Funny/jaw-dropping comments about homebirth (etc.) - Page 2

[minkajane]

Subbing. Will return later to share my stories.

[Juvysen]

:

[mamakah]

I didn't have a home birth because I couldn't find a midwife that would do one. So I was at a birth center. I got countless comments about how dangerous it was to go without the fetal heart monitor, the immediate suctioning of their throat and nose etc. I'd have to say the worst comment actually came from a book about pregnancy that I read. It called home and natural birthers "barbaric", "gothic", and "irresponsible." The ex playmate who wrote it also noted that she would be laying in bed after her medicated birth, looking pretty and rested, toasting her champagne with family, while the natural birther will be panting in exhaustion with broken veins in her head from pushing so hard. Absolutely disgusting.

[Mamatoabunch]

In relation to UC, so how do you weigh the baby after birth and all that "other" stuff for newborn. Umm a scale and we don't do any of that other stuff.

And this weekend, so dh is the midwife then, ummm, no he just holds my hand. But he delivers the baby, no I catch my own baby.

[momasana]

Upon finding out that I was having a homebirth a male coworker said "I can't believe your husband is going to let you do that"

[Chamsia]

To clarify (for jtrt)--I think UC is fabulous!!! 'twas the way the doc said you wouldn't want someone who was well trained doing home-births that brought on the image of him thinking we were doing some dirty, horrible evil thing and should be ashamed. So ridicuous.

[Belle]

A lady I met at a restaurant asked which hospital I had Dd2 at. I told her she was born at home. She looked really concerned and asked "What happened?"

I said "I went into labor, the midwives came out, the baby was born, the midwives went home"

I was showing my late grandma pictures of the birth. Someone put a hat Dd's head soon after she came to the surface and Grandma saw a picture of her with a hat on. She said "She was born with a hat on?" Grandma was supportive of homebirth. Her twin brother and sister were born at home in the 1920's and she was there. She said they would have died if they'd been born in the hospital. They were premature and her mother carried them around the house with her in a laundry basket everywhere she went.

[mamabadger]

Originally Posted by momasana

Upon finding out that I was having a homebirth a male coworker said "I can't believe your husband is going to let you do that"

Oh well, it makes a nice change from "I can't believe your doctor would let you do that."

Actually, I had one very nice reaction from an elderly man. He and his DW had lived in a small village in Scotland, and he told me that back then, most babies in the area were born at home attended by midwives. He said having a baby at home is "so much nicer." He described his daughter being born, and almost immediately holding her in his arms, with tears in his eyes even though it happened over forty years ago.

[shelley4]

i got/get alot of the "ooooooh, you are so BRAVE!".

and once, when explaining that the mw's bring their own medical gear in event of emergency (oxygen and such), one person asked if they also brought the IV pole too (because *every* woman uses an IV, right? it's impossible to birth without one!), and the epidural... even more shock follows after being told that no, you can't have an epidural at home.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

When I was discussing homebirth a friend of mine who is actually pro-natural childbirth said that she just wouldn't be comfortable doing a homebirth because of things like the cord getting wrapped around the baby's neck. Apparently that can't be taken care of by anyone but an OB.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

When I was discussing homebirth a friend of mine who is actually pro-natural childbirth said that she just wouldn't be comfortable doing a homebirth because of things like the cord getting wrapped around the baby's neck. Apparently that can't be taken care of by anyone but an OB.

I've heard that one so many times. "My baby would have died if they were born at home because they had the cord wrapped around their neck" Well, my homebirthed baby had her cord around her neck twice. The midwives just unwrapped it. It wasn't that big a deal. And she didn't die.

[D'sMama]

Why do so many people think you can get an epidural at home? I've gotten that too and had to suppress my laughter.

[smeep]

Originally Posted by D'sMama

Why do so many people think you can get an epidural at home? I've gotten that too and had to suppress my laughter.

I get that ALL the time! I birthed in a freestanding birth center, but I get it even after already explaining that it's essentially the same as at home, it's just not my home. I explain that, no, it was not an option and I was quite content. For one, you couldn't PAY me to get in a car again during labour (by the time the pain is bad enough to want an epidural, the THOUGHT of a car ride is horrifying - it was bad enough going TO the center). For two, the water for me felt the way I hear a working epidural is (and I always say "working" to point out that they don't always work). By the time it no longer made a difference many women would have the epidural "turned down" anyways, and it was literally at BEST 30 monutes before he was born - in a hospital I'd be lucky to get an anesthesiologist there in time.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by momasana

Upon finding out that I was having a homebirth a male coworker said "I can't believe your husband is going to let you do that"

This reminded me of my little gem. I didn't have a hb, but I had a natural birth at a hospital without an iv. When I had to have an iv a year later to get my wisdom teeth removed, I freaked out over the iv, as I'm terrified of needles, more specifically needles with drugs dripping into my body.

The oral surgeon reprimanded me for being so upset over the iv, and remarked, "you have a baby! Did you do this when you got your iv during childbirth?" and I replied that I opted for natural childbirth without an iv.

He then scoffed and said, "They should have held you down and MADE you get the iv."

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

When I was discussing homebirth a friend of mine who is actually pro-natural childbirth said that she just wouldn't be comfortable doing a homebirth because of things like the cord getting wrapped around the baby's neck. Apparently that can't be taken care of by anyone but an OB.

You know, I'm a natural child-birther, but I'd like to learn more about homebirth and have one with my next child. The possibility of the cord being wrapped around the baby's neck and the inability for a midwife to handle it quickly enough is something that terrifies me...so I can actually relate to this concern. I'm sure that more education will alleviate my fears.

[apple_juice]

My step sister said right to my face (she is a total UAV)

"If you have a home birth your baby will be retarded likemy friend's baby, she had midwives and thats why her baby isn't normal"

Grrrrrr.

[Veronika01]

A lady on another forum said she "would never forgive herself if something happened to her baby at home and it's just not worth it for the experience". Um. OK. So nothing ever happens to babies in hospitals?? I got the "You're so brave" thing. I got the constant harassment from my mother over the phone while I was in transition. She kept phoning over and over and told my dh to "Just force her into the car and drive her to the hospital. Be the man in the relationship." and "How will you live with yourself is she dies and you have to raise those children on your own??" Lady, right now dying would be a blessing just so I never have to listen to your interfering nagging ever again. Seriously. I AM GIVING BIRTH. WILL YOU SHUT UP AND STOP HARASSING US??

[DoulaJulian]

I always loooove the comments about "the mess of having a homebirth" that I get from folks. "You'll have to shampoo all the carpets!"

I did have a hospital birth with baby #3...and it WAS a mess b/c of the completely superfluous episotomy, and the intense bleeding caused by the OB ripping my placenta out with seconds of the baby exiting the premises. Yeah, that looked like an animal was slaughtered in the room, so I suppose if that is everyone's impression of what normal birth it, they must think i am nuts to want that at my home.

However, the truth is that with zero ripping, the only "mess" from our homebirth was when my totally clear amniotic fluid released while I kneeled on a chux pad on my bed (ie; no mess at all). And then the gentle expulsion of my placenta 20 minutes after the birth on another chux pad. So all in all, not a mess whatsoever.

And not to mention that my mw's helped me take a shower, drained and deflated the birthing pool, threw in a load of laundry, did some dishes, served me a cheescake in bed, and didn't leave until I was tucked into a bed with clean sheets...what mess?

Justine

[momto3wantingmore]

Originally Posted by mamabadger

Oh well, it makes a nice change from "I can't believe your doctor would let you do that."

Actually, I had one very nice reaction from an elderly man. He and his DW had lived in a small village in Scotland, and he told me that back then, most babies in the area were born at home attended by midwives. He said having a baby at home is "so much nicer." He described his daughter being born, and almost immediately holding her in his arms, with tears in his eyes even though it happened over forty years ago.

Oh how sweat!

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by emma1325

He then scoffed and said, "They should have held you down and MADE you get the iv."

Yeah, cuz just DRINKING WATER when you need to hydrate your body is such a risky, dangerous choice to have made.