are there any others considering hospital birth here?

[happyblessedmama]

I feel a little lonely when I see the 'homebirth mamas rollcall' so I thought I'd try this to see if there's anybody else like me.

I do have unmedicated births; our 3rd (most recent) baby was a birth center transfer nightmare that ended up at the hospital. We live in rural Alaska and our options, since we won't leave town this time, are hospital or unassisted at home. I'm not going the UC route so it's to the hospital for us.

Happily I have short labors and I have a friend who delivers babies at the hospital that I'll be going to for my pregnancy care. It's totally not ideal, but it's what we have available. Anybody else?

[ccohenou]

I will more than likely have a hospital birth, unless both dh and I have a major change of heart. After two traumatic cesareans, the last after a planned homebirth, I think we'll probably be better off in the hospital just in case (you wouldn't have caught me saying that before I had a placental abruption).

[MrsTC]

It would be my preference to use the same birth center I did last time, but it's quite a ways away, and we have different insurance now that won't cover any of it. So we'll be looking at our options, and could possibly go with an unmed hospital birth with the right midwife or OB this time around. I'm not opposed to it, just intimidated by the horror stories I've heard of women being bullied into medical interventions there, though I know that things dont' have to happen that way.

[curlylocks2006]

My DD was a very traumatic birth that almost ended up in a C section. She was VERY stuck and in an odd position that I couldn't change through all my lamaze excercises. After a 27hr labour and 4th degree laceration she was born vaginally, so DH would be EXTREMELY uncomfortable if we were not in the hospital. I'm sure everything will be much smoother this time around. I am planning to use a midwife though.

[jkg]

I'll also be in the hospital. I have immense respect for homebirthers, but DH and I just aren't that comfortable with it for ourselves, at least not yet.

[ILoveMySofie]

I will definitely be giving birth in a hospital. I actually love it. I have a wonderful doctor and besides, after my loss I want to be closely monitored.

[chinaKat]

Definitely planning a hospital birth here. Had an excellent experience (Brigham & Women's in Boston) the first time. My midwife (and the entire team) completely respected all of my wishes.

Plus, somebody else cleaned up everything, and that's no small thing, considering the mess.

:: Bonita

[simcon]

I'm hoping to have an unmedicated hospital birth too--and currently trying to find midwives in our area (we moved here after my daughter was born).

With dd, I was induced after PROM at 38 weeks... I did have a vaginal birth, but I was very close to a c-section at one point--I was lucky to have midwives who successfully advocated for me to continue laboring. After the experience (back labor, "failure to progress," pitocin up *way* too high at one point), I probably should have more reservations about trying it again in a hospital, but we live in an apartment in a rural area that's 25 miles or so from the closest hospital, and there are no free-standing birth centers around as far as I can tell. So I'm looking for midwives again, as unmedicated-birth-friendly as possible, and I think we'll definitely have a doula this time (though I actually felt fine about the midwives/nurses last time--they were very responsive in terms of working within the framework they had to deal with--as in "oh, still only 3 cm, but look, I think you're just a *little* bit more effaced, so that's progress!",--or something along those lines anyway).

[LadyInfidel]

I am not a candidate for a homebirth. I started off believing all my births would be at home with midwives but it never worked that way. I will be delivering at a hospital.

[twilight girl]

Same boat. My options are midwife assisted homebirth (which DH is totally NOT comfortable with) or hospital birth. We live in Costa Rica, and have to work with what's available. I'll come back and post more on the subject soon ... Just wanted to let you know you're not alone!

[tullyleague]

Originally Posted by chinaKat

Definitely planning a hospital birth here. Had an excellent experience (Brigham & Women's in Boston) the first time. My midwife (and the entire team) completely respected all of my wishes.

Plus, somebody else cleaned up everything, and that's no small thing, considering the mess.

:: Bonita

All of my kids were born there as well! This one will follow the tradition. I can't say enough good things about their maternity center.

[LydiaJW]

I have had 2 hospital births. I am planning on getting a doula or midwife this time around, though, and trying to go natural for the first time!! Although my labors tend to be extremely short (first one was 6 hours, second was 2!) my DH is really uncomfortable with the home birth idea and there aren't any birth centers around this area. So we kind of met in the middle. plus our hospital has a really nice birth center and we've had a decent experience there. I am going to be QUITE FIRM on going home almost immediately following birth. Does anyone know the laws on that one? Are there any?

[pianojazzgirl]

I'm planning on a hospital birth. I am psyching myself up for a VBAC and I'd like to hire a doula. Last time was an emergency c-section before I even went into labour (she was in serious fetal distress and almost died).

[babysol]

A hospital birth for me. We had a good experience last time; I liked the doctor and labor nurse. I guess I don't feel like I need anyone with me the entire time except my spouse.

I'm also not worried about being bullied into things I don't want. First off, I think they're pretty good that way at my hospital, but also, I'm pretty assertive when I feel it's important.

[MsElle07]

I am going to be QUITE FIRM on going home almost immediately following birth. Does anyone know the laws on that one? Are there any?

My DH was very uncomfortable with the idea of a birth center or homebirth as well. I finally realized that it's not his birth. Yes, it's his child too, but it's *my* birth. I should be the one making decisions about where *I* feel the most comfortable. If he doesn't feel comfortable, then that's not my problem. I told him he was free to join me or not join me. I ended up going to a birth center, had a nice birth, and will be doing this one at home.

When I was doing my research, one of the deciding factors for me was the return home -- if I was going to the hospital again, I wanted to be able to check out as soon as me and the baby were stable -- 6 hours or so. I found out that this is generally not possible. Often doctors or MWs (I was delivering with a CNM) are fine with letting the mother go home after a short stay, but once the baby is born, they are officially under the care of a pediatrician. Peds have a policy of at least 24 hours of observation. If you leave early, you sign out Against Medical Advice, AMA, and your insurance will not cover any of your stay.

[twilight girl]

Originally Posted by MsElle07

My DH was very uncomfortable with the idea of a birth center or homebirth as well. I finally realized that it's not his birth. Yes, it's his child too, but it's *my* birth. I should be the one making decisions about where *I* feel the most comfortable. If he doesn't feel comfortable, then that's not my problem. I told him he was free to join me or not join me. I ended up going to a birth center, had a nice birth, and will be doing this one at home.

When I was doing my research, one of the deciding factors for me was the return home -- if I was going to the hospital again, I wanted to be able to check out as soon as me and the baby were stable -- 6 hours or so. I found out that this is generally not possible. Often doctors or MWs (I was delivering with a CNM) are fine with letting the mother go home after a short stay, but once the baby is born, they are officially under the care of a pediatrician. Peds have a policy of at least 24 hours of observation. If you leave early, you sign out Against Medical Advice, AMA, and your insurance will not cover any of your stay.

Very interesting point! I will have to find out what the laws say here in Costa Rica about getting discharged.

I have no option for a birth center here. It´s either hospital or midwife assisted home birth. We live in a condo, and I'm not sure I'm very comfortable with the entire block of condos listening to me labor!

I do like your point too about it being the mama's birth. DH had a terrible time with it last time, ended up calling in my sister and mother for reinforcement. And when your women arrive, you think, "ah, finally, someone who can actually handle what's going on here!" So, I'm thinking that we'll do the hospital birth here at the private hospital, which I hear has a great labor "package" including private room, meals for mom and family, etc. I'm trying to find a midwife here to act as my doula, and I've got a line on two right now.

I really want to shoot for laboring at home as long as possible, then going with the midwife/doula to the hospital for the end, unmedicated, little intervention, etc.

[Rowan Tree]

Hospital for us too. No birthing centers or midwives nearby. I had a great experience delivering DS at the local hospital. The nurses were very supportive and loving, delivered naturally with very little medical intervention (just their required IV and then an internal fetal monitor during the very last stages of labor due to a sudden lowered heartbeat). I really admire homebirthers, but can't feel down on myself for going this route. All mothers are amazing no matter how there beautiful babes come into the world!

[Ben's Mommy]

Originally Posted by pianojazzgirl

I'm planning on a hospital birth. I am psyching myself up for a VBAC and I'd like to hire a doula.

Me too! I'm also hoping to hire a doula or a midwife to act as my doula so they can back up the ob. Basicly so I can have an experienced caregiver with me at all times during labor!

[sparkprincess]

I'll be having a hospital birth as well. Midwives are illegal here in MO and the nearest birthing center is HOURS away. So to the hospital we will go. I have to admit I'm scared to birth in a hospital again. It's a looong story, but basically I hate how much stuff they push you into. When my ds was born he wasn't too keen on eating. So after 24 hours they informed us that they would be taking him to the special care nursery and performing various tests on him - including a spinal tap. We felt like we couldn't fight it without getting in trouble with CPS so we played along. I pray this time goes smoother - at least we aren't newbies anymore!

[happyblessedmama]

Wow, I'm not alone. Yay! And I'm so happy there haven't been any negative "you really should be at home" comments. Can be a sensitive topic

As far as "early" release, I was released 16 hours after the birth of #2 because the maternity ward was full. They wanted to put me in the main hospital ward because I'd had an easy delivery. I said no, but I'd be happy to go home! LOL So that's what we did.

#1 was a rough delivery and #3, my baby was in the NICU so I stayed at the hospital the full 48 hours so I could have easier access to her (her stay was almost 2 weeks).

I've been told (last pregnancy, before we switched care away from the local place - long story - but we don't have "options" this time) that here they like at least 24 hours. Fine... but at 24 hours, I want out. I would love to be out before that... but whatever. We'll see.

Sparkprincess - IKWYM about the hospital pushing things. I had so little control over the things that happened with my 3rd baby in the NICU - granted, at the outset she was very sick and I am grateful for the care she received - but in the non-critical care NICU portion - just some painful memories... and I was politely vocal and not a 1st time mom.