does anyone else get called a hippy because of their choice to homebirth?

[Chula13]

I'm just curious because i get called this everytime anyone finds out i had a homebirth and intend to do it again this pregnancy, honestly i find it kind of annoying.

[kJad29]

Where do you live? That is really rude actually. I was called one of "those crazy women" once and basically told the offending woman that I wasn't crazy. I just felt more comfortable at home with a midwife than I would have been in a hospital because all of the interventions and that having a natural birth isn't as bad as everyone likes to paint it out to be. It can be a beautiful experience. I also told her that her decision to have her babies in hospital with drugs was her choice and what she was comfortable with. I just did what was right for me and my family. I think she stopped after that because I wasn't indignant or upset about it. I simply stated my opinion on the matter logically and calmly, told my birth story and added that I was very happy with what I accomplished. So I can understand how it gets upsetting that someone will criticize your choice, but at the end of the day, it's your choice. Maybe these ladies are upset that they didn't have the bollocks to do it that way and want to make you feel bad for your decision.

[Banana731]

I get called a hippie for lots of things- not shaving my legs, using mama cloth, not using deodorant. (mostly from my family)

Usually when the term homebirth comes up, I get "brave" or "crazy."

I'd take hippie over crazy.

[sattygirl99]

Banana - me too... I'm hippie for not shaving (anywhere), not using deo, cloth diapering, making my own nut milks... not vaxing, the list goes on...

I get brave, crazy, uneducated and naive when I mention homebirth. When I mention I'm HBA2Cing, I get stupid, irresponsible and unfit.

Ignore 'em! Or embrace your 'hippie' self LOL.
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[Chula13]

I live in las vegas , i either get oh you are such a hippy and or a long spiel about why their circumstances would make a homebirthand or a vbac impossible , it's weird i really don't expect everyone to do things my way that is just what is right for my family. i just don't get why my choices result in judgements or people feeling the need to defend their ones births.


No one knows about my choices regarding vaccinations or i am sure i would get called a hippy for that as well.

[Chula13]

i guess your are right hippy is better than crazy

[Momtotwo2004]

I live in VT and so I don't get alot of very negative commentary. The "worst" I've ever gotten is that I'm "brave" which is a bit passive aggressive.

However, my MIL is from Oklahoma and when we told her we were using a midwife for our hospital birth (with baby #2) she asked, "....like the Amish??" LMAO! She doesn't know yet that this baby will be born at home. I wonder what in the world she'll think of that.

[dogmom327]

Of course they say I'm a hippie for having a HB but I take it as a compliment! I'd love to be a hippie but I'm not quite there yet...

Hippies are awesome!

[sweeetpea]

I don't get called hippie or crazy. Maybe because I am older and look, I dunno, pretty mainstream. Mostly I get the startled look, or the "wow, I'd never be able to do that" or "Wow, I wish I could have done that" comments.

Now Dh does think I'm nutso because I am becoming more crunchy as time passes, while he turns into Rush Limbaugh...

[goldenwillow]

sattygirl99 - I hear that!

I am always hearing "You are so brave!" Seriously?

I dig the hippy comment.

[rad]

I believe we were called "hippy new age freaks" once years ago because we homebirth, cloth diaper and in general do the atachment parenting thing. I just ignored them. I'm comfortable with my birthing/parenting choices. I can only asume that this person wasn't as thrilled with her choices since she felt the need to put down me and DH.

[sapientia]

I get/got hippie as well. I never understand why that is the prevalent comment when people hear about 'natural' choices-I mean, people were doing it long before the hippies.

[Ellie'sMom]

I was once called "one of those natural women" by another woman when she learned I was planning a homebirth.

This just made me and dh giggle, and sing lots of Aretha!

[sapientia]

Originally Posted by Ellie'sMom

I was once called "one of those natural women" by another woman when she learned I was planning a homebirth.

This just made me and dh giggle, and sing lots of Aretha!

as opposed to those unnatural women, lol!

[TabithaB]

Most people think that I am way out in left field for doing this. Being called a hippie would be nice. Almost a compliment. Most of them thought I was nuts when I started stopping the HFCS and hydrogenated stuff at the door.

[S.Elise]

I don't see hippie as being a derogatory term at all, but I do resent any implication that my decision to homebirth was based on any sort of "lifestyle".

That's because my decision was based on science and evidence!!! For a low-risk woman like me, evidence has shown that HB was my best chance of having a healthy birth and avoiding injury to myself or my baby. Until US hospitals insitute evidence-based practices in their maternity wards, its just logical to avoid them unless you have risk factors making them safer places than home to birth in. Unless of course you want to give birth in the hospital (e.g., b/c you want pain meds), in which case you should go where you feel comfortable.

[MammaB21]

I get called a hippie for a lot of the choices I make. But generally I get it from my close group of friends who have known me for years and throw it around as more of a compliment. It's not really seen as a bad thing, at least not where I am. People may not think exactly like me, or make the exact same decision as I do, but for the most part it seems like they're excepting and curious about my choices. It's not all that I am, and I'm not crazy about labels in general, but this is one that I'm not going to waist time getting upset about. Love the hippie in you.

[Kirsten]

Originally Posted by Banana731

when the term homebirth comes up, I get "brave" or "crazy."

Yep, that.

[Greenlea]

I have not gotten hippie. My DH has, but that's based on everything we do (or don't do) not on our homebirth. I've gotten crunchy and from another time, but again not based on our homebirth. I actually haven't told too many people we are doing a homebirth, because I'm just not sure on the reactions.

[Funny Face]

In context with other crunchy habits I have, yes, hippy gets thrown out in reference to my homebirthing practices. It doesn't bother me a bit.

People have said far ruder things.