home birthers? - Page 2

[thecoffeebean]

Hoping for a home birth here! We had a mostly wonderful natural hospital birth the first time, with a caring, patient midwife. However, she is taking time off for more education, and won't be available. I'm pretty sure there's only one CNM practicing in my city. They've all, oddly, just gone away. I feel like my hand is being forced, since I really don't want an OB-attended birth. I'm also intrigued by the prospect of a water birth, as there are no hospitals that will allow you to deliver in the tub.

[OdinsMommy0409]

Have you looked for any CPMs? We have two CNMs where I live, but they both only attend HBs as backup. WE do however have around 4-5 CPMs in our area who do homebirths. 
 

Originally Posted by smbcoffee 

Hoping for a home birth here! We had a mostly wonderful natural hospital birth the first time, with a caring, patient midwife. However, she is taking time off for more education, and won't be available. I'm pretty sure there's only one CNM practicing in my city. They've all, oddly, just gone away. I feel like my hand is being forced, since I really don't want an OB-attended birth. I'm also intrigued by the prospect of a water birth, as there are no hospitals that will allow you to deliver in the tub.

[thecoffeebean]

Originally Posted by OdinsMommy0409 

Have you looked for any CPMs? We have two CNMs where I live, but they both only attend HBs as backup. WE do however have around 4-5 CPMs in our area who do homebirths. 
 

Yeah, there are CPMs around here who do home births. I guess I don't understand the different home birth midwife acronyms. All CNMs in the state deliver at hospitals only, to my understanding. I would actually prefer a CNM at home, but that's not an option. So, what's te next best thing at home? Any clarification is appreciated. :-)

[OdinsMommy0409]

My understanding of a CNM versus a CPM is that a CNM is a trained nurse AND midwife. Our CNMs in our city are all in private practice with OB/GYN groups. As far as I know, none of them have hospital privileges (not a midwife friendly city). They do well woman and reproductive care. I believe CNMs can write prescriptions, will perform well-woman care (and be accepted by insurance), and have other training as a nurse. 

CPMs are strictly trained midwives and can do all things necessary as a midwife including prenatal care, labor and birth support, and neonatal care.

As far as what others have told me, it's far easier to experience a CNM who is a "med"wife as in might be more medicalized in their approach to care. Of course, that is not always the case.  

Originally Posted by smbcoffee 

Originally Posted by OdinsMommy0409 

Have you looked for any CPMs? We have two CNMs where I live, but they both only attend HBs as backup. WE do however have around 4-5 CPMs in our area who do homebirths. 
 

Yeah, there are CPMs around here who do home births. I guess I don't understand the different home birth midwife acronyms. All CNMs in the state deliver at hospitals only, to my understanding. I would actually prefer a CNM at home, but that's not an option. So, what's te next best thing at home? Any clarification is appreciated. :-)

[SweetKidsOfMine]

I am planning on having my first home birth. I have had 3 hospital births and am very excited to birth at home this time. I just heard from my local MW office that I got a spot and I am now anxiously waiting on my first appointment.

[Lovebeingamidwife]

Still hasn't hit me yet that I'm pregnant, not exactly planned. But what WAS planned was a home birth :) I'm a CPM (midwife) myself so I wouldn't have it any other way!

[OdinsMommy0409]

Congratulations! Since you're a midwife, perhaps you could best explain the difference between a CNM or CPM. I'm not sure that my understanding is correct.
 

Originally Posted by Lovebeingamidwife 

Still hasn't hit me yet that I'm pregnant, not exactly planned. But what WAS planned was a home birth :) I'm a CPM (midwife) myself so I wouldn't have it any other way!

[Lovebeingamidwife]

Nurse Midwives often work in the hospital, and often with doctor supervision or in a practice with a doctor. Their is a huge range in birth philosophy as far as natural or medical mind set. They are trained in the typical education model- nursing degree and then a 2-3 year masters program of midwifery.

Certified Professional Midwife mostly does home births, rarely has delivering privileges in the hospital setting. Mostly natural mindset, however again a large range, generalizing doesn't work too well. This is an apprentice trained model, book work is often done through correspondence with workshops here and there. An apprenticeship with an experienced midwife is a must and where alot of the learning happens.

There are much better explanations out there! :) Try the Citizens for Midwifery website!

[yippiehippie]

Second HB here. I'm definitely considering a UC, haven't seen a MW yet. The one I had last time I liked, but it just doesn't seem to feel right this time! I'm still in contact with her and would feel bad, but I'm also moving, so would have the excuse she's too far;) She didn't actually attend the birth, we moved in the 2nd tri and are back here now. She's more like a friend, but I feel like I want a motherly/grandmotherly figure this time.

Anyone else in a situation like this?

[rjruiz_415]

I am (hopefully!) My first was a fully medicated hospital birth. My second was a natural birth center w/in a hospital birth. My third (and this) was UP/UC.

[howellem]

I'm another homebirther! I had a natural hospital birth in 2008 with my first daughter, an awesome home water birth in 2010 with my second daughter, and I'm already SO excited and hopeful about my next home birth.

[Dandy Lion]

With my dd I did a hospital birth. I was induced at 42 weeks with cytotec, and I had a really quick and "violent" labor. She was in distress, so they ripped her out with forceps and rushed her off for oxygen. I didn't get to see her for almost an hour, and by far that's the thing that bothered me the most. I can understand the oxygen after what she went through, but she didn't need to be weighed, measured, cleaned up, and diapered before they brought her back. Luckily she nursed like a champ as soon as she was placed in my arms. Dealing with the hospital staff was the hardest part of the whole experience (my 8oz newborn who is nursing constantly does not need to be supplemented with formula), and I had absolutely no support. I decided that if I ever have the opportunity to give birth again, I would do things differently.

My dh (not the father of my dd) is just as excited as I am about hb as I am. A friend of ours recommended her midwife, so we plan on interviewing her first. Hopefully we love her too!

[Janel47]

I'm planning a homebirth too.  My first was an attempted natural hospital birth, but they scared the crap out of me and I asked for an epi because nobody realized I was transitioning and they didn't check until it was in place an hour and a half later... and labor stalled at 7+ cm.  DUMB!  I totally would have made it those last 3 cm without meds!  3 hrs later, she came out just fine, but against my wishes the OB did an episiotomy with the birth mirror up!!  No warning, just snip snip right where I could see (and I'm super weak-stomached about wounds and blood and stuff).  I remember that soooo vividly.  Seeing my baby the first time?  Not nearly as much.  I was too traumatized.  :(  For the next baby, we brought a doula, saw a CNM, and labored at home, arriving just in time to birth her, but like I said on the intro thread, they kept us prisioner there after promising to send us home for 24 hrs!  The mean nurse just kept saying there was no one available to check us out.  We missed the first window for some unknown reason, and then missed the second window, again for an unknown reason, and finally got out by putting up a huge stink.  Not cool.  Not happening again.  Not to mention I detest the hospital I would have to deliver in!

We have our first midwife interview thursday!  I have great hopes for her.  By online info alone, she seems like the best fit.  Also local people just rave about her, even more so than the midwives that have been around for longer.  Plus she was an EMT, is the most affordable midwife in the area, and does twin births/breech, which is hard to find!  I don't expect either breech or twins, but I'd like having a midwife that was confident with normal variants.

[mama2myangels07]

We are doing a UP/UC

[bcblondie]

I'm going to homebirth. It went great with DS 1. 3 hour labour! I'm looking into UC. :) Good luck everyone!

[Janel47]

Question for you ladies:  How do you know if a midwife is "the one"?  We have several options in this area (I think 4 or 5 that I'd consider interviewing).  I met with my top pick today and it went great.  I am super impressed by some things (she will do twins and breech babies for one, and she has spent lots of time in Mexico doing free deliveries for women who can't afford any care) and the rest is exactly how I expected.  There were no red flags whatsoever and she was a very sweet, calm, intelligent, experienced lady.  She used to be a doula and although I'm welcome to hire one, she's more than happy to do anything from coaching, massage, and herbal therapy to hiding in another room while I labor alone.  She's also been an EMT, so is comfortable handling emergencies, neonatal resuscitation, etc.  Sounds good, right?  DH was very comfortable with her and his #1 wish is for someone sweet and unassuming who won't try to control the process or irritate me when I'm in labor. 

So I guess my question is... is it a good idea to keep interviewing, or is it OK to be happy with the first one?  How did you know you wanted to hire your midwife?

[ozzyemm]

We are planning a homebirth as well.  Our son's birth was horrible.  I was coddled into a c/s by the ninth month.  That's not happening this time.  I am looking forward to birthing in a tub in our kitchen near the woodstove. :)  Hopefully with a light snow outside :p

[montanamama1]

JaneI47 --

I went with my first midwife interview with my DD and couldn't have been happier! I scheduled appts with another midwife (who was on my ins) and an OB, but the mw I saw first (who wasn't even covered under my ins but was very reasonable) was too awesome. I didn't feel the need to talk to anyone else. It helped that I had other friends who birthed with her who just raved about her!

I think going with your gut is just fine!

[gossamerwindweb]

This pregnancy took us by HUGE surprise.  We were not planning it, and were actually preventing it (failed miserably obviously)... at first I didn't know what I wanted, but hubby and I have discussed it as it sunk in and we have now decided for an UP/UC  so I'm in for the homebirth obviously :) My first was a very intervention-full hospital birth, my second was a very long, very painful labor and UC.  I was still glad we didn't go to the hospital. Give me a longer labor any day ;)  Glad to see other UCers here!
 

Originally Posted by rjruiz_415 

I am (hopefully!) My first was a fully medicated hospital birth. My second was a natural birth center w/in a hospital birth. My third (and this) was UP/UC.

I think we hung out a lot on the UC board last time. I was due 7/28/09 and Henry was born 8/5/09. Good to see you here! Funny we are due at the same time again :)

[Janel47]

I am so impressed with you UP/UC ladies! 

Montanamama-- Thanks!  We hired her and I'm at peace with the decision.  I think this is going to be good!