First time poster, medium time lurker :)

[annaconda]

Hi ladies of the UC land!

I'm so happy to be posting here.

I'm pregnant with #1, due in May.  I am going the hyper-informed and self-advocating OB route at the moment.  Insurance makes it cheaper to do that than an attended homebirth.

I feel it's my responsibility to manage my care within the OB system.  I'm a yoga teacher, reading up, and working with hypnobirthing.  Basically I've turned into a birth junkie in the last few months.

Anyway...

I have tentatively joked around recently with DH that I'm hoping to be so relaxed as we labor at home that we accidentally have the baby at home and don't even get in the car.

His response was so cool - he said - so we'd need some clamps and stuff like that?

I turned around and said yes, actually, I think we can stock for a just in case for about $30. And we can get informed in emergency childbirth.

I'm so proud of him.  I'm so proud of us.  I don't know what will happen yet, I'm certainly not even thinking that I'm a UCer for sure.  I'm just a person who happens to be ok with going to the birthing center, but also happens to believe that my body will work and that it's entirely possible that nature will take its course in the comfort of our home.

Anyway I'm really inspired by what I read in this forum.  I'm honored to get a chance to chime in.  I have no expectations about my first birth except that I have great strength to draw from.

Take care and keep the stories coming!!  Any advice or comments appreciated.

[rainbow_mandala]

Hi Anna!!  Congrats on your pregnancy   I love reading about people who are interested in UC and I will help you in any way I can.  I had a UC with my first and I'm planning another one in late February.  Take care of yourself and keep us updated on your journey

[annaconda]

Thanks Rainbow!

Unassisted First... AWESOME!

Yes I feel like this whole journey is very much mine.  In the OB system, I"m taking what I want and leaving the rest.  This reassures my husband.

Regarding MW route, I am sure there are many well qualified attendants in my area.  However, I have such a great relationship with my husband - I'd rather deepen our ability to work together than mesh with a new personality.

DH and I have been working near 10 years together.  A MW or attendant and I would only have five or so months to work together.

I will be watching these threads and assembling my list and supplies this spring.

[rainbow_mandala]

Originally Posted by annaconda 

However, I have such a great relationship with my husband - I'd rather deepen our ability to work together than mesh with a new personality.

DH and I have been working near 10 years together.  A MW or attendant and I would only have five or so months to work together.

I feel the exact same way...birth is such an intimate, vulnerable experience that bringing in someone you hardly know and definitely not on an intimate level has always felt very foreign to me.  It's like calling a neighbor over to watch you and your partner have sex   Well, maybe it's not that extreme but it feels pretty close to me.  If it does happen that you give birth unassisted with your husband supporting you then this will more than likely deepen your relationship and make you both fall in love with each other even more

[Erica_Jo]

Congrats on your pregnancy.  I have had three children in the hospital.  Last pregnancy I was consider uc and then I backed out b/c I was afraid.  We barely made it to the hospital and they still managed to ruin my birth experience by not giving me my baby, speaking harshly to me, and aggressively massaging my uterus to the point of me screaming in pain.  This is my last child and I want to have this baby in the comfort of my own home with my husband guiding baby into the world.  I'm so excited to find this forum also!  I have been googling websites where I can buy the supplies for really cheap!  Good luck to you!