permission...it was pretty tramatic.
My second on was a VBAC with a CNM. It was a pretty good birth overall, but I was still pretty much bullied into external fetal monitoring, uneccessary tests, and was pretty much forced to be induced before 40 weeks even though there was no problems with me or the baby. It was either induction or c-section.
Needless to say, I'm confident that if I can give birth to an 8 lb. 9oz. baby without pain meds, I can do it at home and have a much better experience. I'm excited about it. Birth is a natural end to pregnancy- a natural process. In my eyes, I don't need my pregnancy overmedicalized as I'm not sick. Should problems arise I will of couse go back to the hospital, but hopefully that won't be the case!

[JamesMama]

I picked unsure. I REALLY want a homebirth, but I have to talk to my midwife and get her opinion on it. My last labor was kind of scary (cord tightly around DD's neck, to the point where it had to be cut before she was fully born and she has a small scar on her neck where my m /w accidently nicked her the cord was so tight) so DH is opposed to it.

I'd like a birth center but my labors are too quick, the nearest birth center is over an hour away, I'd never make it.

Right now, probably another hospital birth.

[mtnmoonmama]

Homebirth for me! Most likely unassisted. My first was a home/water birth with a midwife. Great experience. My second was planned with a midwife, but he came soooo fast that we were unassisted. I woke with my first contraction at 5:32am, got out of bed at 5:58, thinking I had to go to the bathroom and had my sweet boy instead! It was an AMAZING experience. So, this may sound silly, but we kind of felt like the midwife was a big waste of money. If all stays well and normal in my pregnancy, I think we'll just do it ourselves!

[beccabus]

I would be interested in a homebirth, but there is NO WAY my husband will let me. My mom tried with me and ended up being rushed to the ER (I forget why--I think her cervix wouldn't open, but her water had broke?)...so he's out on that idea! My first time was at a hospital and was a positive experience, so I'm not too disappointed with going again.

[FertileMertel]

I have a similar story with my mom causing me to be scared about a homebirth. My mom had a wonderful, textbook home birth with me with a doctor and his nurse who came to the home (kind of unheard of in the 1970's.) Luckily with my sister (her second birth) she was at the doctor's office (this was her option since she lived two miles out of the radius for a home birth and didn't want to be in a hospital). She again had a great labor and delivery (although very fast), but afterwards, when she was getting ready to go home, she began hemorrhaging and had many tears in her cervix. The doctor had even gone home before she started to bleed out. His wife, the nurse, was the only one left at the office. If it were not for the quick work of the nurse practically turning her inside out and clamping her cervix (despite my mother screaming in agony and threatening to sue her if she touched her again!), my mother would have died. If she had been at home like she was with me, she most certainly would have because the doctor and nurse would have already left. Stories like this make me think just b/c the first delivery went great, anything can happen with the next one. I want to be at home, but my fear holds me back (and my mom's fear too.)

[boigrrrlwonder]

Homebirth. Maybe unassisted. I do not want to go to a hospital unless absolutely necessary.

[wendimarie]

Homebirth for me please :-)

DS - emergency c-section
DD - HBAC waterbirth :

[Willowrose]

I'll be going to the hospital this time. I've had 4 homebirths and my last birth was a horrible experience due to my midwife. I had to transfer to the hospital due to my placenta not coming out and the OB and nurses went above and beyond. My midwife was hardly present and treated the entire labor as though something bad was going to happen. It was awful.

[feministmom]

I picked hospital. I was on the fence about trying homebirth, but after meeting with a new midwifery group today, I'm going with a hospital birth. The widwife seemed great...she actually encouraged us to look into homebirth after hearing about my last experience with a "med"wife birth. Although I'd like to be confident enough for a homebirth, I'm just not. I would like to try a no-intervention birth, but I like the idea of being in a hospital in case I wimp out. Plus I don't think we can swing a homebirth financially. This time I am definitely using a doula, though!!!

[FertileMertel]

Originally Posted by feministmom

I picked hospital. I was on the fence about trying homebirth, but after meeting with a new midwifery group today, I'm going with a hospital birth. The widwife seemed great...she actually encouraged us to look into homebirth after hearing about my last experience with a "med"wife birth. Although I'd like to be confident enough for a homebirth, I'm just not. I would like to try a no-intervention birth, but I like the idea of being in a hospital in case I wimp out. Plus I don't think we can swing a homebirth financially. This time I am definitely using a doula, though!!!

What is financially involved in a homebirth? I am debating what to do as well? I would also love to hear about your "med"wife experience. I had one as well with ds.

[intelgal]

Birth Center. I visited the birth center a few days ago and loved it. It is right across from an affiliated hospital so in case anything happens, I will be transferred. Coincidentally, the midwife I will be having my first appointment with a few weeks from not hosted the info session, and DH and I both really liked her.

It is also a 15-20 minutes drive from our home =)

I might consider home birth next time. We live in a small condo so it sounds difficult to me.

[feministmom]

Originally Posted by FertileMertel

What is financially involved in a homebirth? I am debating what to do as well? I would also love to hear about your "med"wife experience. I had one as well with ds.

To be honest, I didn't investigate the financial commitment beyond hearing "insurance does not cover this."

Maybe some mamas who've had homebirths before can shed some light?

Unfortunately, NJ does not have any free-standing birth centers, otherwise I would pick that as a middle ground between home and hospital.

[rajahkat]

Homebirth.

My dilemma now is whether to go unassisted or not. My previous 4 have all been UC, but I was tossing around the idea of hiring a midwife this time. I like the idea of having someone to meet & chat with during my pregnancy, and someone to bounce ideas & concerns off of if they come up. As a student midwife, I already have a BP cuff, urine sticks, fetoscope, doppler, etc, so it would kind of be more emotional support than anything.....

My last 3 births have been so quick (last was an hour start to finish) that I really doubt a midwife would make it to my house in time. So, I'm faced with finding a midwife who is really okay with not doing much at all.

Kat

[MamaJ2005]

UC all the way!!! DH is video documenting the whole thing! Should be fun!

[tygrss]

I'm stuck between homebirth and free-standing birth center birth. DS was born in a freestanding birth center and it was great. I just found out that I am pregnant two days ago and called my midwife. The first thing that she said was "So, you wanna have a homebirth this time?" LOL. My labor with DS was 3 hours and 10 minutes from start to finish, so a homebirth is definitely something that I've been considering. I think that I'm 75% sure that that's what I want to do. It's so early right now though that I'm still getting used to the idea of even BEING pregnant, let alone giving birth.

[Lan84]

Unsure just yet.

I'll be choosing between a hospital birth and a birth center birth. I've found a birth center that comes highly recommended, that's attached to the hospital that I'm interested in (in case of any emergencies). My biggest concern is that I have a REALLY low pain threshold and may want an epidural. I'd like to have the option to try without it and if I need it, be able to have it. I don't believe that the birth center offers it.

I have a few months to decide. I'm going to meet with both the midwives from the center and the people in the L&D ward at the hospital to make a really informed decision of what I want to do. As it's my first, I don't know how I'll handle birth.