Introduction

[family birther]

Hello all. I saw Melessa's post and thought I am way overdue in introducing myself as well! Up until today I've only lurked... in this forum as well as others since 2006! Crazy.

I have 3 children (4, 3, 17 mo.), and am due in September. My 1st and 2nd were both hospital births with many interventions, and 3rd a home birth with a midwife. We have decided to UP and UC for this birth and I am trying to learn as much as possible in this short amount of time!

At this time we have 1 friend truly supportive of this, and others and family either don't know or haven't said much yet either way. I feel one family member especially will be hard to handle when we talk to them about it and I'm glad I can read others posts and feel encouraged and supported in this.

We are learning and growing through this so I may seem wishy washy, unsure, or contradict myself in a later post. Chalk it up as you see fit, with a bit of understanding please. =) My journey has not been a clear vision, or path to follow but a slow, growing, maturing with pauses. Just like real life!

Thanks to you that have been on here discussing, brainstorming and sharing your lives. I've learned from you.

Please introduce yourselves to me.

[Kidzaplenty]

Welcome to the board. (Mom of 8 HB/UC's)

[zapzipzee]

Hi Amy,

I'm Kristin. I didn't introduce myself either, just started posting! Ooops!

We're pregnant with our first baby, and are UP/UCing. I've receive a TON of opposition from my family, and DH's side are staying out of it... other than the daily phone calls from MIL asking how I'm feeling! Getting VERY tired of those. Baby should be here sometime between Sep 15 and Oct 15. Although I dont like "due dates," anyone who asks I give Oct 15.

DH is a paramedic, and knows what to do in emergencies, so I'm not worried about that part, but about him feeling something is an emergency that isn't. He thinks he knows everything and doesn't need to read any books. Before we decided to UC, he spoke with several OB's. They were all supportive of UC talking to annother medical professional, even said it was mcuh safer than a hospital, but said they cant support it to the general public because their license would be at risk. That totally put his mind at ease.

For the UP I've purchased a fetoscope (we still cant hear anything), a blood pressure cuff (DH already had a stethascope) and Urinalysis test strips. This way I know if something is up and can make an informed decision regarding seeing a doctor. I will also see a chiropractor later in pregnancy. Periodically my DH does an ECG because he likes to see the baby's heartbeat, however, I will not allow him to use the dopler. This is fun for him...he gets all excited over it.

See you around!

[christinaswar]

Hello,

my name is Christina. I just joined here today. I have 3 children, almost 10, almost 2 and 4 weeks. My oldest was born in a hospital, middle child born in a birth center and youngest was a UC! Live and learn right!!!

[*EarthMama*]

Hi Amy! I mostly lurk on here as well We are planning our first UC. I am due in 3 weeks! YAY! Our first, 2 years old now, was born at home assisted by midwives. It was a wonderful birth experience but I am ready to trust myself fully this time and am super excited about our uc. We have also been unassisted throughout msot of the pregnancy, doing our own prenatals and such. I love how empowering and intimate it is! Anyway, thanks for introducing yourself! Many Blessings!

[sweet_tart_vt]

Welcome! I usually post over on May's DDC, but frequent here a lot as well. Im pregnant with baby #7, a girl, due 5/16 and this will be our 4th UC. I had #1 and #3 at birth centers, and #2 was a hosp birth. I had always wanted to homebirth, but DH was a bit stubborn to get on board at 1st. Now he's a wonderful advocate and tries to talk everyone into homebirth/UC/BF.

MDC is a great place with lots of great ladies. I am sure you will find lots of wonderful friends, support, and advice here.

My stats lol:
#1 birthcenter waterbirth
#2 hospital "dryland" birth (horrible birth trauma)
#3 birthcenter waterbirth
#4 UC home waterbirth
#5 UC home birth(in the caul) completely solo: dh was out of town workink and tried to get home in time, but didnt make it.
#6 UC homebirth
#7 Planned UC home waterbirth

[peetred]

It's so nice to get to "know" everyone

My name is Vanessa. I have 2 kiddos, 3 1/2 & 1 1/2. I'm expecting another blessing in late August. My first two were vaginal births in the hospital with epidurals and other interventions. Both times I didn't want interventions but got that helpless and pressured hospital syndrome and gave in to them.

This time around we are planning a UP/UC. Because we had already agreed and gotten excited about it, I think we are going to have an ultrasound the beginning of May. After that the plan is that I'll stop going and do my own prenatals. Whatever that may be I haven't decided. I'll likely just weight myself when I feel the need, perhaps measure the height of my uterus, and just listen to my body. If I feel the need to check my blood pressure or something I might go to the drug store and take it at the machine, LOL.

There are a few ladies in my area that are supportive of UC. One lady has had 7 homebirths (6 of them UCs), one lady has had 3 homebirths (1 UC) and is planning another UC in June, and another is planning a UC right after me It is absolutely wonderful to have that kind of support nearby.

We haven't told any family members yet, and I'm not sure if or who we will tell. My mom and my sister might end up finding out. My mom was there for both of my previous births, so she might wonder about this one.

[wrappedupmama]

Hi Amy! It's Trisha. Glad to see you made it to the forums! I hope you find them useful. You already know my birth info, but....

#1 fast hospital birth
#2 UC water birth

I mostly lurk, but during my pregnancy I just loved this forum. Yay for mother to mother information and support! I still need to get my birth story posted from 8 months ago. Maybe one of these days

[zoebird]

welcome all!

been on MDC a while, UP/UC'd the first baby. had a pleasurable labor and birth (also painless). unlikely to ahve another any time soon. but still out there living and learning and sharing about UC.

[Ottbabies]

Hi!

So Baby #1 traumatic hospital birth where I felt violated, harassed, abandoned, helpless and angry.

This is baby #2 for me and our first UC, when I first found out I was pregnant the plan was to have a homebirth with a midwife and then the more reading and reflection that I did the more I started to feel that UC was a more natural fit for us. DH is an EMT which he admits made him feel more confident in the decision to have a UC but we have full faith in my body and that this will be a normal happy event.

My own grandmother had 10 unassisted normal births on a ranch in the middle of nowhere so I also draw inspiration from there. I am due July 3rd and am feeling very anxious and excited as the date draws near!