Question

[Justice2]

Hi all, my name is Laura and this is my first visit to this forum. I come here in search of some advise and answers. Yesterday my neighbor and I were discussing water/home births. We are both in our 20s and have children the same age (4 months, her dd is 3 days older than my ds). We are both interested in either a water or home birth (or maybe both ). I really don't think that she will have any problems accomplishing this goal. I, on the other hand, may find it a bit difficult. I have early babies. There is no stopping them (my little impatient babies!). My first, dd, was born at 32 weeks and with my 2nd he tried to come several times, starting at 25 weeks, finally ending my bedrest hell at 36 weeks. My chances are extremely high that all my babies will be of an impatient nature. I cannot really consider my dd to be a natural birth because I spent a week on Mag Sul. trying to stop labor. I had pain meds the entire week, up until 7 cm when they took me off everything and let her come. My ds was a natural (and pretty quick, easy) birth. I was in labor 5 total hours and pushed for 7 min. How realistic would it be for me to contemplate a home birth? How realistic would it be for me to contemplate a water birth, maybe in a birthing center. Ok, last question...where can I find good research, listing both the pros and cons of water/home births?

Thank you ladies for all of your help, in advance.

[cottonwood]

I don't know if this will help, but here is a bunch of info on preterm labor: http://gentlebirth.org/archives/pretermlabor.html and water birth: http://gentlebirth.org/archives/watrbrth.html

You could see both a homebirth midwife and an OB, with the understanding that if you get to 36 weeks you will have the baby at home. Or you could just see a midwife as your primary careprovider and switch over if you start having trouble.