Humor me, ladies: I'm still not sure where to have this baby. I planned a hospital birth with my first. While it was a vaginal delivery, GBS+ and broken waters meant we were bullied into pitocin. For my second, I decided I wanted a homebirth for sure. My labor ended up being super long and I was just too exhausted and in too much pain to keep going so we transferred. Suspected malpositioning. IV pain meds and pit lead to another vaginal birth.
The first place I thought of for this baby is a free standing birth center that is near by. It should be covered as out of network with our insurance. We will have to prepay $3,900 out of pocket. Chances are we won't get a refund but we will have my deductible and possibly the whole family's deductible fulfilled for the year by filing with our insurance. The midwives that staff it are unable to administer pitocin so if my labor stalls and natural methods of augmentation aren't working then we would have to transfer to the hospital. This time around my hubby is more on board on an alternative birth so we've talked about if we need to transfer it'll be okay. (Last pregnancy he at one point told me that we would only transfer if it was an emergency.) So why am I not jumping up and down in joy? I guess I just feel so hopeless about having a completely natural birth that right now I am assuming transfer is the only way that will end.
The birth center also has more rules about when transfers need to happen as opposed to the homebirth midwife last time.
There are several hospitals in a reasonable driving range. One has a group of midwives that have a good reputation. They are in network with my insurance although I feel strongly about hiring a doula if we go to the hospital so that evens up the cost a bit. But on their website there is stuff about if you're GBS+ and your waters break and you're not already in labor that pit is a must. I made an appointment with them because I feel like maybe exploring my options will reinforce whatever decision I make in the end. And it would be nice to hear the heartbeat before needing to write a check ($500 due at first appointment with birth center).
There are quite a few homebirth midwives in the area. One has been recommended to me over and over. I emailed her and am supposed to call her to set up a chance to chat. I'm not sure if I really want to pursue homebirth. It won't be covered at all by our insurance. I'm also not sure how it will be to labor with two young children in the house. Something I like about the birth center is that it is less prep: no birth kit, no pool, no worry about cleaning up, before or after. Of course I feel like a homebirth midwife is the only one who would offer the care I really want: fewer "rules", more personal care.
Sigh. I wish this was easier.
Any thoughts on how to decide?
The first place I thought of for this baby is a free standing birth center that is near by. It should be covered as out of network with our insurance. We will have to prepay $3,900 out of pocket. Chances are we won't get a refund but we will have my deductible and possibly the whole family's deductible fulfilled for the year by filing with our insurance. The midwives that staff it are unable to administer pitocin so if my labor stalls and natural methods of augmentation aren't working then we would have to transfer to the hospital. This time around my hubby is more on board on an alternative birth so we've talked about if we need to transfer it'll be okay. (Last pregnancy he at one point told me that we would only transfer if it was an emergency.) So why am I not jumping up and down in joy? I guess I just feel so hopeless about having a completely natural birth that right now I am assuming transfer is the only way that will end.
The birth center also has more rules about when transfers need to happen as opposed to the homebirth midwife last time.
There are several hospitals in a reasonable driving range. One has a group of midwives that have a good reputation. They are in network with my insurance although I feel strongly about hiring a doula if we go to the hospital so that evens up the cost a bit. But on their website there is stuff about if you're GBS+ and your waters break and you're not already in labor that pit is a must. I made an appointment with them because I feel like maybe exploring my options will reinforce whatever decision I make in the end. And it would be nice to hear the heartbeat before needing to write a check ($500 due at first appointment with birth center).
There are quite a few homebirth midwives in the area. One has been recommended to me over and over. I emailed her and am supposed to call her to set up a chance to chat. I'm not sure if I really want to pursue homebirth. It won't be covered at all by our insurance. I'm also not sure how it will be to labor with two young children in the house. Something I like about the birth center is that it is less prep: no birth kit, no pool, no worry about cleaning up, before or after. Of course I feel like a homebirth midwife is the only one who would offer the care I really want: fewer "rules", more personal care.
Sigh. I wish this was easier.
Any thoughts on how to decide?
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