Where will you birth your child? - Page 5

[Media Mama]

Originally Posted by alison_in_oh

We are hoping : HOPING to move back to PDX this June

If you do ( ), you should check out the Alma birth center. Laura Erikson, my midwife from last time - and this time too - just started it about a year ago. It's LOVELY, close-in SE, and she really, really rocks. Years and years of experience, super supportive, and what we love the most - you just feel good when you're around her .

We'll think happy Portland thoughts for you!!

[littleteapot]

Home, unassisted.

My daughter was home, short transfer to the birth center in where I was WAYYY too cowardly to face the drive back home on unpaved potholed roads while in transition, so I stayed and ended up having her ten minutes later! Guess it was a good thing I stayed... I would have had her in the back of my midwife's van.

My son was UP, but born "emergency" c-section. Died soon after.

I'll be damned if I ever have a baby in a hospital again. Hospitals are for sick and broken people, not for pregnant people!

[greeniegreen]

We're absolutely having a homebirth. I've worked attending births for many years and have experienced supporting women in a variety of settings and you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming into a hospital. Besides the nice wallpaper and their appearances of being family friendly, I don't agree with their philosophies on management or how their malpractice insurance dictates how they practice (even if that goes against the research). Even the nicest doctors and midwives still induce, deep suction babies, manipulate babies as they're being born, cut episiotomies, etc. Their protocols dictate all of that, it has nothing to do with their own personality. No way.

Helen White - there are many fabulous midwives who are not certified. Some do it because of philosophical reasons vs not having enough experience. I know of an extremely experienced midwife near me who has been practicing for over 30 years and is a wealth of knowledge who chooses not to become certified because she doesn't want to follow the state's protocols. Not sure if that applies to the midwife that you had heard of, but that's an insider's perspective as I'm not sure if I might ever choose to become certified if I decide to start practicing again, especially if protocols get anymore restrictive.

[greeniegreen]

Originally Posted by soccermominsd

Scripps La Jolla is where I had my DD last time but now they added a labor & delivery center in Encinitas. I was considering going to the Scripps L&D unit and inquiring about what their policies are now (as far as restrictions, ect) as well as the UCSD birthing center.

Just had to respond to this because I HATE how hospitals are now stealing the term birth center or family birth center away. Birth center/family birth center, unless it's independent, is the new term for labor and delivery ward. Most of them do cesareans on the same floor. That one always gets my feathers ruffled up, but I don't think that a lot of people realize the difference between hospital-based ones and independent ones.

[Helen White]

Originally Posted by greeniegreen

Helen White - there are many fabulous midwives who are not certified. Some do it because of philosophical reasons vs not having enough experience. I know of an extremely experienced midwife near me who has been practicing for over 30 years and is a wealth of knowledge who chooses not to become certified because she doesn't want to follow the state's protocols. Not sure if that applies to the midwife that you had heard of, but that's an insider's perspective as I'm not sure if I might ever choose to become certified if I decide to start practicing again, especially if protocols get anymore restrictive.

Thanks for the input. I'm sure there are some wonderful uncertified midwives, but I've seen threads here on MDC warning about the uncertified midwife I was referring to. I have to admit that certification would be a big plus for me, as it would give me more confidence about a midwife's experience and training, but it's not my only consideration.

This week I've actually been given information about a couple local certified midwives, but I don't know that we can afford them. It's hard to come up with that much money when we still have student loans and are trying to get out of credit card debt, especially when we have great insurance that will cover 100% of our expenses if we go with an ob and hospital birth.

[alison_in_oh]

Originally Posted by Media Mama

If you do ( ), you should check out the Alma birth center. Laura Erikson, my midwife from last time - and this time too - just started it about a year ago. It's LOVELY, close-in SE, and she really, really rocks. Years and years of experience, super supportive, and what we love the most - you just feel good when you're around her .

We'll think happy Portland thoughts for you!!

Seriously? Augh, I've been drooling over Alma for a couple of weeks now, and I was going to ask your recommendation when we get the news, because it sounds like you've been so comfortable with your birth choices.

I dunno. I'm trying to make myself be happy with OHSU, they have a very nice looking birthing suite and waterbirthing midwives. But chances are we'll at least tour Alma. Who knows. And I have to keep reminding myself that it's not a sure thing that we'll even be in PDX.

But thanks for the good thoughts! Every little bit helps.

[carriepurkhiser]

Homebirth! Homebirth! Homebirth! If you are a low risk pregnancy - WHY NOT! We have had wonderful experiences with homebirths.

Our first two children (ages 6 and 3) we had a midwife attend.

With our third child (19 months) we were suppose to have a midwife, but the baby couldn't wait, so my husband delivered him in the garden tub (all 9 pounds 10 ounces of him!).

Our fourth (7weeks today) we had at home, but had a local doctor attend because he only lives 10 minutes away. The dr. was called as soon as I was sure I was really in labor this time. He arrived 11 minutes later (talk about being able to get dressed quickly - it was 2:35 am). I delivered (8 pound 13 oz baby girl in our garden tub)just a short 9 minutes after he arrived. He didn't interfere, just was here if we needed him (for emergency - like shoulder distocia). - It's so funny, my 7 week old has a preference on where she wants to take her bath - she smiles and loves to be in the garden tub - the exact spot she was born. She is so calm when she has her bath there, but not in the baby tub or the other bathroom!

Homebirth is such a serene experience. It is so wonderful - I would give anything to be back delivering any one of my children. It is so quiet and peaceful during labor. The only sound being made is you breathing or softly moaning/grunting and sometimes the sound of your husbands voice whispering encouraging words to you. No one is there telling you what to do and when to do it. No one is nervous and running around like something is wrong. There are no monitors, straps, needles, or other means. There is no rush to weigh the baby or take the baby away from mom. I stayed in the tub a good 35-40 minutes after birth just enjoying my new baby, until I wanted to get out!!

That first moment you meet your child eye to eye, in the comfort of your own home, without loud noises or bright lights, is a moment you will never forget, and NEVER want to end!

There are SSSOOOO MANY advantages to homebirth! I could list them forever, but I don't have time right now!

Good Luck and RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!!!!!

Carrie

[faithhopelove]

We are having another homebirth.

My first was a c-section. Second was a homebirth with a midwife. My last baby was born at home unassisted and it was thes best birth ever. We didn't plan to UC though... hubby was always gung ho about it, I wasn't though. But, at 38wks we KNEW all of a sudden it was what we were supposed to do and fired the midwife. (who was awesome by the way)

For this one... people think it's automatic that I would have another UC. But, I really have no feelings about it at the moment. Right now we are in Delaware and are moving to Iowa at the end of my pregnancy. I've decided to get prenatal care at a birth center here (I just learned they will do prenatals for me, even though they won't do vbacs there, yay!), then switch to a homebirth midwife in Iowa and if I get the feeling to UC again... well, awesome

CRystal

[bartokg]

Out Of Hosptial--All The Way!

We had both of our boys out of hospital in a birthing center--our second was born under water--wouldn't pass up the freedoms of out of hospital birth for anything (minus a true emergency). The next one, we've decided, we'll have at home. We are very excited and looking forward to it.

[DavinaT]

Posting from Ireland

I must say I was horrified to hear of women being strapped down in hospital for birthing It sounds like some kind of torture
Here women, including those on pain meds and those who have been induced are free to walk around, stretch, squat, lie down, even take a bath while in labour in hospital. They are required to check back with the staff for monitoring every hour or so but aren't confined to bed unless very ill and unless there is an emergency, in the major city hospitals (can't be sure about rural ones) the birth plan is respected generally unless there is an emergency.

The one thing that would concern me about a home birth and feel free to advise, flame, attack etc on reading this - is the pain.
I have heard it described as unremitting excrutiating agony. My eldest sister remembers screaming the place down and actually went past her pain threhold and passed out at one point attempting to have a natual birth. As a result her blood pressure and her baby baby's heart rate dropped so low, she ended up with an emergency c-section, which she hadn't envisaged.

On baby No.2, she had an epidural on request and had a lovely calm birth anbd could enjoy her baby, I fact she said the worst part was the stiff feeling in her legs afterward but says she's definitely going for an epidural with baby No3.

So maybe you can see why I am a little put off by the idea of a natural home birth. Bear in mind, I am a woman who almost passed out while having an IUD inserted (had to be manually dilated - ugh!! :

As I said, please feel free to advise, attack, assist, flame etc. I don't get easily offended

[ocelotmom]

It largely depends on the US hospital. My local hospital encourages walking, laboring out of bed, and changing position. They do constantly monitor people being induced or if they're worried, but they can move around and go in the water with monitors on. Women are allowed to eat and drink as much as they desire throughout labor. They have big tubs, do waterbirth, and encourage this over pain medication. All of this applies to women on pain meds or being induced, too. I'm a volunteer doula there, and I expect I've seen the worst that this hospital has to offer. I'm still pretty comfortable with the idea of giving birth there. Moreso than with the idea of homebirth given our probable living arrangement (nothing against homebirth there at all. I'll switch in a heartbeat it if we're living somewhere where I feel comfortable with it.)

On the other hand, it wouldn't matter how uncomfortable my living situation was - I wouldn't set foot in the hospital where I gave birth to my son again.

As for the pain - read positive birth stories, and try not to let your sister's experience influence you too much. Maybe it will happen, but your mental state can have such an impact on how you perceive labor. During my own labor, the only times I really had a problem coping was when I thought of the phrase "excruciating back labor". A doula is also a great idea.

[Teri Lynn]

Originally Posted by katiesmom

I would love to have a homebirth, but midwives aren't allowed to attend homebirths in IL. There is one place where the OB attends with the midwife, but they don't take our insurance and are $$. SO, I will hopefully have a midwife attended hospital birth. The whole insurance thing is really aggravating!

There are CNMs who do homebirths, legally, (it's CPMs who are not legal yet in IL.) in IL who also accept insurance. If you are in the Chicago area, there is a group of homebirthers, midwives, doulas, etc. that meets monthly to discuss issues around homebirth. For info on them, go to homebirth.meetup.com.
If you need names of midwives, let me know.
Blessings!

[Chicky2]

The "Pain" of homebirth....Well, I can honestly say that yes, it hurts. But yk what? I was prepared for it, had an excellent support team who knew just what to say right when I needed it, and *that* is what makes homebirth such a great thing. That pain is the only pain in this world that you get such a great result from! Someone on another board tried to compare unmedicated birth to an unmedicated tooth extraction. No comparrison!!!!

OH, and the pain is there for a very good reason. That is the way your body truly knows what to do and you can really listen to it.

[Helen White]

As far as pain goes, I've never even had a homebirth, but I labored at home the entire time last time (ran through the parking lot of the hospital as the baby was crowning). The pain was SO much more manageable at home. Being home and truly able to relax seemed to make such a difference. When we left for the hospital, I thought I was 4 cms at most (rather than dilated to 10!), because it didn't hurt any worse than 4cms in the hospital had. In the hospital I was tense and stressed, and it made the pain so much worse.

[tansyflower]

Homebirth again! My last two midwives were local but they have retired so we will have to travel a bit for this one but we don't really mind. There is no place like home

[DavinaT]

Posting from Ireland

Originally Posted by Chicky2

Someone on another board tried to compare unmedicated birth to an unmedicated tooth extraction.

- Now I feel as tho' I want general aneasthetic from about the third contraction

[littleteapot]

I've had TWO unmedicated labours (44 hours, and 4 hours) and one completely unmedicated, 20-minute wisdom tooth extraction.

The tooth extraction was about 100x worse.

For the record, I'd also repeat the 44 hour hard labour ANY TIME over the recovery from a c-section, which I had once my son was crowning after the second labour.

[CrunchyMamaToBe]

We're planning to have this baby at home. In the fishy pool, maybe. We have to move out of our apartment over the summer, so I don't know where home will be yet, but no way I am going to the hospital!

[ocelotmom]

People compare birth and dental surgery not because they're comparable in terms of pain, but because they're both things you can get medication for to lessen or remove the pain. Really, it's apples and oranges. Try not to let the absolutely stupid things some people say unduly influence you

[Chicky2]

Originally Posted by DavinaT

- Now I feel as tho' I want general aneasthetic from about the third contraction

Well, I guess I should have mentioned that the woman making this silly comparison had had a 'natural birth' (her words, but I would have never considered the way she did it natural) in the hospital 'not by her choice'. See, when a woman is prepared for an unmedicated labor/birth, it is soooooo different than a woman who goes to the hospital ASKING for an epidural, and finding out is was too late to get one. There is a world of difference when one is prepared, and when one is 'forced' (again, her words) into an unmedicated birth. Preparation is key, and a wonderful support team, who truly believes women are made to do this. When a laboring woman says she needs drugs, what she really needs is the right words spoken to her, not drugs. She needs encouragement, not a room full of ppl telling her, 'oh sorry, hon, you'll just have to deal w/it because now you are too late for pain meds. Gosh, it must be awful for you." The one time I said I wanted relief, I got it in the way of words. I heard, "Oh hon, you are doing so great! You are doing just perfectly,and you sure are listening to your body well! You have come so far!" That was all I needed. I only asked for relief because I was in transition, and that is a common time to feel that you cannot go on. When in reality, you are almost done! And the pushing feels SOOOOO GOOOOD!!!!!