New Posts  All Forums:
 

home birth

post #1 of 29
9/8/04 at 6:25pm
Thread Starter 
I know there's an entire section on the Mothering boards devoted to home birth, but I was curious how many of you will be birthing at home? My first was c-section (due to placenta previa) and my last two were born at home. I had wonderful births and expect this one to be pretty peaceful and effortless, although you never know...my daughter was born at 9 lbs. (42 weeks), and after 35 minutes of labor she slid out into my husbands hands...the midwife was still on her way!

You may also like:

Natural Cold & Flu Treatments
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
Natural Pregnancy Week by Week
post #2 of 29
9/8/04 at 6:29pm
Emily,

ME! ME! ME!!! We're having a homebirth and I'm just soooo excited over it. Pain be damned, I'm looking forward to it like crazy.
post #3 of 29
9/8/04 at 8:26pm
I'm planning on a homebirth, too. My first was natural in the hospital (had the whole group of nurses in my room to watch this rare event LOL).

I'm really excited about this and am crossing my fingers that all goes well!
post #4 of 29
9/8/04 at 8:37pm
Thread Starter 

pain?

I had WAY more pain in the hospital than at home, I'm sure it was due to the bright lights, culture of fear, lack of privacy, interventions, having to "be on guard" and advocate for myself all the time, etc. but my home births were totally dreamy and very satisfying and pain-free! I know you will also have a wonderful experience...
post #5 of 29
9/16/04 at 6:22pm
We are also planning our first homebirth! My first was a typical hospital birth with an epidural (although a very fine birth), my second was a birth center water birth (absoulty amazing!) and I am really looking forward to birthing at home this time surrounded by family!
post #6 of 29
9/16/04 at 8:06pm
My first was a hospital birth with all the trimmings. My second was a homebirth. We're excited about another homebirth.

As for pain, with the hospital one I had an epidural but what I didn't know was that I would have to painfully labor for 12 hours before they'd give it to me, or that it would wear off and I'd have to BEG for more while everyone said no (eventually my OB okayed it by phone). It was not a pain-free experience by a LONGSHOT! So yeah the homebirth was painful, too, but I didn't have glamorous illusions about the alternative.

But what I think about most when I think of our homebirth is having my baby right there at my breast, no-one wanting to take him away, all comfy in our little nest at home. For that I'd go through a hell of a lot.

Good luck!
post #7 of 29
9/17/04 at 3:40am

Me too!

We are planning a homebirth as well. I had my DD unassisted, except by DP, and it was great. I was in labor for 14 hours, which was longer than I was really anticipating, but it was a great experience. I was only 21 when i had her, and I learned so much about life and my own strength through her birth.

This is time I would like to have someone there to remind me of things I can do to ease my situation and take care of me, so I can really get into that meditation of labor. So, we have decided to hire a Midwife. Plus I want to have a waterbirth in a real birth tub. (My Midwife has her own Aquadoula!)

I am so glad to see so many of us December mamas will be birthing at home. I can't wait to share our stories! 2
post #8 of 29
9/23/04 at 9:13am
Another hb here! I'm so excited to have a birth not managed by a hospital/doctor's checklist -- and someone attending me who knows what's going on...I still cannot believe that it took 20 hours of labor (18 at the hospital) for someone to realize my baby was breech...if I have another breech I'm off to The Farm!! :LOL
post #9 of 29
9/25/04 at 5:15pm
Homebirth #2 for us. I've had two unmed births at a wonderful hospital, but being at home is the best!! Plus my labors are getting very short, less than 3 hours last time. I can't imagine having to round up all the kids, grab stuff, call people, drop off kids, and then rush to the hospital.

The only tricky thing about this birth is that my darling midwife is coming to me from almost 2 hours away. She does have an assistant who is just 45 minutes away, but dh & I will be doing some serious reading and rehearsing for an unattended birth. I have every confidence that if need be, we can catch the baby ourselves...I may even delay calling the midwife...just a thought, don't tell dh!!
post #10 of 29
9/26/04 at 3:22pm
This is our first Homebirth.
My first born was an emergency C-section

My Eldest daughter was a poorly attempted VBAC with an unsupportive OB-ended up being a repeat C-section.

My younger daughter was a VBA2C with a super supportive Midwifery practice in PA. I did everything I possible could to better my odds and chances of a VBAC.

We chose a HB for this baby as we had moved to a very conservative area, and there was pretty much no such thing as an independent Midwifery practice around. I started to explore the idea of HB after my husband said to me one evening (after listening to me rant about the MW practice that I had found, and hated)
"Why don't we just have the baby here?"
I ended up finding the most wonderful lay Midwife, and feel supremely confident in her qualified care.
post #11 of 29
9/27/04 at 12:37pm
Nope, no homebirth for me. I could not imagine doing that, I dread being at home, even with a midwife, because what IF something happens... Besides, i dont wanna wake up the neighbourhood lol.
post #12 of 29
9/27/04 at 12:40pm
If I had a hubby, I would.
But I can`t see me having a homebirth and having to get up straight afterwards and tend to my other kids and domestic chores.

Hopefully my pregnancy will run smoothly and I will be able to give birth in the soft-unit at our hospital.
post #13 of 29
9/27/04 at 12:48pm
I am opting for that one too, Blow. With the support of my midwife, who actually is great!
post #14 of 29
9/28/04 at 12:08am
homebirth here too first dd was born in a hospital, tho pretty intervention free. This one will be at home with a midwife and doula
post #15 of 29
10/8/04 at 5:31pm
Fifth baby, second homebirth. Possibly second waterbirth, keeping my options open.

I've been messed with in the hospital three times, to a greater or less degree. I would not EVER risk birthing in the hospital unless it was a dire emergency. There are just too many harmful interventions, plus the risk of infection from all the sick people and unfamiliar germs. Hospitals are for sick people. I am not sick, my baby is not sick. Unless we GET Sick we are staying home!

As for the neighbors... LOL! If we didn't wake them up when this one was conceived, I doubt they'll notice when he/she arrives LOL!
post #16 of 29
10/8/04 at 5:36pm
If I can get this anemia under control, I am having a homebirth.
post #17 of 29
10/8/04 at 7:59pm

Bravo!

Quote:
Originally Posted by KittyKat
There are just too many harmful interventions, plus the risk of infection from all the sick people and unfamiliar germs. Hospitals are for sick people. I am not sick, my baby is not sick. Unless we GET Sick we are staying home!
Yea KittyKat! Very well stated. I once heard a fellow midwife say, "Germs don't know not to get off on the maternity floor." At home, at least the germs that are there are your OWN germs.
post #18 of 29
10/9/04 at 2:28pm
I wanted a homebirth, but am going to a birth centre (the one and only of it's kind around here!) to hopefully have a waterbirth.
post #19 of 29
10/11/04 at 3:02am

Always thought I would but...

I have always wanted to deliver at home and thought seriously about unassisted as well. Then I found out that I am having twins and there is NOT ONE midwife in my area or surrounding areas who is licensed and who will deliver twins at home!

I was so suprised because in my mind I was still a perfect candidate for a home delivery. I am still working on leaving my dream of a home birth behind... not very successfully I must admit. I do not want to be in an institution. It's hard to imagine feeling safe enough to open up and let my body do what it wants to do.

I have a secret fantasy that I will deliver by "accident" at my midwife's home where I will be laboring (because it is closer to maternity center). You never know, right?

I know there are some other risks involved with twins but really, it's just two babies instead of one. I don't have to dialate twice. If the second baby doesn't come right after the first by all means reach up and help her out, don't send me for surgery.

Wish me luck on my little fantasy. I'd love to count my babies as homebirthed.

Blessings,
Anna
post #20 of 29
10/11/04 at 7:32am
Wow, Anna -- it would be hard to let go of that. My friend actually was made to deliver in an operating room "just in case." Poor girl, but she was okay with it & did great.

Keep looking for that homebirth midwife -- maybe you'll find her at 36 weeks or something!

You may also like:

Natural Cold & Flu Treatments
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
Natural Pregnancy Week by Week