How many people IRL do you know who hb?

[Emilie]

I was wondering this.....

Were they a help in your decision to hb? Were you in theirs?

I am including women who attempted to hb and transfered.

If you are the only person you know- vote 1 i guess- i dont know if i can change it!

[ledzepplon]

I know a couple from a Catholic homeschooling group, and one of my best friends from high school's mom had one. I've never had an HB, but I hope to next time, and these ladies are definitely my inspiration.

[Emilie]

I know 5 women in real life who had hbs. 2 of which I met here but then met in real life. Bluegrass ( becca) is my friend from Kentucky who emailed me her mw's website- even after I said I didn't think natural labor was for me! Thanks Becca!

Famousmockingbird and I were pg at the same time and would have had the same mw- but I moved! She ended up with a uc! mw was late!

I met a girl who lived in my town at the time who was pregnant and having her first birth at home. She is now one of my best friends. She birthed her son who was 9 1/2 lb son who was 24 inches long at home! Sold her house the next day and moved 7 days later..... . I miss them so!

My mw of course had 7 children at home.

And a friend of a friend I knew in KY also connected thru mdc.

[Pandora114]

There's no zero option

[Emilie]

ill try to change it!

[Red Sonja]

I know 4 who had or are planning a homebirth. I was planning a homebirth with DD before I knew any of them, so they didn't have any influence on my decision. Just to clarify, though, I only moved to this (crunchier) area about a year ago, I don't know any homebirthers in my old area.

Well, let me take that back - when I was pregnant with DS (2 days before he was born) I met a man at the bowling alley on base whose wife was pregnant and they were planning their 3rd UC.

[bri276]

zero.

[LadyMarmalade]

At least 20. It's fairly 'normal' here.

[Kidzaplenty]

I met one once, we almost bought their house. Other than that, I am the only "oddity" in my area.

But, hey, I have never liked to fit in with the crowd.

[mama-a-llama]

I voted 8 b/c that's how many I could think of by name off the top of my head. But it's fairly normal in my church community so I'm sure I know many more that just aren't coming to mind.

[ericswifey27]

Just 1. The rest are mamas I have met through MDC, so I don't think that counts. She was a nurse whose kids I babysat in high school. She had her second daughter at home. I wish it had sunk in when I was pregnant with my son that was the best way to birth.

I guess I still wasn't ready to hear it, ykwim? Hospital birth is accepted as "the norm" and I didn't have any reason not to trust that process. From the birth experience I had in the hospital, I am going to do my best to stay as far away from a hospital birth as possible in the future...

[Lou]

I voted 8... that's how many I can think of off the top of my head. I have four homebirthing Deaf mamma friends! And I'm working on more.

[heathenmom]

I voted 3, but remembered one more. And, I didn't count myself ... we're planning one with this babe but have a ways to go yet.

As to whether they were an inspiration to me, a resounding YES! We considered it before meeting any of these women, but knowing women who've had multiple homebirths with no problems was very reassuring for my dh.

[Kellym]

Let's see. My DHs uncle and his wife had 4 of the 5 kids at home (and this was 20 years ago), our best friend Jamie and his wife had a baby at home a year ago and a friend is planning on homebirthing in May. I've also talked several friends into considering it in the future.

[Patchfire]

I voted six... but I met at least two of them originally through MDC, another couple through Trust Birth meetings, and the last ones through HMN meetings. So I'd say I had to make a deliberate effort to seek out places where homebirthers might congregate.

[Pandora114]

Oh I could very well meet more, that's not a problem here....

But, right now, I dont know *any* IRL. I think that my doula has had hospital births. Not sure..

So the 0 number might change when I get out and meet people from around here. It's a pretty crunchy area..

But for now, I dont know any, never have known any IRL who've given birth at home, well for the exception of my Great Aunt who is now deceased....but when/where she had her children there was only one option anyway....and that was at home via UC or Lay midwife...the Hospital down there opened after she had her last child in 1950.

[Amylcd]

none

[kerikadi]

I voted 11 or more - I am only counting women who I really know, can list them by name, I know I have met many more but my total off the top of my head including myself is 18 and all but 2 of them live in my same city

ETA: We all give each other support of the 18 homebirthers that I know I see 8+ on a regular basis. The first homebirther I met was about 10 years ago in a Bible study. I had my first two children in the hospital sans epidural. The fact that she was a HBer came up because another woman in the group had a SIL that was planning a HB and this woman was very upset about it. The homebiring Mama spoke up and that planted the seed. It wasn't for another 5-6 years before I was planning another birth and I called her even though I had not seen or spoken to her in years. She recommended the MW I ended up choosing
When I had #4 one of my fellow HB friends was here as my support person for my children. We recently had a blessingway for that Mama and I will soon be the support person for her children in this birth expected very soon.

It is so nice for me to have my own community of homebirthers that I can share experiences with and have suport me - I am very fortunate!

Keri

[meggles]

My mom and my best friend both had 2 homebirths. My hospital birth was traumatic for my mom, so she had both of my siblings with midwives at home. I definitely helped my best friend feel comfortable with homebirth when she was pregnant with her first. Now she's a pro.
I'm planning my own homebirth for our January babe!

[Ruthla]

I don't know any HBers here, but I met one when I was pg with my first (and another shortly after she was born.) Does my former midwife count as an IRL HBer? If yes, then I know 3 plus myself. If no, then I know 3 including myself.

The one I met when I was pg with my first was a huge influence on me- she gave me the midwife's name and number, offered emotional support during the pg, and ended up being my doula.