I cross-posted this over in Homebirth, but I'd love some thoughts/opinions from UCers as well.
After what I consider a traumatic hospital birth with CNMs with my ds, we decided on a UC for my dd. It went perfectly. Now I've got ds2 coming in the Spring and I had decided to go with a home birth CNM for this one for a couple reasons, mainly because I was thinking I'd like the support of another woman this time around, and because my dh will be busy with 2 kids instead of one. Part of me feels like it's the responsible thing to do this time; however there's a small yet substantial voice that's been getting louder the further along I get that has me somewhat anxious as far as 1.) having the mw there, who I'll only have seen less than a dozen times before the birth and thus won't really "know", and 2.) having one of her assistants there, who I won't have met more than once or twice. I having a huge problem getting comfortable with having what amounts to a sort-of-stranger and a for-certain-stranger in my home, during labor and birth. It's probably just a throw back to her being a CNM and my previous hospital experience with another one, i.e., I'm apprehensive that she's going to pull a switcheroo on me during labor and become very hands-on, but she assured me she's comfortable just hanging out and knitting unless we want her more involved. Thoughts? Opinions? Sometime someone on the outside can see these things more clearly. This is the third time around and I thought I'd be as rock-solid in my decisions as I was last time, but something's definitely keeping my brain in re-think mode.
After what I consider a traumatic hospital birth with CNMs with my ds, we decided on a UC for my dd. It went perfectly. Now I've got ds2 coming in the Spring and I had decided to go with a home birth CNM for this one for a couple reasons, mainly because I was thinking I'd like the support of another woman this time around, and because my dh will be busy with 2 kids instead of one. Part of me feels like it's the responsible thing to do this time; however there's a small yet substantial voice that's been getting louder the further along I get that has me somewhat anxious as far as 1.) having the mw there, who I'll only have seen less than a dozen times before the birth and thus won't really "know", and 2.) having one of her assistants there, who I won't have met more than once or twice. I having a huge problem getting comfortable with having what amounts to a sort-of-stranger and a for-certain-stranger in my home, during labor and birth. It's probably just a throw back to her being a CNM and my previous hospital experience with another one, i.e., I'm apprehensive that she's going to pull a switcheroo on me during labor and become very hands-on, but she assured me she's comfortable just hanging out and knitting unless we want her more involved. Thoughts? Opinions? Sometime someone on the outside can see these things more clearly. This is the third time around and I thought I'd be as rock-solid in my decisions as I was last time, but something's definitely keeping my brain in re-think mode.
) And most of the ones I know are sensitive enough to stay "out of the way". Most women in the throes of heavy labor really are too busy dealing with the contractions to pay that much attention to who is where , when and what's going on...some sensitivity, yes. But the advantages of having someone there that could help and had the knowledge to know what to do in a gray area (how much bleeding is too much? Should the placenta come out within a half hour like they do in the hospital, etc) and could help you stay home, and to know WHEN to transport, might far outweigh the risks of her "being in your space"...Just a thought...
