Homebirth, birth center, or hospital?

[Mommay]

I so want to do a homebirth, but now that my stbxh and I are divorcing, I'll be living with my brother, who's really cool, but is the furthest from crunchy possible. Maybe I can still convince him. But I'm gonna count on going to a birth center. I'll also be lacking a partner, but can someone who's had a doula tell me if they think a doula is enough, or should I ask someone besides her to be my partner?

What are your birth plans?

[Mallory]

This one will be at home! But a center can be nice to because most try to also create a community of like minded familys where you can meet new friends.

I haven't had a doula, but I think if you get one you really connect to, she should be enough. I don't know about you, but I never wanted too many people there.

If your other child is going to be there he (she?) will need someone else for a support person.

[CaliMomof4]

As long as my bp stays down, this will be our second homebirth. I had two hospital vaginal births with a general practitioner, one c/s and then homebirth with a wonderful midwife - I am looking forward to doing it again - it was an incredible experience that I hoe we can improve on this time around!

[jessiemom]

I'll be having my baby at the hospital. We do not have any birth centers here and no midwives either so hospital is pretty much the only option.

[psyche]

I'll be having a hospital birth.

I can't do the birth center because my first was a c-section. I've explored the option of a homebirth, but just can't justify the money. Our insurance would pay nothing for a homebirth but everything for a hospital birth (and only one $20 copay at the beginning of my prenatal visits). However, I can have a midwife in the hospital and will have a doula. Over time, the money saved will probably pay for all of our kids' college textbooks so I try to think of it in those terms.

[BennyPai]

Homebirth Partner

With my first birth, I had an experienced doula who was also licensed in pregnancy massage and not afraid to speak up for me. If my husband couldn't have been there, I'm sure she would have been excellent support! I agree that if you are comfortable with your doula, or grow comfortable over the course of your pregnancy, she will be enough. Just take your time choosing the right doula. Don't be afraid to ask for contact info so you can interview the moms she has supported. I was happy to respond to pregnant mothers asking about my experience with my doula.
I also agree that your older child will need a separate support person. Children can become restless and may need someone to help them pass the time, understand what's going on, etc.
I could go on and on. I hope I've been helpful.

[nepenthesea]

Birth Center

If things go my way, it will happen in a midwife-owned birth center. I sure hope it does happen. I went to see it, and it is BEAUTIFUL! I would love to give birth in one of their "bedrooms". Also hoping for a waterbirth, or at least to labor in water.

[Mrs Dimples]

I voted already, but I am having a homebirth, attended by a DEM.

[Mariposa]

My vote was for homebirth! Abby was supposed to be born in a freestanding birth center, but we had to go to the hospital because I had high blood pressure. I can't wait to have a homebirth and not have to go anywhere after our baby is born!

[katiejon1]

Other??

At this point I'm undecided. I had my ds in a hospital. All in all it wasn't a bad experience. My water was ruptured for over 47 hours, and the ob still allowed me to have him vaginally. My midwife was there with me, but since she is not allowed priviliges at the hospital, she couldn't catch him.

This time though, I'm considering a home birth. I think my labor would have been much shorter if I would have stayed home as I was petrified of the hospital.

Oh, btw, I'm Katie. I just got a positive the other day. :-) I was due in May 5 with my first, but had him early, so I popped over here to see what was happening. I hope that 's ok.

[melamama]

as long as all goes well this will be our third homebirth. hopefully this one will be able to be born in the tub as well just like the siblings.

[allismom]

I'll be having this one at a hospital again. We have a wonderful Womens and BAbies facility here and my personal experience with it was nice. The 'what if's of homebirth just scare me too much. I think part of my good experience was a relatively easy vaginal delivery with little to no medical internention. I would probably feel differently had things not gone so well for me. I am not afraid to speak up or question what drs/midwives are doing I have read the book "Misconceptions" though and it raises some very interesting things about MD's and hospitals.

A midwife delivered my baby and most likely will again.

[nubianamy]

This is my first and we are planning a homebirth. I knew I wanted one for years, long before I became a doula, but attending births at home (and in the hospital) really did it for me. My bf would like to catch. =) We will have a pool available -- I have also seen the "wonders of water" to take away pain, so water birth it will be if I have my way.

There are things that could get in the way of the HB experience, but I am not thinking too hard about them. If I need to go to the hospital, that will be OK too. We will have our birth plan and our midwife will go with us to help set those research hospital OBs straight. =)

[Swandira]

I'm doing a hospital VBAC with a CNM. I had a pretty good experience at the hospital the first time, although it did end in c/s.

[MamaChel]

Planning our second home water birth here.

[etoilech]

We're planning our first home water birth. My son was born at 29 weeks in hospital last time unmedicated, but we'd like to skip the premature and in hospital part this time.

Olivia

[Mommay]

I'm so jealous of all the homebirthers. I had a hospital birth with ds, and had a very bad experience. I did the research and kicked myself for not trying homebirth earlier. Now I don't think I'll be able to. But I'm sure a good midwife and doula will make up for a lot. At least I'm moving to an area with free-standing birth centers. Where I am now, NJ, doesn't have any in the whole state!

[kdamnspot]

.

[yvonnemlv]

Hiya, think I introduced myself awhile back. thougth I would explain my OTHER vote in that I will be having an Instinctual birth at home (also known as unassisted childbirth).

[RedOakMomma]

My first birth was at a hospital (twins, one was breech, and both had heart abnormalities). My OB was great, though...he was fine with a vaginal birth, even though the second baby was breech, and he was very supportive of a non-medicated birth. He followed our (very crunchy) birthplan to a tee, and I had such overwhelming confidence in him.

This time we're expecting a very normal (singleton) pregnancy, so I guess I could go to a birth center if I wanted to. I'm choosing to go back to the hospital, though. The biggest reason is my OBGYN--he was so great last time, and he's the only one I'd want. I'm sure I could find a midwife I'd love, but for now I don't see the point. My hospital birth was a lovely birth experiene, and there's no reason to think this next time won't be the same.

This time I will try to change hospitals, though. I'd like to have a birthing tub available to me. I'd also like to go home earlier than I did last time. It's sometimes very hard to rest in hospitals.

Wishing you all the birth experience you're dreaming of!