Where will this baby be born?

[kater07]

Have you all thought about this and made a decision? Anyone settling for something less than ideal for any reason?

Just wondering what everyone is planning at this point.

I want a home birth, but am planning a hospital birth b/c of insurance/$$ issues. I will find a way!

[Lisashepp]

I really want a homebirth, but it all depends on if I can find a midwife I can afford.

I can deliver for free at the military hospital, but I just don't want to. There is a very scary Dr there that I just can't bring myself to risk my health and the health of my baby.

[weesej]

Home There was no comparison between my first 2 hospital births and my homebirth. It was worth every penny, and I am not wealthy (think 800 square ft house with 3 kids, LOL) Midwives are flexible, ask them about payment options!

[wtchyhlr]

Definately at home.

[letabug]

I guess at the base hospital b/c DH absolutely had a fit when I said home birth. I may have to have a cerclage (sp?) so if that happens definately at the hospital. But I must say, there is only 2 doc's in my practice right now and they both are the nicest docs I have been to on base. Almost as nice as my OB who delivered DS. SO I feel comfortable with them if I do deliver with them. But my dream is a home birth. I guess we'll see.

[happymamajenni]

I am going to the hospital. Last time I planned to go to a birthing center, but it didn't work out, and the hospital wasn't as scary and I had more control while there than I thought I would.
Now that I've already had one baby I think I will be believed more when I tell my doctor ahead of time that I don't want an epidural. Besides, I really liked having someone take care of me while I was recovering, and I really liked having my dh and family helping me through contractions because they could see them on the monitor.

[Free Thinker]

I will deliver at the local hospital (still an hour away from me). I considered HB, but I just feel like if anything went wrong, it would take too long to get to the hospital (I live in the middle of no-where). I had DD there, and it wasn't anything like I had been told. They had a LC there, and we were encouraged to room in w/ baby. She slept in my room all night. I remember just staring at her all night, thinking how beautiful she was. It is a small hospital, and they don't deliver any babies there before 34-35 weeks b/c they don't have the tech. to take care of them. Maybe the size makes a difference? I know larger hospitals probably have more regulations, and more nurses, ect. checking you. I was only checked 5 times: check in (1.5 cm) noon (still 1.5 cm) (water broke at noon) 2:00ish, after uke (Finally a 6!!!) and when I asked a few hours later (9) asked to push (9.5, pushed out to 10). Overall, I was very happy w/ my hospital. I did send DD to the nursery while I took a shower a few times, and when I took sitz baths, too. I stayed there less than 24 hours after delivery.

[ekblad9]

At home if I have to deliver it myself. I already found a midwife and paid her some money but then dh got a massive pay cut. I'm still determined to find a way.

[*Amy*]

We'll be at the military birthing center with my midwife, and I just love her. We're going to try for a water birth, but as this has never been done at this center, I'm sure it will be a challenge. Since it's my first babe, I would feel too nervous being at home I think.

[HelloKitty]

We will do a hospital birth, the hospital is a bit away for us and I wouldn't feel comfortable being at home just in case anything happened. Our hospital here has really nice birthing rooms and my OB is fantastic and listens to and abides by my wishes so I know it will be another great experience.

[lasofia]

Home, where my first was born. I'm very close to my midwife's back up hospital, which is nice.

Also, I've stayed with a couple friends when they gave birth in hospitals around here, and they were pretty bad about stuff like attitude, constant monitoring, intervention. It's true I've never seen a birth at the backup hospital - but I'm so much more comfortable with home birth.

My midwife charges a sliding scale - she has a range, and you pick what you can pay. The last time we had very little cash, so we paid the minimum, but I organized her files for her too, did some volunteer office work. This time we're paying a bit more, and my insurance almost certainly won't help (last time they paid a grand total of $25, for a 2 day post partum home visit well check of the baby. They only paid that because my midwife is an RN and their standards specifically say they'll pay for a nurse to do that visit) . But we set aside some money in dh's flexplan at work.

- sofia

[milk_maker]

tmi

[mehndi mama]

This will be my 4th homebirth, and second unassisted. I'll probably birth on my bed again - it's nice & big & low to the ground

[Christi]

I had a wonderful hospital birth with a wonderful AP Doc. I didn't have anyone offer me drugs. Or try to break my water or anything. I was the only one in the OB ward so I had a lot of attention afterwards but not too much KWIM? We have since moved an hour away but are still going to her. I'm worried about delivering in February with the snow. I might just camp out at my parents for a while before baby comes. They only live half hour away.

[shannon0218]

I too will be delivering in hospital, but I really like the hospital and my OB. They insist on rooming in as they don't have a nursery here (they also don't deliver preemies) It appears that the biggest difference is the size of the hospital and the type of staff/OB's that are around

[Periwinkle]

In a hospital, attempting a VBAC.

For several reasons, homebirth or maternity center was not an option for me to VBAC... a) there is no way I could make it 20 minutes "decision to incision" from my house or the maternity center nearby, b) because severe adhesions slightly increase the chance of rupture and decrease the likelihood that I'll know if I'm rupturing (since they hurt anyway in late preg/delivery), and c) knowing this I would never fully be able to relax and stop wondering "what if" during my labor.

Fortunately, I have an amazing OB who's as committed to vaginal birth as I am -- the only way I'll end of with a c-sec this time is the same reason I ended up with one last time: to save the life of my baby (or me). (Last time, I delivered dd vaginally but then ds became transverse after she was born and he wouldn't budge no matter what we did and he also had decreasing heartrate due to suspected placental tear from dd's birth -- at 32 weeks, out he came. I don't regret it for a second - it probably saved his and my life.)

In addition to my OB, I'm also looking for a doula. I think this will be wonderful to help me stay medication/intervention free again and help me relax and control labor.

[TwinMom]

If all goes according to plan, this baby will be born at home!

[beachrock]

We're planning a homebirth with a lay midwife. I'm so looking forward to not being screamed at by nurses to not push, to push harder, to not scream myself, to lie down, to breathe, to hold my breath, to... :
Finally got dh on board....

[Parker'smommy]

I will be having a hospital birth. Im not happy about it but since we are attempting a vbac, dh would feel more comfortable if we are at a hospital. My insurance won't pay for a midwife, but we are having a doula that specializes in vbacs attend the birth. Even though its not the ideal situation, Im trying to remain positive and optomistic!!!