Why did you have a hospital birth? - Page 6

[tireesix]

I was bullied into birthing my first in hospital.

[YesandNo]

I had no interest in a homebirth for myself, and I don't think a homebirth in inherently better (which seems to be the assumption of this thread). They're fine of course, just not for me.

I consider hospital births to be an important health insurance benefit. I know the birth experience varies for each woman, and I did not know how I would react to it, so I wanted to keep my options open. My hospital was great, I had a midwife birth and my room was equipped with a private tub to help with labor pains.

truthfully, the idea of giving birth at my house just isn't appealing to me. I'd prefer the hospital shower to my own shower (where the hot water runs out after fifteen minutes), and the hospital jacuzzi to my 1960s tiny tub or a kiddie pool. Yes, call me a prima donna, but if I'm going to drip, poop, bleed, or gush in any significant quantities, I'd rather it be on hospital linens and linoleum, not my own sheets (and mattress pad cover, and mattress pad) and hardwood floors. For me, babymoon begins with someone else handling this aspect of clean-up because I don't find it romantic at all.

And my labor nurses and maternity ward nurses were so awesome, their wisdom and kindness and humor were a blessing to me. I will never forget the nurse who, right after the birth and BFing DD for the first time, made me a PB&J sandwich when she saw that the cafeteria screwed up and sent a non-vegetarian dinner. Yeah, my husband or mom could have done that, but they were enraptured by the baby (fair enough!) and to be honest I wanted a moment to be "off" emotionally anyway.

[MommytoHHH]

There are no midwives where I live. There are no birthing centers where I live. Even if there were, my insurance doesn't cover that. We can't afford to shell out 2-3,000$ for a birth that our insurance doesn't cover. It costs me nothing but my $500 deductible to have all my prenatal care and birth at the hospital. My first DD was born in a hospital and my second will be too. I had a detailed birth plan and felt that overall they were very respectful of my choices. I do wish I could birth in water, but my hospital does not have that option.

[knowerofnada]

I had a hospital birth with both girls because DH wouldn't allow a homebirth. He supported me on the no-vax, no Vit. K, no eye drops, no circ (and this was an especially big one for him), and I couldn't find it in me to keep arguing wih him about this issue. I had to choose my battles.

[alexsam]

For my first, we moved in my 7th month (so I didn't know anyone in the area, no healthcare providers, and DS being my first, I didn't really even think about homebirth, but would have ruled it out anyway). We lived in a little apartment, in a rural area (an hour away from the closest hospital). I hated my apartment, I had no friends yet, EVERYTHING was a half hour drive away, both sets of parents were staying with us which was a bit uncomfortable... I guess what I am saying is that "home" wasn't really home, so I had no attachment, inclination or feelings of security there.

For #2, we live in our own home 10 minutes away from the hospital. We have tons of friends and supoprt and we are very happy here. But I STILL am going to the hospital. My son ended up a c-section and I am just not comfortable birthing at home (I know, I know... but for me, I just feel I'd be too nervous about uterine rupture or a repeat of the situation that caused my son to be a c-section and I wouldn't be able to relax and my midwife was in agreement). However, I will be with a midwife and a doula in a brand-new birthing wing about which everyone else seems to have good things to say.

Also, my husband is an academic and a veterinarian at a university, which means he's very comfortable in the human medical world. This works to our great advantage because it means that he can't be bullied, the doctors are able (required ) to explain things in detail and he can evaluate for himself what are true reasons for interventions and what potenetial impacts they may have. He knows all the questions to ask and as soon as he does (and they ask about all the letters after his name), you can see a huge shift in terms of how human doctors and nurses treat us (which is really a lousy commentary and makes me really angry that you have to be a doctor yourself to be treated with the repect that everyone should have, but that is for another thread). Of course, I trust my husband and he knows what I want and will advocate for me to the bitter end and can explain in words I know and trust when something really has to be done (when he told me that I really did need a c-section with my first, he was crying because he knew it had to be done but that it was not what I planned or wanted). So, I feel comfortable entering into a hospital knowing that it is not a mystery or a place where we will be bullied into anything.

[Telle Bear]

Originally Posted by YesandNo

I had no interest in a homebirth for myself, and I don't think a homebirth in inherently better (which seems to be the assumption of this thread). They're fine of course, just not for me.

I consider hospital births to be an important health insurance benefit. I know the birth experience varies for each woman, and I did not know how I would react to it, so I wanted to keep my options open. My hospital was great, I had a midwife birth and my room was equipped with a private tub to help with labor pains.






And my labor nurses and maternity ward nurses were so awesome, their wisdom and kindness and humor were a blessing to me. I will never forget the nurse who, right after the birth and BFing DD for the first time, made me a PB&J sandwich when she saw that the cafeteria screwed up and sent a non-vegetarian dinner. Yeah, my husband or mom could have done that, but they were enraptured by the baby (fair enough!) and to be honest I wanted a moment to be "off" emotionally anyway.

I agree with all that....

I loved just being with my baby and not worrying about dinner, cleaning, etc...

I was really lucky to have a GREAT hospital....they encourage co-sleeping, no circ, bf (it's a no pacifier hospital). It was awesome!!!

[SheepNumber97245]

I would have had a homebirth... if i had a home. :/ I was homeless at the time...

Also, I couldn't find a midwife in my area that would take my insurance, other than the nurse midwifes at a hospital. So i had my baby in the hospital, but with a WONDERFUL nurse midwife. I did it completely natural and was not pressured to take drugs.

[SheepNumber97245]

Originally Posted by applejuice

This statement always amazes me.

Of course you paid something. What do you think your insurance premiums are for? Even if you or your DP are covered by a group insurance plan at work, the money that the company pays for you and your family is part of your compensation which is not taxed.

So, you did not have your baby for free at the hospital. You may not have written a big check, but you paid for it, and so did everyone who pays into your private or group insurance plan.

Nothing is free. Get over that idea now.

I didn't pay anything either, actually. It's called Medicaid.

[ann_of_loxley]

I had a hospital birth for a few reasons:

1). We lived in a small one bedroom flat...it was also not the most erm...friendly place...I mean, we live in a proper house now...we dont have damp on our walls...etc... I was glad to move out of there shortly after our son was born...Sure I could have had my baby there was I was embarrassed even to invite friends over...and

2). I figured homebirths were messy...our house was messy enough (even with my OCD)...I didnt want to add to its problems...and

3). I just didnt know as much then! I was also a differnt mother then. Lets just say I am way more crunchy now than I was then! lol

But in the end...I was glad I had a hospital birth. I would have ended up there anyhow! - My son was breech and near 11lbs...birthing that naturally as my first child is not something, even now with all my crunchy self and knowledge, that I would not have attempted.

But...I will be trying for HBAC next time around...we should be TTC soon - I am so looking forward to it!

[3pink1blue]

With my first, i didn't know it was an option. I didn't know you were *supposed* to see a doctor either... I just thought you were pregnant, then you went to a hospital when you went into labor.

With my second, I lived in a place where I never would have felt comfortable with homebirth. They ended up inducing and it was quite a negative experience but I am okay with it now.

I really wanted a homebirth with my third but was just too afraid. They ended up inducing due to size but I had no trouble birthing her, no tears or anything (she was 9lb 10oz.)

So when I found out I was pregnant with this one, Iw as like, hey, let's just do it at home. I mean, if I could have a nearly 10 pound child, in a hospital, with no tearing or anything, heck why not just have it here? So we are tentatively planning it now.

[wannabe]

Originally Posted by ~sweet pea~

I think you have to really love the idea of giving birth at home or really hate hospitals. I don't fall into either category and truthfully, the idea of giving birth at my house just isn't appealing to me. I'd prefer the hospital shower to my own shower (where the hot water runs out after fifteen minutes), and the hospital jacuzzi to my 1960s tiny tub or a kiddie pool. Yes, call me a prima donna, but if I'm going to drip, poop, bleed, or gush in any significant quantities, I'd rather it be on hospital linens and linoleum, not my own sheets (and mattress pad cover, and mattress pad) and hardwood floors. For me, babymoon begins with someone else handling this aspect of clean-up because I don't find it romantic at all.

That, exactly! And then, for my second, after I knew what contractions felt like, I needed to be in the hospital in case I needed drugs.

[EvansMomma]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum

Because I didn't know better.

At the time I had my hospital birth I thought only hippies or people with a death wish chose to give birth at home because "everybody knows" hospitals are the safest place to have a baby.

After a really crappy, unsafe birth I actually did some research. Initially dh was NOT comfortable with home birth. I simply continued to educate him. Eventually he realized it was wrong of him to ask me to have a hospital birth I felt to be unsafe and potentially violating and since home birth IS safe he should support me in what I wanted to do.

Exactly this.
I had no idea that "normal" people could HB, I thought it was crazy talk.
I mean...HOW do you have babies withOUT a trained OB?? Crazy talk right?

But after my first, I learned a lot about birthing and decided if we did this crazy pregnancy thing again, it'd be at home. DH - not so much with the convinced, but over time he came around and now we're BOTH super psyched for it.

[KingsDaughter76]

Originally Posted by newmama8824

Because I found a wonderful midwife and she only delivered at this one hospital, which was a great hospital as well. My birth went just as I had planned. Nothing like the stereotypical bossy nurses barging in left and right, or monitoring or being told when to push. I just kinda did my own thing... Alone in my room with my doula and myself. It was more than I could have imagined.

Yup Same expierence here! Plus I hemmoraged before twice so I feel safer in the hospital.

[WriterMom2be]

I really don't get where this poster is coming from. She's saying that it would make more financial sense to pay premiums (or taxes) and then pay more out of pocket on top of your premiums for a home birth? Or is she saying people should forgo medical insurance? If you did that and ran into a complication you could be stuck with a hospital bill for 20 grand plus a home birth bill of 3 to 6 grand. I hate paying premiums but insurance is worth it-- for instance my emergency appendectomy cost 10 grand.

I didn't have my heart set on a home birth but I did look into it. My husband was too afraid and we couldn't afford it. I will get a midwife next time since my OB was awful during the birth (acted like he didn't want to be there and made snide remarks and cut me even though I had asked him not to.) The nurses were great and I pushed the babe out in 15 mins.

[georgia]

Moderator Note

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Why did you have a hospital birth?

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[Arwyn]

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[avivaelona]

Well darn, I lost a post when the thread got closed that was a really helpful and well written examination for me of why I was planning a hospital birth and my ambivalence about it. So um thanks for the thread even if no one else gets to see the answer it helped me think it through.

I guess short form: Birth 1 was in big teaching hospital with NICU an hour away because I went into labor at 19 weeks. Birth 2 was at local hospital with OB because I requested an elective induction due to extreme anxiety. Birth 3 is planned at different local hospital with a reputation for having an NCB supportive environment with a CNM.

Reasons:
1) Can't see birthing at my house, though if I could birth at someone elses I'd consider it. I love my house, but its cluttery and small, and after two traumatic births I don't think I can completely trust that I could have an untraumatic birth and I don't want to bring trauma into my home. (or the mess...I bled profusely with my second...just short of needing a transfusion)

2) I do want access to pain meds despite the fact that I think I could go without if there weren't intervening factors. I would rather have an epidural than be out of my mind with pain. Both previous births did have intervening factors that meant I was in uncontrollable pain and while I trust that given a normal birth I won't be, I don't want to be without the option.

3) If something did go wrong in winter (when I'm due) we could be as much as an hours drive from the nearest hospital if there is snow.

4) I would have had trouble in my home for the first day after giving birth due to the distance and staircase from bathroom to bedroom.

The reasons I wish though that there was an option (say a midwife run birthing center that was both very homelike and yet very close to the hospital) is that I very much do not want a c-section, and I feel the risks are greater in a hospital, I feel a bit panicky and triggered in a hospital environment in general, and I am absolutely terrified, even phobic about them taking the baby away from me for any reason whatsoever.

I hope that birthing in the hospital I've chosen which is known to be mother and baby friendly will help me avoid those risks but honestly the last one has me constantly reevalutating whether I really do want to stay home. Its a very strong fear. So far the answer is no, but I don't promise not to change my mind when I get close.

[Materfamilias]

Actually, it would be cool if there was a sticky for women who have to/want to give birth in hospitals for whatever reason. Every other option is up there in the sticky section.
I don't think this necessarily implies that we who must birth in hospital are any less crunchily-inclined than others here. Even though I want a HB I can't have one, for reasons I've set out earlier, but I don't think I should have to feel like a red-haired stepchild because of it, you know?
I'm sure this has come up before, and I understand there may be reasons for this that I'm not seeing, but could we maybe get a hospital birth sticky, pretty please?

[momileigh]

Originally Posted by Materfamilias

I don't think I should have to feel like a red-haired stepchild because of it

Just counting down the minutes before an actual red-headed stepchild takes offense to this comment...

[RobbyRe]

All four of mine have been hospital births, for various reasons, as will our fifth when he finally decides to make his appearance (due July 4). At this point, it is because I choose to have hospital births, although I have considered HB with at least one of my older ones...after a long induction w/ my first, and a horrible time w/ it (although I did manage to deliver vaginally), I seriously considered a HB with my 2nd. My then husband was not for it, though. And I didn't feel like fighting for it, b/c it wasn't that huge of an issue for me ultimately. I did hire a doula, and had a very supportive OB for that birth, and did end up with a completely unmedicated, non-intervention hospital birth (I will admit it helped that dd2 was in a hurry, and born less than 40 min. after we walked into the hospital, less than 5 hrs total labor). She was the one who should have been my HB, and would have been great. She's also my only one who was born in another state (WI), where it would have been easier to find a HBMW. My 3rd and 4th, and soon my 5th, were, and will be, hospital births, by my choice.
Some of the reasons for me choosing hospital births include at least twice we were living with family, and even though I have had one amazingly wonderful unmedicated birth, I have decided I do like to have access to the epidural. It also influences my decision that I live in a state where HB are harder to come by (MO). I don't feel like fighting the system or going underground for one, it's just not my thing. I *do* support women having a choice in the matter, and think that HB are a viable option for many people. I also think that hospital births aren't always horrible, and many times it's more about the mother being educated about her choices and rights and having someone who can help advocate for her, in order to have a more positive experience.
Anyway...the only birth I've "hated" (and even then I didn't "hate" it...it just wasn't a great experience)...was my first, when I was less educated, and less aware of my options, and had no one who could really advocate for me at the time. The others have all been good, each different, but each positive in various ways.

Robynne
Mama to Emily (9), Allison (6),
Ryan (2), Amanda (1),
and Baby Boy due 7/4/08