So- how are you birthing? - Page 4 « Back to Group Discussions

[Attached2Elijah]

I guess I should start thinking about this... it's my biggest fear right now.

DS was an unnecessary C-section that I was talked into because I had pregnancy induced hypertension... I was miserable and was very susceptible to her persuasions.

DD was a 2nd C-section. I was trying to go for an all natural birth but PIHT came back... and she wasn't doing so hot on the non-stress tests so at 38 weeks, we scheduled it for the next week, trying to give me more time to go into labor myself. Well, the C-section went terribly....and the spinal tap did not work. (It quit working half way through the surgery with my son) Suffice to say it was INCREDIBLY traumatic and has haunted me for years.

So I basically have 2 options... I can try again to go all natural since they can't induce and spinal/epidurals won't work but with the PIHT, the chances of going into labor before it becomes a problem are unlikely. I would LIKE to try to keep it in check and am researching ways to do so but I'm not hopeful. So my other choice is a scheduled C-section in which I am knocked out for. I know that seems like a terrible option and I agree, it may be the only workable option for me. I'm just so sad that if I go that route, I won't see my baby be born or the first to see him/her. So... I'm just not sure how to proceed with all of that. I would do just about anything for a VBAC but not sure how that could happen... or a home birth but DH refused to agree to that and I respect that since I do, after all, have PITH and have had 2 c-sections.

[Yeeska]

I'm planning a homebirth for this one. The first was an intervention filled surgical vaginal birth in hospital followed by 10 days in the NICU. I was told that I should've had a c-section (and by the time he was actually born we probably both would've been less injured by one) and that I should plan a c-section for any future babies since it was unlikely that I would have a baby smaller than the 7lb 3 ounce baby that barely (didn't really) fit. The second was a leap of faith. I found out the issues with the first were likely avoidable as it was a combination of terrible presentation/positioning and interventions exacerbating the problem. I was pretty traumatized by our NICU stay and really wanted to avoid it, so I went with the only freestanding birthcenter available, which was 1.5 hours away. It was an amazing waterbirth experience and I planned my third birth for the birthcenter (that we'd moved much closer to by then). The third was a precipitous birth. We just barely made it to the birth center, so it didn't really matter to me where it happened as long as that labor was over.

I've since realized that there really isn't much at our freestanding birth center that one doesn't have at home, I've decided to skip the inconvenience of the drive and hire a homebirth midwife. I'm a little nervous because it will have been over 5 years since I gave birth and my new man is a much bigger guy, but I guess we'll see how it goes. 

[Yeeska]

Originally Posted by Attached2Elijah 

I guess I should start thinking about this... it's my biggest fear right now.
DS was an unnecessary C-section that I was talked into because I had pregnancy induced hypertension... I was miserable and was very susceptible to her persuasions.
DD was a 2nd C-section. I was trying to go for an all natural birth but PIHT came back... and she wasn't doing so hot on the non-stress tests so at 38 weeks, we scheduled it for the next week, trying to give me more time to go into labor myself. Well, the C-section went terribly....and the spinal tap did not work. (It quit working half way through the surgery with my son) Suffice to say it was INCREDIBLY traumatic and has haunted me for years.
So I basically have 2 options... I can try again to go all natural since they can't induce and spinal/epidurals won't work but with the PIHT, the chances of going into labor before it becomes a problem are unlikely. I would LIKE to try to keep it in check and am researching ways to do so but I'm not hopeful. So my other choice is a scheduled C-section in which I am knocked out for. I know that seems like a terrible option and I agree, it may be the only workable option for me. I'm just so sad that if I go that route, I won't see my baby be born or the first to see him/her. So... I'm just not sure how to proceed with all of that. I would do just about anything for a VBAC but not sure how that could happen... or a home birth but DH refused to agree to that and I respect that since I do, after all, have PITH and have had 2 c-sections.

Aside from the Brewer Diet, which you've probably already heard of, to significantly reduce the chances of PIHT, I know a lot of people I've known have started taking 5W (http://www.greatestherbsonearth.com/nsp/5-w.php) at 37 or 38 weeks to help themselves go into labor asap. You, of course, have to decide what is best for you, but I just thought I'd throw that info out there .

[JuicyPakwan]

Those are some great stories. I agree that all choices should be respected as each woman has their own life that is known only to them.  My births so far have been this

#1 Great homebirth

#2 Great homebirth postpartum transfer for bleeding

#3 Hospital tranfer at last minute from Midwife's house whom I lost trust in and I had nowhere else to go as I was 5 hrs from my house.

*2 miscarriages

#4 UC beatiful peaceful birth followed by heavy bleeding but was able to stay home

#5 Hospital Emergency C-Sec at 3 cm she was born with a apgar of 1 and I was 3 cm so we had no choice but was honestly a great experience that I hope never to go through again.  The worst part was the spinal it made me enormously nauseaous and gave me a spinal headache that lasted for weeks.

*3 miscarriages

Now for this baby I am planning another homebirth if it decides to stick around :) Hope we all get the births we are planning!!

[Bbean]

I live in Los Angeles - it will probably still be sweltering! 

Originally Posted by mole 

Bbean how fun! You must live someplace really warm for an outdoor birth in September to be an option.

[Carlin]

An outdoor birth would be so cool, but the weather at the end of September/early October in Edmonton is far from reliable! And I'm not sure my neighbours would appreciate it considering we live in the middle of the city on a tiny, tiny lot.

I did get an e-mail back from my midwife today, so yay! we have a midwife! They are a bit hard to come by here, now that midwifery is covered by our provincial healthcare, but luckily as a repeat client I got in right away. For some reason this makes it feel a bit more real! 

[Jewels*]

Originally Posted by Carlin 

An outdoor birth would be so cool, but the weather at the end of September/early October in Edmonton is far from reliable! And I'm not sure my neighbours would appreciate it considering we live in the middle of the city on a tiny, tiny lot.

I did get an e-mail back from my midwife today, so yay! we have a midwife! They are a bit hard to come by here, now that midwifery is covered by our provincial healthcare, but luckily as a repeat client I got in right away. For some reason this makes it feel a bit more real! 

Carlin! I'm in Edmonton too! How cool!  :) nak

[Carlin]

Really Jewels?  That's so cool! We should definitely plan a real life get together at some point, once hibernation weather is over!

Oh and which midwife are you using?

Edited by Carlin - 1/17/12 at 10:03am

[BRC_MacKenzie]

Homebirth again. Hopefully with the same midwife I had last time, if shes available. We had a great experience at home last time and I just hope this birth goes as well. 

Oh, and don't assume insurance won't pay for a midwife at home. I was shocked but ours did, treated her just like any other out of network provider! 

[2sweetsparrows]

I am doing an unmedicated or mildly medicated hospital birth.  Because of my losses and the fact that stand alone centers are really hard to come by here- I really really trust my ob though- the practice gets rave reviews with local birth activists - they really go through every last thing before moving on so I am trusting and excited. 

[MissE]

Have I not answered to this thread already? Hmm...I thought I had. Anywho. 

DS - unnecessary C/s after 6 hours of pushing and 32 hrs on my back after induced labor

DD - 40 minute hospital VBAC after AROM but no epidural

#3 - aiming for another hospital birth, vaginally, hopefully via hypnobirthing, with no unnecessary medical intervention. I'm sure I will have to wear the heartbeat thing, even though I'd rather not

[birthmommomx2]

i had hoped for a homebirth but it looks like we are going back to the hospital . using our insurance is a little less expensive then the homebirth midwife. I will be doing this as unmedicated as possible.

[goin' green]

Had a horrible hospital experience with DS, which led us to an amazing home birth with DD.  I can't imagine ever going back to the hospital, and even though DD's homebirth was paid almost 100% by hubby's insurance, we won't have that this time and I'll still save up and pay for the home birth midwife.  So totally worth it.  

[domermommy]

Assuming all goes well and I don't risk out, we'll be birthing at a freestanding birth center.  We had a wonderful experience there last time around.  I'm excited to do a full pregnancy with them, since last time was from 30 weeks on.  

[MacKinnon]

DD1 and DS- Midwife attended hospital births, drug free. Good experiences.
DD2- Freestanding birth center, amazing water birth!
This time- ??

I spent a good deal of time tonight researching options. We have a lot of them in this area, and they run the gamot. There is not a birthing hospital in my county, so I have a 30+ mile drive to any birthing facility. Or, I could stay home. In fact, there is a well recommended CPM here in my home town. She's literally a mile away.

We have an alternative birthing center attached to a hospital about 35 minutes away, although they see patients closer, about 20 minutes away. My insurance would actually cover them 100%. They have some negatives- like a laundry list of "risk out" factors including blood pressure over 140/80 in late pregnancy or labor, and BMI. While I'm not "huge" I'm not a skinny lady either, and my current BMI lands me right on the fence between overweight and obese. I have an email into them, but I would hate to feel like every bite I take in the next 9 months, could cause me to gain that extra pound that risks me out.

Our big teaching hospital just built a new hospital and about 1/5 of the rooms have birthing tubs. They will allow you to bring in a tub, like an AquaDoula, for a water birth as well. The midwife I saw with DD1 and DS now is delivering there. Her office is very close to me, like 10 minutes away, for appointments. Again, my insurance would cover 100%

There are several CPM practices, with two or three midwives, that cover our area for homebirths. All with good reputations, and many, many years of service to women.

Or, I could go back to the freestanding birth center I had DD2. It's the furthest away, over 45mins, for appointments and delivery. It's also the most expensive option up front, but my insurance would reimburse about 60%, or they did with DD2 anyway, and nothing has changed.

I am really not sure what I want to do. For some reason, I feel a little more compelled to seek out a hospital birth this time. I have no idea why, but I have this inkling that maybe I should be in a hospital this time. It probably stems from DD2 being breech to 37 weeks, and scurrying about to get an OB consult, trying to figure out what we would do if she didn't turn. I felt scared by my lack of connection with an OB, that the hospital the midwives back up used was over an hour away. In the end, she turned, and everything was fine. And in fact, they considered me a good candidate for a breech birth because of my two previous uncomplicated births of big babies. Also, we are moving this summer, and we really need to replace DH's car with something he can transport four children in. We have a lot of upcoming expenses, and I'm struggling with choosing to incur the expenses when insurance literally covers 100%!

For now, I am seeing my CNM from my first two that delivers at the teaching hospital so I can get the first trimester follow up care I want, because of my losses. I will, assuming I transfer, due so at the end of the first trimester.

[ilovejeff]

ANother home birth for me.  My new MW is over an hour away, but comes to my town to take prenatal appointments regularly.  Dh will be one quarter away from his RN degree, so I'm not too terribly concerned if it should end up a UC.  I'm most concerned about who will be with DD since we don't know many people here and she's a pretty sensitive girl

[goin' green]

I'm having another home birth and actually rehired my midwife from last time.  I thought I might actually go with the direct entry midwife here in town, but just didn't feel at ease with it, and chose to stick with what I was comfortable with. 

It's actually funny - MacKinnon - I kind of feel that way also about the hospital.  I have a friend though who's all about home birthing and had her last in the hospital, and as a result is home birthing this time.  She said it's possible to get the birth you want with a certain OB, but there was still so much poking/prodding/things that could potentially lead to more interventions, etc (and having had DS in the hospital, I totally get what she's saying), and then also not getting to leave for a whole day - the more I thought about it the more I realized I just wanted to stay at home.  I'm having to drive an hour for my appointments, but I figure it will be worth it the day of when I don't have to leave, or arrange childcare or any of that.  

I have to figure out the insurance stuff (CNM is partially covered by ours) but DH is literally waiting to hear back about a new job today (fingers crossed - they're having massive layoffs at his company lately) so that might affect insurance stuff here soon as well.

[teegan db]

when dh and i first looked at what is now our home last spring, my first thought upon entering the bedroom was "this is big enough for our bed, a birthing tub, and room to spare!"
now that we're pregnant with our first, i'm still nearly certain that i'll be having at least one baby in that room. the only things that could keep me from doing so are a) unforeseen complications and b) the fact that our insurance won't pay for a homebirth, though it would pay for a birth at a nearby hospital that's know for having the best cnm (attentive, loves waterbirths, refuses to do epidurals, etc) in the region.

we definitely have a decision to make. 

[love bug]

planning a 4th homebirth. i too love to snuggle into my own bed with a new babe:) although this time may need to be unassisted as my awesome midwife is now on her own and when she is not on call there is a Dr as backup. the hospital here is nice but i am not to big into the 'rules' they have so I would rather stay home. unfortunatly my midwife/nurse sister who has been there for all my births is living in China and won't be here either:(  I will see our midwife in two week and will start to figure it out. And if she has a new partner by then then I will have them for sure. She has been great for my last two (first was not on the coast) its like she is there but not :) and I love the awesome care she gives!!

MadiMamacita get this - I am a SAHM so I don't get the paid maternity BUT my DH does!! he will get 35 weeks of parental leave(at part pay - i think its 80%). worth the move:)