Tell me about home births please

[Munki'sMom]

I'm open to the idea (would need lots of info etc... but I'm open to checking it out). Those that have before, how was it? Any info would be greatly accepted

[Funny Face]

I haven't homebirthed yet but can't imagine it any other way with everything I know now. I first became interested when I started reading birth stories online. I realized I enjoyed the homebirth stories so much more, there was often an element of empowerment and reverence that I didn't find in the hospital birh stories as much. These women spoke about what they did instead of what was done to them and it just struck me.

Once I did all the research, and realized the benefits I was sold.

What questions do you have exactly? What is your interest or concerns? I love a good chat about homebirth!

[Funny Face]

PM'd you too.

[momto3wantingmore]

Well I havn't finished a birth at home yet but with my last I labored for 3 days at home and it was nothing compaired to my first labor in the hospital. I was so much more relaxed and able to be comfortable. Once I got to the hospital I was soo tense from everyone messing with I couldn't handle labor as well. At home I could walk, move sleep eat when i wanted to. I didn't have to ask if I could go potty or take a shower. It was great and I am looking forward to it again. Only this time I hope I can stay home lol

[mightymoo]

Hi there!

I thought I would mention that our homebirth forum would be another great place to find more information and ask questions about homebirth.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

[semomama]

I am now planning my first homebirth. I had my other two children in the hospital. It was during the last birth I turned to my DH and said--never again! I found birthing in the hospital to be at times dehumanizing, assembly-line treatment, no real connection with those helping to birth my babes, constant struggle to do things differently, and always on guard.
I am so looking forward to staying at home (traveling to the hospital stalled my labor a bit). I am commited to enjoying every minute of it. I can finally relax, trust my midwife, and just celebrate the experience.
If you are considering a homebirth, I HIGHLY recommend reading "Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth". Half the book is birth stories and the other half is wisdom from the art of midwifery--things you can even apply if you choose a hospital birth. "Spirtual Midwifery" is also great. Both are by Ina May Gaskin. Have a good time making your decision. This is your experience, enjoy it!

[Munki'sMom]

Thank you!

[rstump]

My homebirths were AWESOME. So empowering and freeing. My house, my people, my germs, not fighting with doctors, no should I leave now, or later, no laboring in the car, no paperwork to sign, no belts, no nasty hospital gowns, all the food and drink you want.....don't have to sneak to eat, no strange hands in places they don't belong, no IV, no shift change.....I coud go ON and ON............just a JOY.

Crawling into my nice clean bed..... after a nice warm shower, in my own clothes to snuggle with my DH, newborn and all the other kids.

I had 2 hospital and 2 homebirths so far. I am planning my 3rd HB. I will NEVER step foot into a hospital to give birth again if at all possible!

[catballou24]

i LOVED my home/waterbirths. they were amazing! i felt so in control and was allowed to move and be where i wanted. we are planning another one with this baby. i'd definitely look in the homebirth forums and check out waterbirths online as well. there are plenty of videos out there and people with tons of information. the key is to do your research and come to the conclusion yourself, because while i loved having my babies at home, not everyone is comfortable with that idea for themselves personally. i bet if you ease your mind on all the pros and cons you will opt for one. also, if you do decide, find a midwife you trust and really get along well with. that is so important as they are so integral throughout your pregnancy.. good luck!!

[pantufla]

Originally Posted by rstump

My homebirths were AWESOME. So empowering and freeing. My house, my people, my germs, not fighting with doctors, no should I leave now, or later, no laboring in the car, no paperwork to sign, no belts, no nasty hospital gowns, all the food and drink you want.....don't have to sneak to eat, no strange hands in places they don't belong, no IV, no shift change.....I coud go ON and ON............just a JOY.

My MW actually encouraged me to eat and drink.

My homebirths were awesome. I was a labor support person for a friend of mine who had a MW in the hospital when her babe was born, and when all was said and done I told my Dh, "I am NEVER having a baby in a hospital!"

The best part about a homebirth is cuddling in bed with the new baby and waving goodbye to the midwives as they tiptoe out.

[phatchristy]

I've had all three of my children at home, and I can't imagine purposefully doing it any other way. It's so spiritual, intimate and peaceful. When I was pregnant with my first, in fact before I was even pregnant with my first I did research. It was clear that homebirth offered the best outcomes for baby and mom in the typical low risk situation.

So, me not caring what others think so much as needing to do what is right, so when I was pregnant, I found a birth center with a homebirth option.

You have so much freedom to do what your body needs to do. That is what is so amazing about birthing this way. You can listen to your body. You can labor and birth in the position you want to and you're also in the most comfortable place in the world. Those are all natural insticts for a birthing mother. She will want to cocoon herself in a familiar place, have quiet, and intimacy, she will turn inward and away from the outside world and its distractions.

Also, you have control of who is at your births, which you will not have in a hospital. Most people in a hospital birth just go in, meeting nurses they've never met before. It's a strange, unfamiliar environment. Then, their OBs try to time it as close to pushing as possible to arrive. Physiologically, they have to work up against all of the hormones that are created by this non-appropriate birthing situation...some women do this better than others and it does affect labor and birth outcomes sadly.

Most women I met during my prenatals seemed to wait until they had a horrible or sub par experience at a hospital before considering homebirth. But a few who I met there were very well read and chose it for their first child. I figured, I don't need to have a lousy birth experience or an unnecessary cesarean to get to the point where I feel I have enough determination to have a homebirth. The research was out there, and it was obvious for me. As a low risk, health pregnant woman the statistics for myself and baby were far superior being at home. Cesarean rates are very small, tearing is also less frequent and not severe, episiotomy virtually non-existant. For the baby, lower risks of interventions, incredible rates of breastfeeding success when birthing at home with midwives.

And, I'm not even getting into the high level of sensitive midwifery care that you get. The 40-45 minute (as long as you need) appointments to talk to your midwives who you feel comfortable with and who feel like extended family or friends.

There's a lot of intangibles even that I probably can't get into. But definitely homebirthing has been the most empowering, spiritual, intimate and blissful experience of my life.

Those emotions that you feel after the baby is born and you're just lying in bed with your family all around, just pure bliss, peace and comfort. Those moments are priceless and we take those feelings of bliss, wonder and awe with us into the post partum period as well as the rest of our children's lives.

[Munki'sMom]

We have our 1st appt today with a midwife. I'm excited. I think we are going to do this!!!!!!

[attachedmamaof3]

DS#1 was in a birth center.
DS#2 and DD were both homebirths. I would never do it another way again. Absolutely the best decision you can make in a healthy pregnancy..no holds barred.

Oh, and my DP agrees. He's a homebirth fanatic now.

[AutumnMama]

Originally Posted by Munki'sMom

We have our 1st appt today with a midwife. I'm excited. I think we are going to do this!!!!!!

How exciting! I hope you all mesh really well...homebirths can be so amazing!

[phatchristy]

That's great news.

I just called the birth center I have my prenatals at (though I do the homebirth option there) and sadly my midwife from the last birth is no longer there . We meshed really well. But, the two newer midwives according to one of the staffers (who knows me) are supposed to be really good and similar in philosophy though.

[Funny Face]

Originally Posted by Munki'sMom

We have our 1st appt today with a midwife. I'm excited. I think we are going to do this!!!!!!

Oooooo, tell us all about it when you get back!

I'm particularly interested to hear who you are interviewing.

I am a doula for a friend of mine who just switched from her OB to a birth center midwife and I just can't believe the change I see in her level of excitement and how much she enjoys her appointments. I'm so happy for her.

I hope you find someone you absolutely adore.

[grace's voice]

Crunched for time and didn't get to read all the posts...

I've had 2 babies and had homebirths with both, I'm planning another with this baby. I really wouldn't do it any other way, personally. I believe homebirth (following a low-risk pregnancy) is safer than hospital birth... and the great thing is you don't meet all the opposition to going natural that you might in the hospital.

I hired doulas for support and rented birth tubs for both births, aquadoula is the only tub I will use because the sides are sturdy and it has a heater. I have a ton of preterm labor so I have to keep the tub filled, so the heater is a lifesaver... I never know when I'll go into labor and my labors are too fast to fill the tub (it takes about 3 hours to fill).

Anyway, feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions, I'm in a hurry now, but I do know quite a bit about this!

Best of luck!

[annettemarie]

In keeping with the DDC guidelines, I am going to move this to the homebirth forum.

ETA: I see mightymoo already was here, LOL! DDCs are great for support, but general questions really are best answered in the forums we have set up. Good luck in your decision!