I was so thrilled to find this forum. I am almost 20 wks pregnant with baby number 3 and still have no interest or desire to see an hcp of any sort, and it was very reassuring to see so many women who trusted their bodies and had great births.
My first birth was in the hospital and was a rotten experience. My second was at home, planned, with a wonderful midwife in attendance. She was so respectful and unobtrusive. She didn't disturb me at all when checking the baby's heartbeat, and apart from suggesting a couple position changes (literally, two) she didn't talk aloud at all. She and her assistant (also wonderful) whispered quietly when they needed to and otherwise they might as well have not been there. I was thrilled with my birth and glad to have her there to stitch up my tear (my episiotomy scar from birth #1 tore, basically right along the scar). I was happy to have women there who knew what they were doing to pamper me, remember to massage my uterus and clean up after the birth.
However...
I had a mental image of myself throughout that pregnancy simply shutting myself in the bathroom (or whatever) and just birthing my baby alone. It seemed great, but after my hospital experience I was anxious about birth in general and found the midwife very reassuring. Ultimately I wanted to be left alone as much as possible, without actually *being* alone. It felt better to keep my eyes shut tight for most of my labor, so that's what I did, so I might as well have been alone -- that's how low-key my midwife was. Oh, she also reminded me that I'd wanted to feel my baby's head while it was crowning -- I'd completely forgotten I wanted to do that and was so glad to be reminded.
Now that I'm pregnant again I keep going back to that image of myself birthing alone. It's nice to know I'm not the only woman alive who wants to do that do that, and it's reassuring to read so many success stories. Thanks everyone!
I don't know yet if I will go for it and have an unassisted birth. Hmm...any words of wisdom for a mama on the fence?
My first birth was in the hospital and was a rotten experience. My second was at home, planned, with a wonderful midwife in attendance. She was so respectful and unobtrusive. She didn't disturb me at all when checking the baby's heartbeat, and apart from suggesting a couple position changes (literally, two) she didn't talk aloud at all. She and her assistant (also wonderful) whispered quietly when they needed to and otherwise they might as well have not been there. I was thrilled with my birth and glad to have her there to stitch up my tear (my episiotomy scar from birth #1 tore, basically right along the scar). I was happy to have women there who knew what they were doing to pamper me, remember to massage my uterus and clean up after the birth.
However...
I had a mental image of myself throughout that pregnancy simply shutting myself in the bathroom (or whatever) and just birthing my baby alone. It seemed great, but after my hospital experience I was anxious about birth in general and found the midwife very reassuring. Ultimately I wanted to be left alone as much as possible, without actually *being* alone. It felt better to keep my eyes shut tight for most of my labor, so that's what I did, so I might as well have been alone -- that's how low-key my midwife was. Oh, she also reminded me that I'd wanted to feel my baby's head while it was crowning -- I'd completely forgotten I wanted to do that and was so glad to be reminded.
Now that I'm pregnant again I keep going back to that image of myself birthing alone. It's nice to know I'm not the only woman alive who wants to do that do that, and it's reassuring to read so many success stories. Thanks everyone!
I don't know yet if I will go for it and have an unassisted birth. Hmm...any words of wisdom for a mama on the fence?
