Hello everyone! This is my first time here, so please bear with me in what may turn into a somewhat long post.
I am 33 years old, and 6 weeks pregnant. This is my 5th pregnancy, and we are planning a homebirth. However there may be a problem
In the state of Florida, midwives cannot deliver a homebirth before 37 weeks gestation. My first two pregnancies, with the exception of hyperemesis, went beautifully, both born on their due dates, labor 2 1/2 hours both times, and absolutely no complications, no interventions, no drugs at all. However my last two were a different story. Both pregnancies were awesome, no morning sickness at all, however both were born "premature" at 35 weeks, and for entirely different reasons.
1st preterm birth happened when I had an awful case of bronchitis. I was coughing really hard one night, and ruptured my membranes. When we got to the midwives office the next morning (7 hours later), the litimus test said my membranes DID rupture, but I wasn't dilated or effaced at all. I was rushed into the hospital and induced with pit. It was awful, horrible, nightmarish... you get the picture. The doctor refused me an epidural, because in his words "You are making a stupid choice to put this baby up for adoption. The pain is your reward for it". I went through 37 hours of HELL before this baby was born healthy at 5 lbs. 6 oz.
2nd preterm birth was much different. My midwife delivered this one, also in the hospital. No interventions, no drugs in 4 1/2 hours. Delivery was PERFECT (except for the hospital aspect). Baby was born weighing 5 lbs even. The cause of this early delivery was caused by intense emotional stress at the time.
Both babies were completely healthy, no NICU, and went home when I did.
For this pregnancy, even before TTC, I took all the steps to minimize the risk of PTL. I'm eating better, avoiding stress, taking yoga classes.... but my midwife threw a brick in my path at my first appt. with her.
She said I have to be cleared by her supervising OB, before she can homebirth me, because I am now "High Risk" because of the two preterm births. I was told it was highly unlikely that I will be approved to homebirth, even if I do make it to 37 weeks. I just don't see the logic in that! If my pregnancy is healthy and complication free, how can I be denied a homebirth? Why write me off at the outset? As much as I would love to, and am comfortable with the idea, going UC is out of the question, because this is a surrogacy. The baby isn't mine, and it's parents really don't feel comfortable with UC.
Do you have any advice on how to try and convince this OB (who IS pro homebirth, BTW) to let me give this a shot? Also, any additional advice on avoiding PTL again?
Sorry this has turned into a book, but I'm really sad about this. I really DO NOT want to be in a hospital ever again. I'm sure you can understand why.
TIA,
Kathleen
I am 33 years old, and 6 weeks pregnant. This is my 5th pregnancy, and we are planning a homebirth. However there may be a problem
In the state of Florida, midwives cannot deliver a homebirth before 37 weeks gestation. My first two pregnancies, with the exception of hyperemesis, went beautifully, both born on their due dates, labor 2 1/2 hours both times, and absolutely no complications, no interventions, no drugs at all. However my last two were a different story. Both pregnancies were awesome, no morning sickness at all, however both were born "premature" at 35 weeks, and for entirely different reasons.
1st preterm birth happened when I had an awful case of bronchitis. I was coughing really hard one night, and ruptured my membranes. When we got to the midwives office the next morning (7 hours later), the litimus test said my membranes DID rupture, but I wasn't dilated or effaced at all. I was rushed into the hospital and induced with pit. It was awful, horrible, nightmarish... you get the picture. The doctor refused me an epidural, because in his words "You are making a stupid choice to put this baby up for adoption. The pain is your reward for it". I went through 37 hours of HELL before this baby was born healthy at 5 lbs. 6 oz.
2nd preterm birth was much different. My midwife delivered this one, also in the hospital. No interventions, no drugs in 4 1/2 hours. Delivery was PERFECT (except for the hospital aspect). Baby was born weighing 5 lbs even. The cause of this early delivery was caused by intense emotional stress at the time.
Both babies were completely healthy, no NICU, and went home when I did.
For this pregnancy, even before TTC, I took all the steps to minimize the risk of PTL. I'm eating better, avoiding stress, taking yoga classes.... but my midwife threw a brick in my path at my first appt. with her.
She said I have to be cleared by her supervising OB, before she can homebirth me, because I am now "High Risk" because of the two preterm births. I was told it was highly unlikely that I will be approved to homebirth, even if I do make it to 37 weeks. I just don't see the logic in that! If my pregnancy is healthy and complication free, how can I be denied a homebirth? Why write me off at the outset? As much as I would love to, and am comfortable with the idea, going UC is out of the question, because this is a surrogacy. The baby isn't mine, and it's parents really don't feel comfortable with UC.
Do you have any advice on how to try and convince this OB (who IS pro homebirth, BTW) to let me give this a shot? Also, any additional advice on avoiding PTL again?
Sorry this has turned into a book, but I'm really sad about this. I really DO NOT want to be in a hospital ever again. I'm sure you can understand why.
TIA,
Kathleen
