Who is homebirthing?

[GoBecGo]

I know it's early, but i definitely know i'm homebirthing, and i did last time at this stage.

Last time i had a UK NHS homebirth, which was ok, but not a dream. It was certainly lovely enough that i wouldn't consider hospital birthing without a specific reason/need.

This time we are hoping to hire an independant midwife for all our pre/ante/postnatal care and the birth itself (she has a back-up she brings by for the birth).

So who else is planning a homebirth? And what route are you taking?

Oh, and unassisted Mama's, you're of course really welcome here too!

[Tulafina]

Planning my second homebirth. First was a drug/intervention free hospital birth with an OB that actually went rather well, but the postpartum stage sucked in the hospital. Second was a water birth in our bedroom. Fast and furious but beautiful nonetheless.
We are having the same Midwives that we had last time around and the same great friend that was there for both my births. Oh and my kiddos and husband.

[slsurface]

Originally Posted by Tulafina

I love birth If I could do it 15 times (but somehow not end up with 15 kids....) I would!

Same here! I actually had a hospital birth with DS, but I didn't go to the hospital till the last minute, so to speak. I was in labor 30+hours, only went to the hopsital in time for DS to be delivered there. That may sound awful, but I experienced kundalini awakening during labor. It was amazing! I actually SAW nirvana.

I am really looking forward to childbirth. This time I prefer a homebirth with a midwife present. Not because I didn't like the hospital, but because last time I received most of my support from my DH, sis, and mother - and I hope they can all be here for #2 as well. I'm also a little wiser and confident this time around.

[LisaSedai]

If all goes well I want to VBAC and that is next to impossible in my area in the hospital so I will be using a midwife. You can't have a midwife attend a homebirth legally in my state so I'll be crossing the state line and having the baby at her house. So I guess it's a homebirth.

[Sihaya]

I'm planning my second homebirth! DS was born in a birthing pool in our dining room. I will be having the same midwife this time, though we are discussing an "attended unassisted" birth and a much more hands-off pg this time around.

[Traceround]

I will not be homebirthing.

[*mama moose*]

I am!
I have no idea how I'm going to afford it, but its going to happen!
I actually just talked to my midwife for over an hour just chit chatting while she drove to another clients house, she still has to call me back to actually set an appointment and all those good details

[Red Sonja]

I will! This will be my 3rd homebirth.

[Shachar613]

We are planning a HBAC and are so excited!

mama moose--I totally hear you about having no idea how to afford it. Our midwife here (Northeast OH) charges $1500!! Is this typical of most places? And of course if I had a hospital birth, our health insurance would cover the entire thing, but they won't cover any part of a homebirth. Luckily, our MW is really cool about us taking time to pay it off.

[evobaby]

I'm planning on a second. I always like to say that we'll try for a homebirth, because you never know if you'll have to transfer. That being said, I'm pretty confidant that this second babe can be born in pool in the living room just like his or her older sister

[Burnindinner]

I'm planning a homebirth. I had my first at home and LOVED IT.

Shachar, I'd love a $1500 homebirth! Ours is $3000. We are using a CPM, and they are not licensed in our state, so insurance probably won't cover it. At all. We paid for DS's out of pocket and it was totally worth it.

LisaSedei, I wonder if you are in my state? Although maybe not, since CNM's are licensed to practice here and could therefore attend homebirths.

[Pinoikoi]

Probably homebirth. Alaska law allows homebirth (Alaska law is very open to homebirth- one of our previous Governors really believed in it and forced the issue quite a bit so I consider myself pretty lucky), and my insurance will pay the midwife no problem.. as long as it isn't twins.. then off to the hospital I will go.

I am not saying that I think homebirth of twins isn't safe, but Alaska law doesn't allow homebirth in that case... plus honestly, if I am having twins I would seriously be considering getting my tubes tied at this point.

ETA: I am pretty sure it was Gov Hickel... the way my midwife described it to me is that Alaska has one of the best systems for licensed midwives.. it sounded like all of the Hickel kids were homebirthed with a midwife, but that might have just been my interpretation of what she told me.

[laneysprout]

Originally Posted by Sihaya

we are discussing an "attended unassisted" birth and a much more hands-off pg this time around.

that sounds exactly like what we have in mind. dd was born at a hospital birth center (no free standing birth centers here) and we came home a whole four hours later. it was great, but we just want to cut that step out this time and be at home to welcome our LO. we are trying to decide between the CNM who attended dd's birth (she had her babes at home and recently started attending home births) or a CPM from across the state line (who has tons of experience delivering all sorts of tricky babes at home, including multiples, breeches, etc.).

for those of you in less home-birth friendly states, where are you? i'm in RI, and thought for sure we had one of the most restrictive laws on the books.

[Traceround]

For me it isn't a law issue. I'm not even sure what the laws are in my state (California). It is more a personal comfort one and the fact that my insurance will not cover one.

[LisaSedai]

I live in Alabama and the midwife cost is 3,600 unless paid in full by 36 weeks in that case is 2,400. Our state laws are pretty stupid. You can have a homebirth but it is illegal for a midwife to assist you. . When I was pregnant last time I asked my insurance BCBS if they covered homebirths and they said nope.

I wouldn't mind birthing in a hospital if they would let me attempt VBAC but it's clear that they make the rules so you are 99% likely to end with a RCS. I don't have a problem if it is a medically necessary c/sec but I feel most c/sec these days are to prevent people from suing.


http://www.alabamabirthcoalition.org/
While Certified Nurse Midwives are licensed in our state, very few actually attend births in hospitals and none provide out-of-hospital care. There are no freestanding birth centers in the state. And the state has failed to authorize Certified Professional Midwives, who are specially trained to provide out-of-hospital maternity care, to practice legally. As a result, Alabama families who wish to deliver out-of-hospital with a midwife are often surprised and distressed to learn that any midwife they hire to attend them risks prosecution.

[MuslimMama]

I am not sure if I will home birth or go with a birth center. I tried for a home birth with my DS but I dont think my mind andheart were together. I think at that time it was more about what I *didnt want* (ie: c-section, taking the baby away, etc), and less about what I DID want. I ended up taking an epidural at 10cm

This time wherever I decide to birth the most important thing to me is to do it naturally with no intervention, pain medicine, etc.

[Gypsy.Momma]

I will be having our second homebirth 4th natural birth. I can't wait I love the whole birthing experience.

[jesepumpkin]

me too! i'm dreaming of it already!

i had a home waterbirth with my dd, i also used hypnobirthing. it was amazing! i hope to do the same, however i have moved and have different midwives here.

i am already debating renting a heated aquadoula or buying an inflatable. in june, it would hold the heat okay. thoughts? i had the aquadoula before but it is more expensive to rent than to buy and inflatable and i am planning more kids.

i get to meet the midwife at 8 weeks! midwifery care is covered by government health care here, home or hospital. hooray for bc!

Jese

[at_the_hip]

Me!

Yep we will be having our 3rd homebirth..although technically dd6 was a hotel birth!

My history is,

dd10 hospital birth centre with OB, episiotomy, epidural for short period, born direct posterior (face up) after it wore off.

dd8 hospital birth centre with mw, long but natural birth, maternal hemmorhage, meconium

dd6 home (hotel) birth with mw, another long but natural, maternal hemmorhage

dd15mo homebirth with mw, dh had surgery the day after my due date, shorter birth, bleeding controlled!!, born direct posterior (face up)

All babies were born 6-13 days after my due date and ranged from 8lbs 9oz to 9lbs 12 oz!

[Sihaya]

Originally Posted by Shachar613

mama moose--I totally hear you about having no idea how to afford it. Our midwife here (Northeast OH) charges $1500!! Is this typical of most places?

We paid ~$2500 last time for the birth and prenatal appts combined. The birth alone was $2000. This time the birth will only be $1500 (same midwife) and I won free prenatal care at a silent auction - it cost me $120. So we'll only be paying ~$1700 this time.

The thing is, the cost of birth and prenatal care is only a fraction of what we save up and spend for our births. We save up $5000 each time so I can have everything I need during pg and birth without having to worry if we can afford it. With ~2.5 years between births this time, that meant saving ~$175/month. If you plan ahead, like you would to buy a car or house, it's not such a huge expense.