Silly comment from mom made me think...

[Shell_Ell]

I just thought this was funny and thought- provoking. Wanted to share I guess.

I talked to my mom a few days ago about wanting to have a homebirth. My mom said her only concern was that my house was small and they might not be able to get me out of my bedroom if something happened there was an emergency. (She worries about this because my sister nearly died a few months ago from an overdose and they had a hard time getting the stretcher into her bedroom)

I told her not to worry, I probably wouldn't be in the bedroom anyhow. That confused her. I explained I'd likely have the baby right in the living room. Then she said the funniest thing I've heard in a while: "So, do you just rent a hospital bed and stuff then?" : Of course I explained I'd likely have a birthing pool, etc.

It just made me realize how little some people know about what homebirthing entails. I mean, who in their right mind would want to bring a hospital bed in and give birth on it? LOL! And, not to mention my mother had four unmedicated childbirths, and was pretty educated. It just blows me away!

[mamanurse]

Originally Posted by Shell_Ell

"So, do you just rent a hospital bed and stuff then?"

Has your mom been talking with my mom? When I told my mom the other day that I wanted to homebirth my next babe she said "Will your OB come to your home?"

I only went with an OB this time around because I was worried about how my lupus would affect my pg/baby. The next time, I feel more confident and can't wait to join the ranks of the homebirthers.

[grace's voice]

Oh, I know, its incredible... I've gotten some really odd comments that made me think the same thing.

Several times I've told people and, after a few moments dely, it dawns on them and they say, "so... you're going to do it WITHOUT the epidural!" They can't believe it, as if its so unheard of. You MUST have the epidural, babies can't be born without one!

[WAmommy]

When I told my neighbor I was planning a homebirth, she said, "Wait, that means you can't get an epidural?" as if an epidural is a prerequisite for childbirth!

[frontierpsych]

Yeah, some people seem to believe epidurals are as old as time itself!

[angington]

How about "So after the baby is born, you go to the hospital to have him checked out?" :

[rere]

When i tell people my daughter was born in the dining room they usually ask"on the table?"Then I explain what a birthing stool is.It's funny(or sad)how birth = laying down in most people's minds.I never got that.Gravity....let it work for you.

[veganf]

LOL, that's a good one!
A nursing student friend of my was considering getting pregnant on her own, and she was supposedly researching all about birth. I had just had my first baby at home, and she asked, "but how do you know when to push? You need a doctor to tell you!" Yeah, right.

[Guest*]

How funny!

We had some friends who knew we had a homebirth, but obviously they didn't know what it entailed. When they became pregnant with their 5th, they thought homebirth sounded cool (until they started asking questions). He asked when the anesthesiologist came to the house!

[MAMom]

Originally Posted by rere

When i tell people my daughter was born in the dining room they usually ask "on the table?"

My DD was born in our dining room too, but no one's asked me that...yet
___________________________________
SAHM to a spectacular DS (5/2003) & delightful DD (2/2006 HBAC!)
“You never know when you are making a memory.” ~ Rickie Lee Jones

[Stacebabe]

After our 3rd was born, I called my mother and she thought after you birth you go to the hospital to stay a week, why, because the hospital is a nice place, the nurses care for the babe and you can sleep and not worry.
But, this is also the woman who when I was pg with our 2nd and needed a c-sec she asked where do they do the c-sec and I told her on my kitchen table, the doctor and nurses come over and clean the kitchen for you and then they just cut you open on your table. It took her a minutes to know i was joking.
S

[JesseMomme]

I would have said "no, but we made the baby on the table. Pass the salt, please."

[MotheringHeart]

Some of the things people think are sooo hilarious. My IL (who aren't pro homebirth, but know better than to say anything to DH and I thank goodness) are really weird about it. My FIL once asked if I was getting prenatal care or not...like I would just wait around the whole pregnancy and then when I went in to labor I'd call someone I never met to catch the baby and then leave again?!?!?! I think he said "so....do you have regular appointments?"

Oh yeah, and my grandmother who was a nurse in the bad old days thinks I'm crazy for birthing at home because "of the disgusting mess." I'm thinking she thinks we've got no supplies and are trying to stem some sore of hemmorage with sheets and towels. I've tried to explain to her that it isn't messy at all and the midwife/assistant try really hard to not get anything the floor and to not leave you with a mess, but she still insists it's a disaster.

[rere]

Originally Posted by JesseMomme

I would have said "no, but we made the baby on the table. Pass the salt, please."

Well,I never thought to say that but I did serve mini pita pockets in the "placenta bowl" on my daughter's first birthday! Shhhhh!I didn't tell anyone - excepy my sister when the party was over.

[jeanine123]

like I would just wait around the whole pregnancy and then when I went in to labor I'd call someone I never met to catch the baby and then leave again?!?!?!

Actually this sounds like the typical hospital birth and exactly what happened to me w/ds1. Except I didn't call, my midwife did cuz we "needed" the vacuum. And is exactly why ds2 was born at home.

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by MotheringHeart

My FIL once asked if I was getting prenatal care or not...like I would just wait around the whole pregnancy and then when I went in to labor I'd call someone I never met to catch the baby and then leave again?!?!?! I think he said "so....do you have regular appointments?"

Sorry, as a UP/UC'er this was funny to me.....

[candipooh]

Originally Posted by rere

Well,I never thought to say that but I did serve mini pita pockets in the "placenta bowl" on my daughter's first birthday! Shhhhh!I didn't tell anyone - excepy my sister when the party was over.

: we ate popcorn out of the placenta bowl for years.


I myself never head of the c-section question but I know others have been asked if the midwife would perform one.

People are so funny!


Dh told him mom (to shut her up) that we were going to have an ambulance waiting outside and a dr. on stand-by. Yah.....right!

[JesseMomme]

We're still using our "placenta bowls"! One still has cheetos in it from Ds1's birthday party yesterday!

[MamaTaraX]

In her defense, you can rent hospital beds and some homebirths have occurred like mini-hospital births, beds included (i've read about them)

My mom's funny one was this:
I knew my baby would be born on my due date from day one. I told her this one day "I'mgoing to have this baby on its due date" She says: "Is the midwife going to induce you....?" I about fell over laughing. This is especially funy because she's attended my other twobirths and I've never been induced

Namaste, Tara

[grace's voice]

Dh was talking to a friend of ours on the phone today. He told her our due date was yesterday. She said, "what does your mw say about that?" And he said, "she says, uhh, yep, your still pregnant."
I think she assumed you have to get induced if you go past your date... which is odd because she knows where I stand on induction.