What sort of birth do you expect you'll have? (poll)

[jenfl]

I'm curious to hear what sort of birth people expect they'll have. For us, I'd say home birth except that the cost seems prohibitive for us this time, so I'm going to vote birth center.

[Georgetown HB Mom]

Well, since I myself am a midwife I will either have an unassisted birth or a homebirth with my midwife partner. I plan on calling her towards the end because I would like another midwife with me just in case.

Lisa

[Mandynee22]

I voted hospital (natural). I love my OB/GYN/DO and the whole practice is really great. The hospital is very natural friendly too. There are no birth centers here and it would mean going without my Dr anyway

[rhiOrion]

I'm lucky because I live only 30 minutes away from the only free standing birth center in North Carolina. I have never heard a bad thing about it- everyone I've talked to LOVES it. I'm super psyched

[CamoShades]

I will have an unmedicated VBAC (positive thinking, right?) in a hospital. Unfortunately the two birth centers within driving distance don't do VBACs, and I'm not comfortable with a home birth. And really, our insurance covers all but a $10 copay for my entire prenatal care and childbirth, so it's hard to justify spending money by birthing any other way. I've already been e-mailing back and forth with a few doulas.

[ivymae]

Our first daughter was born at an independent birth center (after switching from OB's at 32 weeks), and our second daughter was born at home. There is no question: this one will be born at home. I love love love our midwife (and consider her a friend, seeing her almost every week), and have absolute faith in her abilities as a birth attendant. I am someone who flirts with the idea of a UC, and would swing that way if she were not as wonderfully hands off and supportive. Her philosophy is that she is there as support, not to 'deliver' my baby - that is what I am there for! I feel so blessed to have someone as empowering as she is, involved in welcoming our children. :

[ivymae]

Originally Posted by CamoShades

I will have an unmedicated VBAC (positive thinking, right?) in a hospital.

... I've already been e-mailing back and forth with a few doulas.

You will! Doulas are a godsend, and the book "Birthing from Within" is very powerful for women who are working towards a birth that looks different than their first.

[SuzieQ3417]

I voted hospital - natural. There is a great midwife in our area that delivers at a hospital a few blocks from our house. I'm hoping to go without an epidural, because I've seen the risks firsthand (blood pressure drops, increased c-section risk, long-term back pain at injection site, etc), but since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what my pain tolerance is an epidural isn't completely out of the question (e.g. if I REALLY can't stand the pain and feel like it is inhibiting the progression of labor). For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

[mirtodd]

I'll be having a cesarean at some point between 37 & 38 weeks. Had a placental abruption & stillborn Jan 08, and so they will be monitoring this pg very closely and going in early.

[ivymae]

Originally Posted by SuzieQ3417

For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

We took Bradley birth classes with our first, and we really liked them. My husband got a ton out of them, and it helped him understand that birth is not an emergency, or a sickness. Finding a doula can not be overstressed as well, because they are like a guide down a forest path you have never been on. When you come to that insurmountable hill, they are the ones who say "okay, I know it looks huge, but let's take this one step at a time and I won't let go of your hand, so don't be afraid of falling".

I have a zero pain tolerance in every day life (like, I got my ears pieced and sobbed) but have had two natural labors. Don't discount yourself yet, you are capable of so much more than you know.

[jenfl]

Originally Posted by SuzieQ3417

but since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what my pain tolerance is an epidural isn't completely out of the question (e.g. if I REALLY can't stand the pain and feel like it is inhibiting the progression of labor). For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

My first was a home birth, so I had no option for pain relief. I really, really don't want an epidural (more scared of needles in my back than the pain), and I consider myself strong and well-prepared. That said, the experience was still overwhelming. At one point, I told my DH that if I wasn't 5 cm, I was going to the hospital. Looking back, I know now that that was transition and I was actually complete! (Fast labor -- <4 hours total.)

I'd suggest giving yourself exposure to as many different methods of getting through labor as you can, because you can't know yet what will work for you. I took Bradley classes, but the sheer speed and intensity of the labor (contractions literally starting before the last one stopped) meant that I just could not relax through it. I'd intended to labor in the labor tub, but it didn't fill fast enough. I ended up spending most of the labor squatting in the entrance to our walk-in closet and occasionally throwing myself against the edge of the bed.

Find an environment and support personnel who will support you in whatever way you need to get through labor. You can't know yet how you'll get through it -- just know that you will.

[susla]

I voted for free-standing birth center but I'm actually planning to give birth in a BC that is in a hospital here. I had a fabulous birth there with my son and hope I'll get to be there again this time.

[Riverbeauty]

I voted Hospital (natural) because I plan to have a completely natural, unmedicated, unhindered VBAC in the hospital... WISH ME LUCK!

[momz3]

Originally Posted by mirtodd

I'll be having a cesarean at some point between 37 & 38 weeks. Had a placental abruption & stillborn Jan 08, and so they will be monitoring this pg very closely and going in early.

Wow your story is just like mine. I had an abruption and uterine rupture which resulted in stillbirth so I will be closely monitored and will deliver the safest latest possible date . i have a history of early labor, so doc estimated (when I went to my yearly in May) about 37-38 weeks. Leaning more towards the 37 week mark. However, nothing is certain til we get to that point.

[Cersha]

home...assisted. Hopefully the water birth I didn't get to have with DS.

[ivymae]

Originally Posted by mirtodd

I'll be having a cesarean at some point between 37 & 38 weeks. Had a placental abruption & stillborn Jan 08, and so they will be monitoring this pg very closely and going in early.

Originally Posted by momz3

I had an abruption and uterine rupture which resulted in stillbirth so I will be closely monitored and will deliver the safest latest possible date .

s to both of you. Here's to an uneventful pregnancy and birth!

[Mandynee22]

Originally Posted by SuzieQ3417

I voted hospital - natural. There is a great midwife in our area that delivers at a hospital a few blocks from our house. I'm hoping to go without an epidural, because I've seen the risks firsthand (blood pressure drops, increased c-section risk, long-term back pain at injection site, etc), but since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what my pain tolerance is an epidural isn't completely out of the question (e.g. if I REALLY can't stand the pain and feel like it is inhibiting the progression of labor). For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

My "method" with DS was mind over matter LOL.
My mother used to tell me that pain was a figment of my imagination (when I was little and whining about stuff that wasn't all that bad...) I went with that theory. Just laughed and joked and walked and stopped at the maternity ward's kitchen when I felt like it and just kept saying *it's not so bad, it's not so bad*
It still hurt, but I didn't take anything and I'm still alive. I think that will be my approach this time, as well

[momz3]

Originally Posted by ivymae

s to both of you. Here's to an uneventful pregnancy and birth!

Thank you doll.

[summerforever1977]

Homebirths around here are super expensive. My homebirth last pregnancy was about $6k, all out-of-pocket. Insurance didn't cover a dime. It ended in a c-section (breech) so I also incurred all the copay fees with insurance. I would do it again if I weren't risked out (NJ law won't allow homebirths after c-sections), so I'll be using a wonderful vbac friendly doctor in a vbac friendly hospital. The hospital even allows waterbirths so that is what I am hoping for. I will be using a doula and laboring at home for most of it. That's the plan anyway.

[summerforever1977]

Originally Posted by SuzieQ3417

I voted hospital - natural. There is a great midwife in our area that delivers at a hospital a few blocks from our house. I'm hoping to go without an epidural, because I've seen the risks firsthand (blood pressure drops, increased c-section risk, long-term back pain at injection site, etc), but since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what my pain tolerance is an epidural isn't completely out of the question (e.g. if I REALLY can't stand the pain and feel like it is inhibiting the progression of labor). For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

I highly reccommend hypnobabies, SuzieQ! I did the hypnobabies course faithfully with my last pregnancy and I can honestly say I had no pain. I labored at home until I reached 8cm before we discovered a breech baby and had to transfer for a c-section, but I was amazed how peaceful and wonderful I felt. I really wasn't sure the hypnobabies would work as I usually fell asleep listening to the cds but I am confident that it made all the difference. That's not to say that I didn't have work; I did, but I felt waves, not pain. The program really re-programs how you perceive birthing (no using words like "pain" allowed). You can even get discounted cd's.