Childless Friend's Take on Homebirth - Page 2

[sapphire_chan]

Well, I know of one women who started with homebirths and then went to the hospital. The mom in "Cheaper by the Dozen". She had 11 homebirths and then went to the hospital for her last baby--making some comment about it being nice to let other people take care of things for a change.

[Jefinner]

To be honest... My hospital birth with my first was the worst one. I was induced, and pitocin contractions are HELL!!! Then I finally got the epidural, and it worked only for a bit... It wore off, and even when they upped the meds, it didn't help. (I didn't know better at the time.)

Sure, my other two births hurt, but were much better. Even the 11 pounder. His contractions were fairly bad, but my labor was less than 3 hours. (I always hear that shorter labors usually hurt more...)

[lovebug]

Originally Posted by poitzenlock

I just read the comment from mom thread and had to share this one. I told my good (childless) friend that I was having a homebirth and she said, "That's your choice because it's your first baby and you don't know how much it hurts. I'll bet lots of people have their first baby at home and then the next babies in the hospital." I told her that pretty much the opposite is true.
I love her dearly and she is always cracking me up because she's got parenting and birth and all that entails all figured out.

i dont think its funny because she "childless". i have no kiddies and want a homebirth. for me its the "childless" ones that support me.

now my MIL and friends w/kids think im NUTS. they also thing that my babys going to die. aswell as i "have no clue how bad it hurts" and "you are going to beg for drugs.

so i dont think it has anything to do with being "childless". but more to do with being close minded or mainstream.

[StacyL]

My homebirth (my 2nd birth) hurt A LOT LESS than my hospital birth (my first birth).

[JesseMomme]

Yeah I knew everything there was to know about parenting before I was a parent So did a dearly beloved family member of mine - always "offering advice" because she knew a lot about a lot from nannying and young neices and nephews, etc - like the time Ds2 threw up on me with a high fever and wanted to nurse again and she said "Don't nurse him again that will make him throw up more!" (yeah what do you think I did?, )

Then she had her very high needs baby over a year ago, I feel really bad b/c she gets no support or help and she's very far away from me. Talk about a karmic bite in the ass.

My two first hospital births were the most painful, physically and emotionally because my ability to manage to work with the pain and discomfort was restricted, therby magnified, and when I knew to fight for freedom of movement, the very act of fighting was distracting from the hard work of labor. My UC's were painful (so much for exstatic birth, not that my heart was set on it or anything lol), especially my first one and THAT transistion...my last birth was the "least painful", the labor was shorter too. I walked and swayed until I was tired, and reclined so I could doze between contractions.

[MommyTorf]

When my best friend told me that she was considering a homebirth, I FREAKED OUT! This was a year or so before I had my DS. I work with severely mentally/physically challenged kids, so my point of view is a little skewed. I always think "what if". I was so worried that something would happen and they wouldn't be able to get her and my godson-to-be to the hospital. Everything went fine, she was soooo happy and baby godson was very healthy. Now that I've been through it myself, I can better understand/appreciate what a natural process it is. I had a hospital birth with no interventions (I had an AWESOME nurse and OB). I had a fairly easy labor and delivery. I *KNOW* that I could do it at home if there were to be a "next time", but I'm still too chicken. I have that little voice that says "what if" and I can't get rid of it. I worry that the fear would ruin the experience. I wish that I could do it though.

[JesseMomme]

Originally Posted by MommyTorf

When my best friend told me that she was considering a homebirth, I FREAKED OUT! This was a year or so before I had my DS. I work with severely mentally/physically challenged kids, so my point of view is a little skewed. I always think "what if". I was so worried that something would happen and they wouldn't be able to get her and my godson-to-be to the hospital. Everything went fine, she was soooo happy and baby godson was very healthy. Now that I've been through it myself, I can better understand/appreciate what a natural process it is. I had a hospital birth with no interventions (I had an AWESOME nurse and OB). I had a fairly easy labor and delivery. I *KNOW* that I could do it at home if there were to be a "next time", but I'm still too chicken. I have that little voice that says "what if" and I can't get rid of it. I worry that the fear would ruin the experience. I wish that I could do it though.

That's really very normal to feel that way. I and a lot of mamas are always happy to talk about the different "what ifs". Discussion and research can help dispell and minimize a great many fears. Oftentimes the Great Fear Dragon is just blowing a lot of smoke and hot air.