Home Birth Anyone? - Page 2

[risa]

I'm in a similar situation and just am in process of making the switch. (my due date is April 3) Unfortunately our insurance provider is extrememly conservative, and will not pay for anything if we go the hb route (which is initially why I wasn't considering it). Our first child was born in hospital, and it was just an ok experience, not horribly traumatic, but not the soulful experience I know it could have been. In planning for a hospital birth we were meeting with a doula, and in the process of talking with her, realized that we didn't want to be back in the hospital again (although, I think it would have helped to have had a doula for the first birth). This will most likely be the last time I give birth and I want to experience labour in my own way-not based on the protocols of the hospital. As soon as we decided to contact a midwife an persue homebirth as an option, all my anxieties about the labour and birth vanished. So met with a midwife group last month that I fell in love with, and have my first official visit next week. I will actually still be going to my OB for a little while longer (not telling her about my hb plans) just to finish a few things-I'm RH negative and want to have my insurance pay for things and I have heard that providers in my health plan will drop me if they hear about hb plans. So we are paying out of pocket for the midwife fees, but really even though we will need to make sacrifices in other areas, It is such an important experience. We are also not necessarily broadcasting our decision-other than to family and very close friends (my parents had me at home so they are very supportive and we are a part of an AP group that of course includes a lot of hb proponents, so we get much love) but my husband is an RN and he is just waiting until after baby is here to delve into details with most of his co-workers.
If you have not read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth-go get it now, the first half is all wonderful birthstories, and the second half is more technical (but completely readable) about how the midwives at the Farm Midwifery Center hae gotten the results they have. Such an empowering read!!! It will seal the deal for you about having a homebirth.
Let's have our babies at home!!!

[BabyMak]

risa: Good for you in making the switch! It's such a relief, isn't it??

I'm happy to say, my husband and I also made the switch! After meeting with the midwife and doulas on Friday night, we knew right then it was what we needed to do. We also still haven't told many people...and we ended up paying out of pocket by putting it on the credit card. Oh well! In the end, it's going to be worth it. I feel like a huge weight is off my shoulders. I can actually look forward to the birth of my first child!! It's very empowering

I'm so glad I posted here...reading everyone else's experiences helped give me the courage to go for it. I still have a lot of research and learning to do, but I'm glad the inital steps have been taken and a decision has been made (thank goodness my husband is fully supportive). Of course, I still have to tell my OB/GYN, which will be nerve-wracking. I'm not sure how he's going to react, but it's too late now!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

That's great! I didn't share my story just because it's a long one but I wanted to let you know that I planned a HB from the start and then did end up transferring for the last hour of DC's labor. The transfer wasn't traumatic (though I do wish I had stayed home - as it was not necessary in the end) and everything went well. What I do know FOR SURE is that if I had had my labor pattern with a planned hospital birth I would have had WAY more interventions and most likely a c-section. Needless to say, even though I did end up transferring I am so, so happy that I chose HB. Good luck to you and congrats on your choice!!

[Belle]

Originally Posted by BabyMak

...Of course, I still have to tell my OB/GYN, which will be nerve-wracking. I'm not sure how he's going to react, but it's too late now!

A lot of women just request a copy of their records by fax and don't bother explaining it to their OB in person. I sure didn't. It wasn't worth the stress.

[L&K'smommie]

I also wanted to add to those that don't think insurance will cover a HB...it doesn't hurt to have your midwives bill them anyway. I was bad and didn't call my insurance beforehand and we just billed them and they paid for it exactly as they would have an hospital birth. Just think of how much I saved my insurance company by birthing at home.

For the OP:
I had my first 2 babies in the hossy and then had a HB with my third. It was totally worth it. While I never had bad experiences at the hossy I just didn't want to be there...i wanted to be at home. I had a wonderful experience with my third baby and HB.

[starrmama]

You can do it! I would NEVER plan a hospital birth, and I've been at 4 hospital births, two of which were pretty nice natural births, but even with a respectful care provider its still nothing like being at home. I've had 2 homebirths with 2 different midwives. I realized sometime after the second one that I hadn't had a vag exam the entire pregnancy and birth - how refreshing!!! And a midwife will usually do hr long prenatals. It is much more thorough care and you aren't just treated like another number. Keep reaching out for support online - you will find it... do you have any homebirth support locally? In my area there is an awesome homebirth network with monthly meetings plus some very homebirth friendly AP groups and LLL chapters who are welcoming to new mamas...