Anyone here doing their own pn care and/or going unassisted?

[brandybehr]

I was just wondering if anyone else is doing their own prenatal care or foregoing it altogether? What about having an unassisted birth?

How did you come to this decision?

I am doing both, well, soon I will be. My Dr is moving away, I see him one more time, I will be 23 weeks along, it will have been my 3rd prenatal visit. I have had one ultrasound (for dh peace of mind). I have a standing order for a urine check even after my Dr is gone, he will call me from his new city should there be anything showing up.

I wanted to hire a midwife again this time for a homebirth, but there are none available to hire in the province, so I can't. I am not willing to nor do I see the need to go to the hospital and now that my Dr is leaving, I would have to have an OB attend me and that is quite alright, I will skip that entirely.

So, soon I am completely on my own, I had planned to have my Dr do pn care for me up til birth. Now I have to find someone to take my baby to afterwards (again, Dh and his peace of mind) for a check and I am not looking forward to the questions and comments...

[Gunter]

Just wanted to show my support of what you are doing! Looks like you already have three so you KNOW what to do, I would guess. So many women across the world never think to GO somewhere to have a baby. It's just a natural, everyday event that happens in their "home", whatever their home might be. I wish you all the best!

I am having a HB with a MW and a doula who is becoming a MW. This is my first babe and I live in an area where all my neighbors think I am crazy. It's not even "legal" to plan a HB in this state. Argh.

[3for3hb]

Am totally for the UC philosophy but for some reason it just doesn't feel right this time around. And I know better than to disreguard my intuition.

But you go girl. You know there is an UC board right? They've got lots of great info and seem to have quite a thing going there. I'm a lurker.

[folkymom]

Brandy, check out the UC board - there's a bunch of us due around the same time.

Also, many times you can find a nurse practitioner who will do a home visit. Just get out the phone book and start calling around! Taking a newborn out into the germy world for no reason is silly!

[zjande]

I very seriously considered it. I would much prefer a UC than to deal with doctors & hosp. staff such as those I had my previous pregnancies. How dreamy just going into labor in the coziness of your own home, with no one but your family around, and working your baby out there. I also lurk in the the UC forum, just because I find it empowering & fascinating.. and tempting. I did however find a midwife nearby that I like very much. I'm so grateful. I told he that, while I'm laboring, I wanted her to stand across the room from me and, besides checking the baby's heartrate as she is required to do now & then, just stay over there! :LOL She is totally cool with that. My insurance won't pay for a HB, but the jacuzzi at the hospital sounds sooooo good to me anyway.

I'm excited for you! I think choosing UC sounds grand. Good luck with everything!

[crsta33]

I'm using the same freestanding birth center I used the first time, but the center is 3 hours away. Which is not such a big deal with a first labor, since they tend to be long, but I'm a little nervous about making it this time and I don't particulary want a car birth.

So I lurk on the UC board and hope to pick up enough info that if the need arose to deliver this one ourselves, I'd be confident enough to do it. I'm so impressed with the ladies there and their confidence...you exude that as well. And I'd be in a bind if I had to choose btwn UC and hospital...I just don't think the hospital would win but my family wouldn't be very happy or supportive.

My biggest decision is going to be assessing my labor and deciding when (or if) to head for the birth center.

Best of luck. I can only imagine it feels really good to just step outside the system instead of fighting it.

Christa

[Awaken]

Originally Posted by crsta33

I'm using the same freestanding birth center I used the first time, but the center is 3 hours away. Which is not such a big deal with a first labor, since they tend to be long, but I'm a little nervous about making it this time and I don't particulary want a car birth.

So I lurk on the UC board and hope to pick up enough info that if the need arose to deliver this one ourselves, I'd be confident enough to do it. I'm so impressed with the ladies there and their confidence...you exude that as well. And I'd be in a bind if I had to choose btwn UC and hospital...I just don't think the hospital would win but my family wouldn't be very happy or supportive.

My biggest decision is going to be assessing my labor and deciding when (or if) to head for the birth center.

Christa

Ditto for me, Christa! Ds was born minutes after we got to the birth center so deciding when to head there will be the big question. I, too, do not want a car birth, and if it's under 37 weeks I have to go the hosp. (further away) so I am secretly thinking I'd just stay home in that case

I totally think all you UC'ers are awesome! Can't wait to hear how everything goes- what a peaceful way to give birth and welcome your baby into the world!

[PicnicBear]

Good for you, Brandy -- if I were in your situation I would probably do what you're planning -- but we have insurance coverage that covers 100% of the birth for MD-attended homebirth, so we are going with that.

[BensMom]

I'm a closet UC supporter too! I also lurk at the UC board and am impressed by the mamas over there that are so tuned in to their babies and their bodies. I am planning a MW assisted HB because I do not think I am at that place right now. But I would like for the MW to be more hands off than hands on.

This pregnancy has been a journey for me. With my last pregnancy, I took all the tests, trusted my doctor implicitly and did what I was told. Had 3 U/S and lots of dopplar, etc. This pregnancy, I am trying to trust my body. I had one dopplar (mostly to let DS hear the baby at the one appt he attended with me) and have declined all other interventions. So even in those early weeks when I was dying for technical "confirmation" that there was a baby in there, I trusted the fact that I still felt pregnant, that my uterus was growing, that my breasts were tender. Its a whole different world, going from relying on technology to nature.

Anyway, enough rambling. Best wishes to you as you start this new journey in your pregnancy!

[DreamsInDigital]

I'm not forgoing prenatal care but I am planning a UC. Nobody knows but myself and DP and of course everyone at the UC board. I will tell them it was a "baby came too fast to get to the hospital" thing but really I just feel right about having this one at home with just my family there.

[trmpetplaya]

I'm not having one this time (I'd like to have at least one child before trying UC...), but I'm definitely a supporter of anyone who wants one! Best wishes with everything! I hate going to doctors so I'm having a home birth with a mw. I went to a doctor for bloodwork, pap smear, urine test, etc, but that's it. I actually didn't go to the doctor after I miscarried last year till I was pregnant again this year. But I didn't bleed for more than three weeks and had normal periods resume after three or four weeks so I didn't feel a need. Totally trust your intuition!

love and peace.

[brandybehr]

Thanks ladies! I am feeling much more positive about it all (again). I seem to go up and down on my decision (I am sure this is very normal) and it feels awesome to have you all backing me!