October homebirthers unite!

[DreamsInDigital]

I just thought it'd be nice for those of us planning homebirths, whether midwife-attended or UC, to chat about our birth plans and such.

We have had two home waterbirths and are looking forward to another. Our midwife is very hands-off and my DH caught our daughter last February while the midwife sat on our couch knitting and taking pictures. She was so incredibly respectful of our wishes and she trusts birth so much, I just really love her attitude about it. She is very low-intervention and doesn't insist on any prenatal tests. She will offer any requested tests or screens and is fantastic about informed consent. I consider myself really lucky to have such a great midwife!

[dany]

We're planning a homebirth with a midwife this time!

DS was a surprisingly natural hospital birth - we couldn't afford a homebirth out of pocket, and there were some issues with DH's insurance in the beginning. It really was a stress free event - no one questioned us about, well, ANYTHING we did or did not want, and we were discharged after 14 hours.

As nice as it was, though, we were still homesick. We are SO excited to bring Newbie into our family in our own space and be able to all just curl up together and snuggle and move at our own pace. We're facing a possible move to Austin, TX soon though, so we can't start interviewing anyone yet, or even make any plans other than "it will be home".

Dreams - I really really love the concept of a midwife just hanging out and knitting. How lucky! I hope we can find a midwife/ves with the same philosophy.

[nhapmom]

me too! last time was in a free standing birth center and my MW knitted a scarf! i love her! if i didnt have the comfort of knowing she was going to be my MW i would be a little freaked out.

[ColoradoMama]

I have also had two midwife attended home births. I wouldn't go into a hospital unless I had to. I have heard two rumors about my m/w - 1) she has retired 2) she is semi-retired but still sees previous clients. I'm really, really, really hoping it's the latter. I don't want to have to find another m/w. I love my m/w so much. I had the perfect home birth with dd2. Ds2 was posterior. That birth - my last - is the reason I tell everyone that I would never go to the hospital. It was the hardest of my births, but it was awesome. My m/w was very hands off, but she was right there if I needed her - and she trusted me. When I was pushing, she knew something wasn't "right," but I kept telling her not to check me. I could feel that he was moving down. I would go into all the specifics, but he came out posterior, and I KNOW without a doubt that I'd have had a lot of interventions in a hospital. I'm so glad I had him at home.

I love having my baby and then getting into my bed. I love feeling safe and comfortable in my own home, surrounded by the people I love and trust. I love it that my baby's have such a beautiful, peaceful, and gentle entrance into the world.

I'm calling my m/w first thing Monday morning.

[Mrshawwk]

With my first birth I interviewed a midwife and asked if she would just sit on the couch. She basically said I should look elsewhere, which led us to UC. Actually, my mother in law has attended all my births, and the last one had two sisters in law and my best friend (I am a very private person, who woulda thought I would have all those people there?! But they stayed in the kitchen ) So this time.... I see no big differences except I might see if my mom wants to come. She has expressed no interest in coming, but...(shrug)

I also had my last two babies via waterbirth. Let me just say "ahhhhh....". I caught my own babies (which I LOVED), the mess is contained, it's warm and soothing and private. Can't say enough about it. Which reminds me, I should order my pool. When ordering pool, do not wait until Summer, they are out of stock!!

[ColoradoMama]

Originally Posted by Mrshawwk

When ordering pool, do not wait until Summer, they are out of stock!!

Interestingly enough - the pool I ordered for my last birth is still in its box in the basement! My m/w has (or used to anyway!) three tubs that she let her clients use. All three were out when I was close to the end of my pg, and since ds had dropped and was engaged at 36 weeks, I was afraid he'd come early. I ordered a pool - then got one of hers. For some reason, I never got rid of it, so I still have it if I need it this time!

[DreamsInDigital]

I am ordering the La Bassine. I used it for my DD's birth and loved it.

[two_sets_of_twins]

Count me in for homebirthing! My second set of twins were a planned homebirth, but we transported for a c-section when the first baby's cord was presenting by his face (water was intact). So we are praying for a homebirth this time...where we actually get to deliver at home!

[Fly Girl]

I am pregnant with our first and I am planning a homebirth. I never thought that I would even consider a homebirth, but in the last 2 years all of my friends and family who have had babies have had a c/s. That is just so shocking to me, and so I've decided to stay out of the hospital. Now that I have a + pg test, I will start interviewing midwives.
It's so great that there are so many of you who have already had successful homebirths. I'm sure I will be asking lots of questions in the months to come.

[DreamsInDigital]

I'm so glad to see so many of us planning homebirths!

And any of you that haven't had a homebirth before, feel free to ask lots of questions.

[Changed]

Haven't thought much about it yet of course but I will definitely be having a homebirth of some sort.

[ColoradoMama]

I talked to my midwife today, and she is NOT retired! Woo hoo. It was so incredibly good to talk to her. I'll give her a call back in a couple of weeks to set up my first appt.

[leurMaman]

We gave birth to DS at a birth center. After the m/c, we gave birth to DD 100% med-free and naturally at a hospital birth center in the care of a team of midwives (the secret was that we got there when I was 10 cm dialated and pushed baby out within 10 minutes -so definitely no interventions!). This time we're going to try for a home birth - however, I hemmoraged a lot after DD and had to have pit. and methrogyn shots, so I have some concerns about that. At my prenatal appt (with a different midwife and birthcenter than our first), she assured me that she carreid those two things in her bag but tried natural remedies first.

I am looking for a good birthing tub. What are your recommendations?

[DreamsInDigital]

The La Bassine is a perfect birth tub, IMO.

http://www.yourwaterbirth.com/pools.shtml

[two_sets_of_twins]

I'm about to show my ignorance towards water births, but how do you empty it? Especially if it's messy? Is it best to get a liner for that?

I'm really thinking about getting one of these this time (even if I don't use it for the actual birth) because my bath tub is the size of one that belongs in a trailer. And I LOVE laboring in water. So someone please educate me so I can educate my DH too. I know that's something he would think of. Besides, I could write it off as a business expense because I think I'll be a midwife eventually.

[ibusymomto5]

I'm hoping for another homebirth this time. My first two were c/sec, and then the last 5 have been homebirths with the same group of mws. I've watched them slowly become more and more medical as their practice has grown which I do not like, but there aren't a lot of choices around here... I'm very intrigued with an UC, but deep down inside I think I really want the security of a mw there just in case. At least our mws are very hands off at the actual birth. They are very non-intrusive and respect our space. It's the prenatals that I'm not keen on, but even those are far better than if I went to an ob.

I've never had a waterbirth, but every time I consider it. I guess my biggest concern is that I wouldn't have time to get it all set up. I usually have really fast labors and don't recognize that I'm in labor till close to transition.

.....
Wanted to add that last time around I put my birthing ball in the shower and let the water beat down on me. It was heavenly! I will at least be doing that again. In fact the birth ball was so comfy to bounce around on before I ever went into labor.

[DreamsInDigital]

I think we may end up going unassisted. My DH's only concern is that he doesn't want to have to deal with the placenta and cleaning up the blood. I told him if it came down it we could UC and have a lotus birth. He's actually considering it. <---this was my reaction.

[Changed]

My DH knows that I'm considering UC. He doesn't have a vagina so he just kinda grits his teeth and deals with how I need to do things. I've actually really torn and hoping a decision comes with some clarity soon.

[DreamsInDigital]

I planned to UC with my last DD until about 30-ish weeks and then I suddenly had this urgent voice in my head that demanded I hire a midwife. So I did, and the only complication I had was a postpartum hemmorhage. I think we could have handled it on our own just fine. I will be taking some measures to try to prevent PPH this time around.

[nhapmom]

i need to learn about lotus births