Homebirth with #1? - Page 5

[batsoup]

Originally Posted by JenMidwife

Hi batsoup, I'm planning to HB #1 in August & am near Philly too! Are your midwives from Woman Wise? They're mine. I can't wait!

Yes, they are! That's great! I know, I'm so excited too! Feel free to email me privately (batsoup@ comcast.net) -- i've been looking for other first-time moms in Philly!

[Nan'sMom]

I had both of my children at home. In retrospect, I would have been stronger with my midwife and written a birth plan the first time around.

For example, we did no VE's, etc but she forgot that I said no doptone and whipped it out when I was in transition--in retrospect I was very upset, also she brought out a mirror when the baby was crowning, which was SO distracting and "supported" the fundus while waiting for the placenta (ow!) and chatted with the doula (annoying!). However, this is nothing compared to typical hospital protocol and I am soooooooooooooooooo thankful not to have been in a hospital. Even at a birthing center (had I not been dropped earlier for refusing all their multitudes of tests), I may have been risked out due to having my first contraction over 12 hours after my water broke.

In interviewing midwives I think it's a danger sign when they praise Ina Mae Gaskin's works too much--they tend to make birth more about the midwife than about the mother. however, that's just my preference--I have read that some people prefer to be directed and have several midwives present.

[faithhopelove]

Originally Posted by batsoup

Yes, they are! That's great! I know, I'm so excited too! Feel free to email me privately (batsoup@ comcast.net) -- i've been looking for other first-time moms in Philly!

I used K from women wise as well and I just ADORE her!!!! C wasnt with her then I dont believe. I ended up deciding at 38wks to UC instead but she is def and awesome midwife , I know I would have had a great birth with her

[sskf]

I had a home waterbirth with #1. I was the only one of all my friends and family to do it, so there was a lot of anxiety around that. People seemed worried if something went wrong during the birth, whether or not a hospital transfer would go well. (I did not have any complications and it was great!) Now, I'm planning #2, but I am trying to get my insurance company to give me a cross border referral to my midwife, so that I can have another home waterbirth. This time, there is more support from family and friends since the first time went well.

Good luck!

[batsoup]

Originally Posted by sskf

I had a home waterbirth with #1. I was the only one of all my friends and family to do it, so there was a lot of anxiety around that. People seemed worried if something went wrong during the birth, whether or not a hospital transfer would go well.

This was why I initially decided against a homebirth ( that and not understanding the legal status of CPMs in Pennsylvania, which made me nervous) -- but I am SO glad to have made the switch and wish I had perservered earlier!

[jillybeans]

Our first (and only so far) was born at home. Our midwives lived an hour away in normal weather, but dd was born in a snowstorm, so they were 1 1/2 hours away. I'm glad I planned a homebirth, because she was born in a quick 3 hour labor. The midwives barely made it, I was already pushing, and the only thing that held off the birth was panting and lying down. If we had planned a hospital birth, an hour away in the snow, she would have been born in the middle of a snowstorm in the car.

My homebirth was empowering, and being able to snuggle in my own bed afterwards was just what I needed. There was no stress about leaving, or getting in a car. It was wonderful, and I'll do it again and again!

[ktmama]

I had both my girls at home. Here's how a first birth is the same at home as at the hospital:

Long labor and birth
Suprised by the pain
So glad when it's over

Other than that, it's a world of difference. I just KNOW I would have had a c-section in the hospital with my first due to a very long labor and needing to give birth in an odd position due to interference from my public bone. So, homebirth was definitely best for me.

Having said that, more importantly to me, is the respect and excellent, gentle care given to both my girls by their midwives. Instead of being tossed about, rubbed and cleaned immediately, injected, poked and prodded under bright lights by cold handed strangers, both my girls were handled gently by warm, loving, respectful hands telling them what was going on every step of the way and took all the time that was necessary. That to me, is worth pushing through any fears you have about homebirth.

It's not just women that deserve homebirth, it's children.

[greenlace]

i did! jan 21 '06 at 23 y.o.

my best advice to any woman is to read ina mays guide to childbirth until you know it by heart. it really puts the birthing process into perspective.

for me there was never even a thought about going to a hosp! even though i had 3 miscarriages before my dd was born, i knew that i would not need a hosp staff to give birth.

it was the best experience of my LIFE! i remember telling my mw during labor that i sounded like a singing whale underwater...........the sounds they make are beautiful!

most family and friends thought i was crazy: ....... but i've never really cared what other people think.i knew it was the best thing i could do for my child and my future health.

it also helped that i watched my mother give birth to my sister at home with a mw when i was 10. i cut her uc and held her right after my mom did. homebirth just seemed like the right thing to do!

[velveeta]

I agree that our homebirth with DS remains the highlight of my life, and I reflect back on it often. My midwife was so great, and I trusted her completely so my labor was fast. It was really intense, though. It was a waterbirth, which I am sure helped me to relax. Also, I never consciously had to push -- my body just sort of took over.

This time, I am going to give Hypno a try. I would like to be more present at the birth. The first was *so* intense, I think I travelled a little further in my brain than I wanted to. It is hard to remember parts of it, so I am very happy that we have a great video from the tripod that DH set up. DS (now three) has seen his own birth and he just loves it. It's interesting that the extreme intensity (and pain) that I experienced so does not come across on the video. My vocalizations are just low and growly -- different than I how I imagined them to sound. I plan for DS to be in the house for this birth and if the intensity becomes too much, his caretaker (my neighbor) can take him to her house.

I highly recommend HB for number one.

ETA: I am pregnant, due in January. Perfect example of pregnancy brain!

[JennaLeigh26]

I had a homebirth my first time and I wouldn't have it any other way. Most mom's I've talked to have had a negative hospital experience before they research and discover homebirth options. I was there at a friends hospital birth and learned from her experience that that was not what at all what I wanted for my birth. Life is to short to learn from your mistakes alone, learn from others as well. If your pregnancy is going well and all seems well, go for a homebirth!

[Fanny1460]

My first baby was born on the 5th of July at home in water and it rocked! It's great to have a good birth for the first one and not be damaged by episiotomy and all... I didn't tear and didn't loose too much blood so the recovery isn't too hard.
I strongly encourage homebirth for the first one.
My husband was very happy (he didn't know about homebirth before I got pregnant and is now a strong advocate).

[mamalion]

I got talked out of homebirthing my first by well meaning family members (this was way different from the norm for them). I went to childbirth classes with homebirthing MWs, but had a HORRIBLE hospital birth. The only hospital MW in town had lost her privileges at the hospital due to stupid bureaucratic nonsense, so she couldn't really care for me or anything. 52 HOURS of Labor, inconsistent nursing care (some good, some not-so-good), Drugs, etc. I SO wish I'd had her at home. My little man was born at home this April and what a difference! I can't even put into words how much better the whole experience was. I am prone to pretty severe postpartum depression and this time around, it was so manageable. Now, some of that may be to this being my second child, but I really think I bonded so much better because no one took my baby away or talked to me like they knew what was better for my baby than I did. Like any new mommy needs people eroding her confidence minutes after birth!

I think first time moms are a bit more anxious because it's so unknown and it's hard to relax and that can make labors longer. In my opinion, unless you have strong support, first time mommies are more prone to being swayed by well-meaning naysayers. And to those moms who withstood the advice and criticism and still had their first at home, more power to you! I still regret that I wasn't able to give my daughter the same wonderful birth experience her brother had. :

[grace's voice]

Originally Posted by Fanny1460

My first baby was born on the 5th of July at home in water and it rocked! It's great to have a good birth for the first one and not be damaged by episiotomy and all... I didn't tear and didn't loose too much blood so the recovery isn't too hard.
I strongly encourage homebirth for the first one.
My husband was very happy (he didn't know about homebirth before I got pregnant and is now a strong advocate).

Yay! Congrats! I've been wondering how things went!

I just had my second baby, and second homebirth on June 23rd, it was just as awesome as the first!

[staceyshoe]

Just browsing and happened upon this thread! I had a homebirth with #1 (and only so far!). Hospitals and others making decisions about the health of myself and my baby scare me FAR more than hb. So many people comment on how brave I was but someone putting a needle in my spine is one of the scariest ideas I've heard of!

Anyway, I expected to go 2-4 wks over as this is common in my family. 12 days before my due date, my water broke. No contractions. There was meconium in the water (not super thick but definitely more than just staining). I was so scared that the mw would tell me to go to the hosp. But 90 min later my contractions started at 2 min apart and very strong. MW came and checked me at 3 cm. 45 min extremely intense minutes later, I was fully dilated and pushing. This was the hardest part as I pushed for 3 hrs and had some horrific back labor. DS was born 8 hrs after my water broke, 6.5 hrs after contractions started. It went very smoothly though all that pushing with little progress made me glad mw was there to verify that all was well. (I had considered UC.) I was blessed with a short and fast moving labor. Perhaps staying home instead of changing environments helped to keep it moving along.

[happy & blessed]

I had my first at home 2 months ago, and it was awesome. It was so peaceful, and calm - not chaotic and dramatic like so many hospital births. You can read my birth story at www.tynerfamily.freehomepage.com
click on "birth story"

Good luck to you!

[umami_mommy]

my only child was born at home.

it was a wonderful, uneventful experience.

many years ago i met a midwife (who ended up being my midwife) who said "babies are birthed, pizzas are delivered."

i knew that that i wanted to be in charge and fully empowered at my birth, something that i believe, for me, could only happen at home.

now we are planning birth number 2 at home, even though it's more complicated now.

[Kidzaplenty]

I had my first at home 16 years ago. I also had my next six at home.

The only thing that makes my first stand out from the rest is that I had the old "hospital" procedure type birth. Meaning delivered flat on my back and had no food or drink and was told when to push. I had never heard of all the wonderful birthing options then, just did what I was told. NOW, I know better!