1) I was 22 when I planned a homebirth with DD1 but it turned into a hospital birth, 24 with my first home birth I think and 27 I think with my second home birth.
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2) I wanted a drug free, no intervention birth in my own surroundings, with my family (DH and first daughter who had been a planned home birth but I was bullied into an induction), with little poking and prodding. I wanted to sleep in my own bed, be able to co sleep with my new baby without having her constantly removed from me when I fell asleep to be put in a cot. I didn't want to hear the screams of other women birthing because it only made me anxious. I wanted to be able to control the temperature while I was birthing (sounds weird maybe but they had the hospital so unbearably hot when I was in there with DD1 that it made me light headed and sick). I didn't want to be stuck to some ridiculous time schedule and pushed into unnecessary interventions (which happened with my first). I wanted to be treated with respect and able to kick people out if they irritated me (I wasn't treated with respect the first time around). I didn't want to have to pee 500 mls in one go before I was allowed to leave the hospital. I guess, when it comes down to it, I just wanted to be treated well, I didn't want to be treated like I was ill, I wanted my baby born in gentle surroundings with family, I wanted my daughter to meet the baby first so she would find it easier. I didn't want to catch horrible hospital bugs again.
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3) I planned a homebirth for my first because I suffered from social phobia and knew that the presence of so many ppl would freak me out, I also suffered from vulval vestibulitis so wanted to avoid too much crap going on in that area, didn't get homebirth though. With number 2, I opted for home birth after everything that happened with birth number 1 at the hospital. I was suffering from PTSD as a result of it, I was scarred and I was terrified. I also felt like I was a failure as a woman. Giving birth at home really helped me feel better about myself, better about birth etc. Baby number 3 I had a homebirth because it was easier than doing it in hospital. We have no family nearby, so if I ended up in hospital, I would be on my own (that goes for baby number 2 as well). Baby 3 was the best birth ever. I was on my own pretty much, midwife was late (showed up after baby was born), husband was in the bath and had slept through most of labour, think I saw him for at most half an hour during the whole thing. I just didn't think birth could be like that. I was sterilised after due to health problems and finding out I had a genetic problem, it was a good birth to go out on!
and I am chosing to do my final paper for my BSN on the physiological and psychological needs, including demographics of women who choose homebirth as an option. If you would please answer some basic questions-you can PM them to me or email me at misidawnrn@yahoo.com I would really appreciate it. Even if you chose homebirth but ended up transferring, please answer if you are so inclined to do so. Thanks so much in advance.
