Anyone homebirth their first?

[Nickittynic]

Hello!
I'm 31 weeks pregnant with my first and planning a homebirth. Yey! I started with a group of midwives who delivered at a hospital, then transferred to a birth center, and now finally transferred to a midwife who does homebirths. I don't know why it took me so long, since a homebirth was what I always wanted. Maybe it was to ease everyone else into the idea with all that transferring.

Anyway, though I LOVE my new midwife (and the baby seems to, too - she's the only midwife out of four or five that he didn't kick!) and am SO excited to birth at home, my mom has this incredible ability to make me doubtful and scared. She keeps asking things like "You told her this is your first, right?" and "Are you sure she's delivered first time moms?"
I never really thought about it as an issue, and probably wouldn't have without her bringing it up. I figured if every baby and every birth is different anyway, then besides the mom having some extra experience what's the difference?

Am I wrong? Should I be concerned about it?

[jerawo]

You don't need to worry about it. Plenty of first time moms homebirth (in fact there is another current thread here about the same subject). Your MW might ask you about your mom's labors - sometimes daughters' labors are very similar to their mothers. In my case, they were the complete opposite - mine was short and easy and my mom's were long and hard. She was also in a hospital and got lots of drugs and interventions, and I was at home, labored how I wanted to, and had zero interventions.

I would ignore your mom's doubts or tell her not to talk to you about your homebirth. You sound very confident in your decision, and no one needs to make you feel bad about it. My parents weren't crazy about me homebirthing either (especially since they work in the medical field) but we didn't have any more conversations about it after I told them what DH and I had decided. I also didn't have them present at the birth since I wanted to only be surrounded by positive energy.

[Mothernature]

Me! I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was the best. You'll be fine.

[LianneM]

Originally Posted by Mothernature

Me! I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was the best. You'll be fine.

Me too I completely agree

[wondermama]

My first and second children were born at home -- one of the BEST decisions I ever made! My mom and grandmother both had difficult hospital births and when I asked my grandmother about her birth experiences she said, "You don't want to know!"

Both of my labors were long and hard, and I would do it again at home in a heartbeat. The feeling of holding your newborn baby in your arms in your own home, with only those you love and trust around you, knowing YOU DID IT is the most amazing feeling I've ever had. You can do it!!!

~ Jill

[Nickittynic]

[QUOTE=jerawo](in fact there is another current thread here about the same subject). [QUOTE]

And I even thought I looked to make sure I wouldn't be duplicating something already up front. But, I see it now. Thanks for pointing me over there!

[UUMom]

All of mine were born at home. Never considered otherwise.

[momto l&a]

I have had all 3 of my children at home

[because]

I had DD (my first) at home. When people brought up the whole first baby thing (among other doubts) I just would reply that I wanted all my births to be good... that usually stopped them.

My mom had a horrible forceps delivery of a posterior baby with her first with an OB straight from the dark ages and an induction of a 38 weeker that her next OB insisted was postdate with her second. After seeing how my midwifery care differed and how my [long and tiring] homebirth was, she is now the biggest supporter.

You're going be so happy that you switched!

[lacysmommy]

I had my first at home, and I'm planning my second homebirth. I loved having a homebirth, and after witnessing a hospital birth, I vowed I would never give birth there unless there was a very compelling reason to do so. My birth went great, and it was just how I wanted it. You're going to love having a homebirth! Congrats!

[alegna]

No worries. Had my first at home too. Everyone should.

-Angela

[chiro_kristin]

Me too! Wouldn't do it any other way the next time! I just can't imagine going to the hospital, personally. I would be freaked out. In fact, towards the end of my, um, 55-hour labor, I told my midwives that I didn't care how exhausted I was, I would definitely labor and push at least two more days before I would even consider going to the hospital.

[Spark]

Me! I had my first, second and now will have my third all at home. I wouldn't go anywhere else!

I didn't need to have a bad hospital experience (or even a mediocre one) to convince me that home was where I wanted to be to birth my babies. An intact perineum is one of the best gifts I've ever given myself!

Home is safer, healthier and waaaaay more comfortable.

[bobandjess99]

I did!

[applejuice]

I am the first born of my mom and I was born at home nearly fifty-two years ago.

I had all four of my children at home 1980-1992.

Why not have your first born at home? Is your first born less valued than your other children?

This is the very question asked by Suzanne Arms in 1982 in Pasadena, CA.

Think about it.

[soulsistah]

Originally Posted by applejuice

I am the first born of my mom and I was born at home nearly fifty-two years ago.

I had all four of my children at home 1980-1992.

Why not have your first born at home? Is your first born less valued than your other children?

This is the very question asked by Suzanne Arms in 1982 in Pasadena, CA.

Think about it.

You rock Applejuice! I'm from Pasadena, Ca so your post is personal on a lot of levels for me... I'm my mom's 1st born and she wishes she had me at home, my brother after me was born in the front seat of a camero, my little sister hosp., my baby brother at a birth center...My son at home, but I'm also a midwife so I guess I defaulted lol "You can do it!"

[applejuice]

You rock soulsistah - I am in Burbank!! I went to Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard to see Dr. Ettinghausen in 1980-83...he died in 1983. I went to his midwife in San Marino for my next two babies.

Wow!

Good for you for having your baby at home! No default there! It was a good decision!! Outstanding.

To this day, everytime I drive East on the 134 or the 210, I feel like I am going to a prenatal visit!

:

[white_feather]

Yes, my first and second babies were born at home.

I happen to think that one of the reasons my first labor was shorter than the average for a first time mom, is because I did stay home. I didn't experience the fear that often slows or stalls labor when a mom arrives at the hospital. I was able to keep moving, listen to my intuition, birth in an upright position, and do all the myriad of things that assist bringing ANY baby into the world, but particularly the first.

Now that you've chosen to homebirth, you might also consider having a birth pool (or large tub?) to labor in. It's wonderful . . .

[Monkeybutt]

I did! It was amazing! I wouldnt have it any other way! Go for it mama!

Dont let your mom scare you. You'll do fine. Just listen to your body.

[soulsistah]

Originally Posted by applejuice

To this day, everytime I drive East on the 134 or the 210, I feel like I am going to a prenatal visit!:

Ohh MDC is starting to feel like home, our apartment was on Del Mar and Sierra Madre........When I visit CA I get on the 210 West to go visit my mom in Diamond Bar I hum "The little old lady from Pasadena!"