Homebirth thread - Page 2

[yukookoo]

just met with our midwife, i guess people interview many before choosing? I couldnt find more than 2 and im in a very crunchy area.

Anyways she was great. im a little scared now that its more real. One thing i am dissapointed about is that she only recommends 1 ultrasound at 20 weeks! and im like a control freak and i want to know everything is ok RIGHT NOW i want to hear a heart beat damn it and know there's a baby in there and just one!

I dont have maternity coverage so it will be all out of pocket, so i cant really afford more than 1 ultrasound anyway.

Outside of that, im about 6 weeks i guess now, so she said we can schedule the first visit soon all she will do is draw blood and go over medical history stuff, and then the next month we can do doppler i guess and listen to baby's heartbeat

i like the hands offish approach in labor and i really want to do it all at home, but during prenatal visits i kind of want more reassurance that everything is ok with baby....

How are you dealing with that part?

[peaceful_mama]

Originally Posted by NeverBeenHappier

I am hoping to make an appt soon with a midwife or two in the area to see if I am a candidate for a homebirth. Other than age, (I am about to turn 40) I don't think I'll have anything against me this pregnancy so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I've had 4 hosipital births and they were a mix of inductions/pitocin/epidural/forceps/pulling on cord/placenta leading to heavy bleeding mixed with really dumb rules and an overall feeling of being a prisoner in a hospital. I really was just ignorant and didn't know how much of an option that homebirth was. Now I know, so I'm thinking "know better, do better".

I look forward to hearing everyone's experiences.

Tracy

my CPM does not refuse someone solely based on age--in fact she says most of her "older moms" (meaning people above the age hospitals consider 'advanced age') are among the ones who do the *best* because of planning, life experience, whatever it might be.

[peaceful_mama]

Originally Posted by sarahmck

Definitely planning another homebirth. The first two were at home. The first in California and the second in the Netherlands.

OP, are you in RI by any chance? I'm from there and your description of the legal situation sounds awfully familiar.

Nope, but one of the FEW states that is actually so backward as to PROSECUTE midwives.

(there are a couple states close to me with no legislation but also no prosecution.)

[peaceful_mama]

Originally Posted by turnquia

Add me to the list... at least tenatively!

I'm a little freaked out. I have had a nice dark BFP at 8 DPO! And this was first cycle after a MC. I"m REALLY nervous and hopeing this one is sticky this time.

Also nervous because of the super dark BFP for only being 8 DPO. I will be getting betas done monday and wednesday this week.

hmmmmm is it possible there *were* twins and only one miscarried? (just finished a birth story book where this happened to someone...)

[ema-adama]

Originally Posted by yukookoo

How are you dealing with that part?

I am not planning on having ultrasound if possible. Not having found a midwife just yet, I don't know how this will work.

I am focusing on the physical symptoms I have to reassure me that I am indeed pregnant. And when I sit/lie quietly by myself, I trust that all is OK, and if it isn't, I trust that I will know. A little woo-istic to be sure. I am wanting this pregnancy to be much more peaceful than my previous one.

I was reading in Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering about ultrasound and what it does to the developing brains of mice and I got a little freaked out to be honest.

I'm also very keen to keep ultrasound technicians away after my last pregnancy where they totally tortured me.

[Wildecat]

Originally Posted by yukookoo

just met with our midwife, i guess people interview many before choosing? I couldnt find more than 2 and im in a very crunchy area.

Anyways she was great. im a little scared now that its more real. One thing i am dissapointed about is that she only recommends 1 ultrasound at 20 weeks! and im like a control freak and i want to know everything is ok RIGHT NOW i want to hear a heart beat damn it and know there's a baby in there and just one!

I dont have maternity coverage so it will be all out of pocket, so i cant really afford more than 1 ultrasound anyway.

Outside of that, im about 6 weeks i guess now, so she said we can schedule the first visit soon all she will do is draw blood and go over medical history stuff, and then the next month we can do doppler i guess and listen to baby's heartbeat

i like the hands offish approach in labor and i really want to do it all at home, but during prenatal visits i kind of want more reassurance that everything is ok with baby....

How are you dealing with that part?

With my first pregnancy I saw my OBGYN and Midwife at first and then decided to have a homebirth and quit seeing the OBGYN. Since I was seeing both for the first 16 weeks or so I did have numerous ultrasounds and tests from the OBGYN to reassure me (My Midwife recommended no ultrasounds). I am going to see just my Midwife this time around and try not to worry about having like 4 ultrasounds and all of those tests, which actually scared me more than reassured me. I think 1 ultrasound at 20 weeks is actually perfect because the baby will be big enough to see everything and you can find out the gender if you so desire. My DH helped me a lot when I was stressing out about if the baby was o.k and so did my friends. It is just normal to worry and no amount of ultrasounds are really going to ease that, know what I mean? We will always be here for you if you need someone to talk to

[Adamsmama]

We are planning a Home Birth. We met with the midwife last night and we think we want to do a waterbirth. I'm excited and a little nervous. I've always used OBs and hospitals so this will be different for us!

[Funny Face]

Just popping in to say hi.

This will be our second homebirth, hopefully another waterbirth with my super awesome, hands off midwife/friend.

[turnquia]

Originally Posted by peaceful_mama

hmmmmm is it possible there *were* twins and only one miscarried? (just finished a birth story book where this happened to someone...)

I wish this were the case however, my numbers were followed down to 0 and I charted you can see clear ovulation (I think twice) lol and now a nice dark BFP at 8DPO and a beta of 75 at 10DPo.. I go for 2nd beta tomorrow.

I called our MW last night and she was super excited so I'm excited and just waiting for the day we can hear the HB so I can relax

[NeverBeenHappier]

peaceful_mama - Thanks for that info.

I just got off the phone with a prospective midwife (seems like one of two or three in my area) and she sounds like a dream. She was very nice, about a year older than I am and had her 5th (and the 2 or three before that one) baby at home last year, so she said that my age would not play into whether I was a candidate or not.

Her office is like 4 miles down the road from my house and her house (which she explained is also important for middle of the night labors) is about 1.5 miles from my house!

We will be meeting with her in a few days and I can't wait to ask her some of my questions! She said to make a list as she loves people that come with lists.

She had a great website and since I'm such a www freak I love that about her. Lots of detailed explanations about what to expect and what's included and how everything is up to the mom - no hard and fast rules. So unlike going to the doctor where they tell you how it's gonna be (their rules!).

I'm so excited - can't wait to tell DH when he gets home!

Tracy

[yukookoo]

would it make a difference to you whether your midwife has kids? I didnt even think of this before, because for SOME reason i assumed all midwives have been through birth most likely a homebirth themselves. The midwife we interviewed doesnt have children, not by choice, she said she always wanted to be a mom but couldnt. Which i feel for, but at the same time i think it sort of bothers me. i want someone who has had many haha i want that personal experience or bond? When i was talking to her about finding out, testing excitement it sort of made me uncomfortable to be talking or trying to bond over an experience she hasnt had....

I know it shouldnt really matter, i feel wrong about it, but to me it kind of does i guess.

I will have both our moms with me for the labor i think, dh's mom had 4 kids naturally no drugs etc, my mom also had 2 that way, so i will be surrounded by strong woman who have done it before.

[ema-adama]

neverbeenhappier - that is awesome .

I have found two midwives through recommendations, although one lives an hour away.... I am not ready to contact them yet, I think I will in a couple of weeks. I seem to need to keep this time more private, and I am also scared I will be told I am not a good candidate due to my 'retained placenta' at my last birth. I have just ordered my medical files from the hospital I was transferred to. I never got a decent explanation from the OBGYN on just what he did.

Yukookoo, I used to want to be a midwife, but felt weird studying to birth babies before I had had a birth myself, and so ended up studying something else. I can understand wanting to share personal experience of birth with your midwife, although I am sure it does not impact on her professional abilities at all!

[PrettyHippie]

We had our first daughter at home and we're wanting to have this new baby at home too! Apparently I'm due December 15. We LOVE LOVE LOVE our midwife. When we lost our other little girl at 20 weeks gestation she was at the hospital the whole time with us. She's great!! I'd love to have a water birth this time. We had the tub last time and I was literally in it up until I started to push, but I couldn't get any traction so they had to lift me to the bed. The thing needed handles or something! I would be in a different tub this time if we decide to go that route again. We're crossing our fingers and toes and saying lots of prayers that this little one sticks!!

[Bebegim]

Originally Posted by PrettyHippie

We had our first daughter at home and we're wanting to have this new baby at home too! Apparently I'm due December 15. We LOVE LOVE LOVE our midwife. When we lost our other little girl at 20 weeks gestation she was at the hospital the whole time with us. She's great!! I'd love to have a water birth this time. We had the tub last time and I was literally in it up until I started to push, but I couldn't get any traction so they had to lift me to the bed. The thing needed handles or something! I would be in a different tub this time if we decide to go that route again. We're crossing our fingers and toes and saying lots of prayers that this little one sticks!!

Sending you lots and lots of sticky vibes!!! Congrats!! (and so sorry for your previous loss)

[painefaria]

I just go off the phone with our midwife We have our fist appointment on FRIDAY!! I am so excited. She was so great with to us during my M/C, she came out to the house at 1:30am to sit with us and called the hospital at 6am when I felt that I needed to go in, she even offered to watch our son at the hospital for us. I am so happy to be able to gave her as a provider again The cool thing about her is that she comes to you. She is coming to the house on Friday and will be doing my blood work at that time... How can you complain about that!

[Jazzmin]

I plan on having a HB. I had a wonderful MW (who came to me!) when I was pregnant with DD. We have since moved cities and I had to find new MW. I did find a wonderful MW (who is legal!) and I am excited to work with her.

[Usually Curious]

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty

LOL, me too, Jenny.

[Funny Face]

Originally Posted by yukookoo

would it make a difference to you whether your midwife has kids? I didnt even think of this before, because for SOME reason i assumed all midwives have been through birth most likely a homebirth themselves.

I used to think it mattered and then a midwifery student attended my birth as a doula. She'd never given birth and she was amazing!

A good birth attended is a good birth attendant. In many ways you don't want their birth coloring how they attend yours because no two births are alike. If you click with someone and they have the same birth philosophy then I'd definitely say go for it!

[TyrantOfTheWeek]

I see my homebirth midwife at 12 weeks!

I had my last baby at home about 14 weeks ago!

[wolfmom]

I will hopefully be having my third homebirth with this baby. The only thing that would make me choose a hospital (other than the obvious life threatening situation) would be if we move to a house that is very far from a hospital - in case of emergency. But that is all contingent on if this house sells and we find what we need!!