If you had a great Homebirth . . .

[dinahx]

But were only in soso fitness/shape, post here plz!
I need to reassure myself it's possible!

[stormborn]

So-so shape (and getting 'old',too) that's me! My uterus was in great athletic shape, though, and my birth was perfect.

[Mama~Love]

I'm definitely a "full-figure" gal, and had an awesome homebirth!!

[HappyMommy2]

Me, me! Total couch potato, beautiful HBAC. :-)

[eli's mama]

I'm kind of middle of the road. I tried to walk or do yoga every day when i was pg. I said i "tried".
I had 3 perfect perfect perfect home births!

[dinahx]

I own a Yoga DVD!

[momtoS]

I walk and I am so-so healthy....but I am overweight. I had pubic symphsys separate and hyperemesis....and had an AWESOME HOMEBIRTH

[josie423]

I was in so-so physical shape with both, gained 50+ lbs and so far have had two great homebirths!

I am in so-so shape this time, although I am trying. Fortunately I've gained less weight and that is helping me feel better physically. We'll see how this birth goes!

[mbhf]

I am certainly not recommending this, but I was practically on my couch or in bed for most of my pregnancies and I have had three homebirths, two were fantastic picture perfect quick and easy and one was longer and tiring but still very nice.

[laohaire]

I'd not exercised in 10 years (when I was in high school and forced to do a sport). I actually don't see why this would be a concern for a homebirth. You do want to be as healthy as possible for your pregnancy, and I do recommend exercise (I started after my birth), but I just don't see the specific "homebirth" issue?

[Belle]

I am super skinny by the end of my pregnancies due to hyperemesis. I have a really hard time gaining weight. I do what I can to pack on the pounds. So I'm not one who goes out jogging my whole pregnancy. I did make a half-hearted attempt at walking in the park every once and a while but I never got very far. I got tired too easily. I was not in great shape.

My home birth was awesome! An easy four-hour labor.

[dogmom327]

I've never been an athlete or consistently active (I go through bouts of fitness but never around the time of my pregnancies) and I've had two great home births.

With my first pregnancy I was about 20 lbs. overweight to start and packed on another 50 while pregnant. With the second pregnancy I was about 35 lbs. overweight and gained about 28 lbs.

[starrmama]

I stay naturally very thin while breastfeeding, lose 10 lbs from puking the 1st 3 months of pregnancy before I start gaining... but I hardly ever exercise. I "try" to dance some, walk and do a little yoga while pg... which means they don't happen frequently! I had tummy muscles separating (blanking on the term for that) plus varicose veins that were constantly bothering me in my perineal area (which means my liver was not very "happy"). BUT - I had a great, uncomplicated homebirth number 2! My 1st homebirth wasn't quite as good, but that's due to other reasons, not exercise

[atenea]

I am quite fat and not fit, but overall very healthy. I had a great homebirth after a labor that would have been called dystocia in a hospital. I choose to believe that this was due to some psychological hang ups I had rather than my size. I only wish I had really gotten comfortable squatting, as that's how AJ was eventually born, and it was hard on my knees. I think I'm gonna start practicing now for the next one.

[broodymama]

I was a very out of shape (and technically obese, BMI-wise ) and a couch potato and I had two wonderful homebirths! I'm in better shape this time around, but only because I finally lost all the baby weight plus more and started training in martial arts again before getting pregnant with this baby.

[isabchi]

I'm not a couch potatoe, but not in shape either. I had a beatiful HBAC....

I have a friend that is over weight, that the OB said She didn't qualify for vaginal, and natural birth, due high pressure and so.. She decide to drop the OB when to have her baby at a birth center an hour or so away from her home. She end up giving birth at 2 am, half way to the birth center, seating in the front passenger seat in her small car that was parking in a store parking lot with not help. Not her ideal birth, but She was happy to had a unmedicate birth

[Kirsten]

I had a homebirth with dd3. I don't think I was in "athlete" shape by any long stretch. But I was in good general health, although could stand to lose a few pounds.

Whatever shape you are in, you'd be in it at the hospital or birth center or homebirth, right? If you risk out of homebirth due to medical/health issues, then I wouldn't have a homebirth. If you are having a normal pregnancy and have no outstanding health issues, I'd feel comfortable with a homebirth.

To me, it depends on what you mean by so-so shape. Being out of shape and getting tired easily with a long or challenging labor would happen in any location. Getting tired doesn't require high-tech hospital help. Are you worried about something other than that?

[AAK]

Originally Posted by atenea

I am quite fat and not fit, but overall very healthy. I had a great homebirth after a labor that would have been called dystocia in a hospital. I choose to believe that this was due to some psychological hang ups I had rather than my size. I only wish I had really gotten comfortable squatting, as that's how AJ was eventually born, and it was hard on my knees. I think I'm gonna start practicing now for the next one.

Before my second child was born (natural, but in hospital) I did all my weeding in the garden in a squat so that my body would be used to it. I birthed on all fours.

Then, for baby #3 (my homebirth) I expected to birth in the water, ended up on my side to turn towards all fours, but really think it would have been better position for squatting, but I just couldn't really articulate that I wanted to get to that position. While that baby (9lb 10oz) was challenging, and I was not "in shape", I am sooooo glad I was at home with a patient midwife. I am sure I would have had a c/s if I would have been at the hospital.

I really think "mental blocks" hurt a homebirth much more so than physical condition of the mother.

Amy

[velveeta]

I am a fitness fan, but b/t aches and pains and insane, pregnancy-long nausea, I am SUPER out-of-shape. And I always am at this point (ready to roll). I know my body will do great!

The MW and my friends are all telling me to take long walks. Um, I have a hard time walking through the house! It is hard to rise from a chair.

You can do it!

[LittleBlackBug]

I was in OK shape. I didn't go to the gym at all while pregnant, but did try to do yoga and other spinning babies exercises throughout. We also walked the dog daily, but I wasn't in perfect shape.

You can definitely do it!