home birthers? - Page 3

[naturegirl]

Homebirth #3 planned for us. We will have the same midwife we had with 1 and 2. :D

[MamaShannon]

We are planning a home birth for this one. DD was born at a hospital and I was (needlessly) induced at 38 weeks. I managed to labor without drugs or an epidural through my pitocin and amniotomy-induced labor (I thought I was going to die the pain was so wretched) but was left traumatized by my experience which also included a 4th degree tear after an episiotomy. OUCH!!!

So needless to say, we have already hired a midwife for a home birth. I am very much so looking forward to gently birthing this baby in the comfort of my own home :)

[mrs sauce]

planning on homebirth #3. I am waiting to hear back from my midwives if I have a spot with them or not (annoying) as there is a crazy long waiting list for midwives where I live. I am really confident they will take me as I called at 7 weeks and have had 2 other awesome home births with them, but still have to wait to hear back.

[Right of Passage]

I'm UCing so of course at home.

I've been going to Kaiser for proof of pregnancy stuff, other than that it will be an unassisted pregnancy too. But really all pregnancies are unassisted unless someone shares the gestation time with you, and I don't think we have that option yet....

[Taqah]

I'm considering homebirth but everyone keeps telling me it isnt a good idea for your first child... not sure what to make of their advice.  My husband won't oppose a homebirth but would prefer the hospital. 

Also, I'm living overseas where midwives are almost unheard of.  I did contact the only one found but there seems to be no licensing or official training of any kind here-- and the email I recieved in return was so hippy--trippy (and I'm very crunchy but I don't want to hear about auras and crystals in my first email from a midwife)  and  laced with poor grammar that it scared me off.  So now I'm looking for an OB that will attend homebirths.  Would love to find a midwife though. 

How many of you had a homebirth with your first baby?

[gossamerwindweb]

Originally Posted by Taqah 

How many of you had a homebirth with your first baby?

I didn't, but I wish I had been educated enough to do so... before being traumatized by my hospital experience.  Our UC was healing in a way, but I wish I had avoided the original hospital birth scenario in the first place....

[quietmama]

I'm planning on my 3rd home birth.  My first son was a hospital birth that convinced me that for me home birth is the only way, my 2nd son was born in the tub 2 minutes after my midwife arrived and my 3rd son was UC.  This pregnancy I found a midwife that I love and feel really confident in.  I've had 5 miscarriages since my third son was born so I'm happy to be taking this journey with a midwife this time!

[sonitaw]

I had a homebirth with DD. I did all my prenatal visits with a regular OBGYN like I was going to go in but never did (this was the paranoid first time mom in me).

The birth was a great experience, mucus plug came out at 7 am, I read all day, as the contractions got stronger, 5:00 my midwife stopped by but I was only at 3 cm, water broke at 6:30pm, in the tub for an hour somewhere in there, then my daughter was in my arms at 10:30pm, a perfect 7 lb 14 oz 21 inch beauty. (As you can see by her birth she likes a schedule, even arrived on her due date). It was a great experience, but there was definitely a point where I was thinking OMG I should have gone to the hospital, WTF was I thinking (and then 30 min later my daughter was born). I had some complications, my waters were black!! Filled with maconium (sp?) and the MW said afterwards that that was the darkest she has seen without sending someone to the hospital, but because my pregnancy was so smooth otherwise and the birth moved along so quickly, she kept me  home. I am not sure what would have happened at the hospital, but I am guessing there would have been intervention because the waters were the color of coffee,

My MW (who is a nurse but has been practicing home births off the books since the '70s -- she delivered me in 1980 :-) was great. I chose her for experience and fit. I was born on an intentional community and definitely have alternative values, my husband is Dutch so home birth is completely normal for him, but we both wanted someone really professional, and not too crunchy. I guess think of a midwife interview as a first date: is this someone you trust? do they have sufficient experience? do you respect them?

With this new baby (I just found out yesterday and am moving back to the states after a year in Barcelona, so I was a little late to catch on that it was a baby and not stress) I have no idea what I want to do. I just found out there is a CNM that is working with a hospital in my home town, she just started last year. I haven't met her yet, but I was thinking about doing that, because I don't know what to do about DD. I don't really want her to be part of the birth, it isn't my thing. I'm curious what other people's experience has been with the older sibling.

Although, reading everyone's entries here makes me concerned that the CNM hospital combo will have its issues as well, and that I will be disappointed after my experience DD. With my last birth it was a lot of extra coordination with billing our insurance, and getting the birth certificate etc, which was a PITA. That would be avoided with the hospital combo. I don't know I am really torn, this sounds silly but the real deciding factor (my husband totally called it) is if the hospital has tubs or not. I had a 3.5 hour labor because of that tub, I swear by it!! No tub no deal! 

[babies-n-bloom]

@Taqah-this is my first pregnancy, and I will be having a homebirth!  I'm over the moon about the idea of being in my own home with my husband and midwife.  To be honest, the whole idea of giving birth is what kinda scares me and I don't want to be pushed into something I'm not comfortable with.  I think either way, whatever you decide you need to find someone (ie midwife or ob) that is really going to listen to YOU, and be invested in YOU!  MDC is a wealth of knowledge and resources.  My midwife suggested two documentaries, and both are on netflix if you are interested.  "Pregnant in America" and "The Business of Being Born". Both documentaries are pro-homebirth, so take the information for what it is.  I found them both to be very helpful and informative.

[krjt]

Taqah, I had a homebirth for my first, and I highly recommend it if you find a caregiver you trust and it's something that you are desiring.  I, too, was living overseas; midwifery was the norm, but not homebirth.  I found a group of midwives that practiced in the hospitals but homebirth was their hobby of sorts.

There will always be people that will say homebirth is not a good idea for a first birth, but that doesn't hold much ground with me.  Ultimately, YOU have to be comfortable with where you birth.  For me, I had read enough stories of women who had to have challenging first births in the hospital in order to get wonderful second births at home or at a birth center, and I didn't want to go through that first step. (Obviously I'm not saying all hospital births are no good, bur for me it wasn't a risk I wanted to take.) 

Good luck, I hope you find the perfect caregiver!

[naturegirl]

I have had homebirths with my first, second and now my third. If you feel comfortable (and safe!) with your provider, that is VERY important. I am blessed to have the most amazing midwife in the whole wide world. ;-)

[naturegirl]

Sorry about your losses and congratulations on this pregnancy!

 

Originally Posted by quietmama 

I'm planning on my 3rd home birth.  My first son was a hospital birth that convinced me that for me home birth is the only way, my 2nd son was born in the tub 2 minutes after my midwife arrived and my 3rd son was UC.  This pregnancy I found a midwife that I love and feel really confident in.  I've had 5 miscarriages since my third son was born so I'm happy to be taking this journey with a midwife this time!

[GoddessKristie]

I'm planning my first HBAC, and I'm nervous, too! I feel like a first timer!

[Mamatolea]

This will be my third homebirth as well. Because of history, we will be UP/UC this time. I am totally confident as I have an amazing village of friends who are in the birthing world and I know I can do it(having done it twice before easily). But...my husband is nervous about how things will go, so I need education!! Any links, videos, tips, birth kit essentials, etc you want to share for UC, I will gladly accept(PM me if you would like!)

Looking forward to getting to know you all!!

[100%mom]

My first was born in the hospital. Which turned out to be a good thing because she was born early and needed a little extra help.

My second was born at home  in the water.

My third was born at home. He came too fast for the birth pool to get full or the water warm enough.

My fourth was a "home birth" at another house. Another water birth.

And now I'm SOOO excited because there is a homebirth midwife in my area and we can stay home for this one. I think. I just found out about the new midwife last week and got her number yesterday. I left her a message, but she hasn't called me back yet.

[moodymomma]

I'm planning my first HB with my 3rd baby. I'm very excited and nervous at the same time. I had 2 hospital births that I'm unhappy with even though I have to beautiful healthy children to show for it. This time around, I think I would feel the safest and most cared for in the comfort of my own home, with my husband and Midwife.

[cleo564]

I'm planning on having this baby at home with my midwife (and her assistant). I had DS at the hospital with the same MW, but she no longer has privileges there and is only doing HBs now. Having a HB was pretty much a no-brainer then because I am NOT having this baby in the hospital without my MW!  My last labor was very long (3 days) because of DS's presentation (his arm was twisted up by his head) and if I had been in any other hospital or in the care of a standard OB, I would have definitely ended up with a c-section. Luckily, my MW is awesome and I trust her completely. I admit that I panicked a bit when I realized that she was only doing HBs now, but the more I researched and the more I talked to people who've had HBs, the more sense it made to stay at home. Once I made the decision, I immediately felt a sense of relief - and now I'm getting more and more excited about it!  It took a bit longer to get DH on board, and I still think he thinks I'm a bit crazy to do this, but he realizes that I've made up my mind and he knows that I make these kinds of decisions after careful research and with the baby's best interests in mind.

[JustSimplicity]

We are having a homebirth this time around too. I just met the midwife (after having met with two others before this) and really like her and her partner. So I feel comfortable with her, which is the most important part. I'm nervous about the homebirth because I felt really out-of-control and traumatized with my first birth even though nothing horribly really happened. I just don't think I was emotionally/mentally prepared for the process. And my midwife was not supportive at all. This time I will have a much better midwife, a doula, and a few friends who I trust immensely come by to help. I'm also going to go through Birthing from Within and helps me prepare more. Still, I'm scared but hope I will feel more confident about it as the time goes on.

[Taqah]

I went to the clinic to interview some doctors and have realized just how horrible a birth in it could be.  But Im not sure what kind of alternatives I really have here so was beginning to talk myself into just accepting that I would have to risk the hospital setting.

In all honesty, I am frightened of having a homebirth.  I have a little sister who has severe cerebral palsy-- perhaps caused by a long natural birth (in a hospital but in country that almost never does interventions or cesareans) -- this has made me very nervous, even though I know the odds of something like this happening to my child are slim. 

I was lucky enough to speak to the owner of the clinic who is an OB/GYN and family friend.   BUT almost every answer he gave me was the opposite of what I wanted to hear.  Of course he assured me I could have a natural birth if I wanted to, and I know that since we know him, my birth would not be rushed for financial reasons-- but he clearly thought all interventions were fine.  The clinic has absolutely no set up for natural births (birthing stools bars, pools etc.) He said he would order them for me if I wanted to, but really?  this means they have no experience with using them.   Also the birthing pool was out of the question as he was convinced it was extremely dangerous!  While money  wouldn't be the determining factor to give me a cesarean I can easily see them being convinced it is the "best" thing for my baby.

I left he meeting knowing that if  I need a cesarean this was the clinic I wanted it done at ( 58%!! cesarean rate, a NICU, lots of doctors specializing in high risk care.)  But that if my pregnancy continues developing normally, I would be very, very afraid to have my baby in this hospital even though I love the clinic for non-maternity issues.  I suspect the other hospitals in this country will be no better.  I need to see if my insurance covers home birth.  If not I may just make an arrangement if I find an amenable doctor and just "not make it to the hospital" in time. 

I made my sister in law watch the first 1/2 of the business of being born last night--and she is beginning to think I might not be crazy.  It also recommitted me to NOT have my baby in a hospital unless I find a doctor that has hospital privileges that is 100% pro natural childbirth and anti-elective cesarean.   I am really going against a trend here; I get the feeling it's far, far worse than the US-- natural childbirth is almost unheard of here.  So I may have to watch the film weekly not to back down. 

[NourishCreate]

babies n bloom  I watched Pregnant in America on Netflix. Thanks for the suggestion!

We met with our homebirth midwife and my husband said, "so when does she come back for her next appointment?"  Sounds like he's on board and comfortable with her!    

I'm a little hesitant paying for all the birth up front (in increments before 36 weeks) . Our insurance will cover most of it, but it won't be until after the birth that we get the reimbursement.   BUT I know this is what I really want, and I pray it all goes smoothly!  It's worth making a few financial sacrifices to get the type of prenatal and birth care I really want!