Anyone else planning a HB? - Page 2

[turtlewomyn]

Hoping for one, but my situation is complicated. I had a c-section the first time (coerced, scheduled for fetal macrosomia) and HBAC's in Florida require a "physician sign off" My local midwives don't have a supportive backup physician. I am seeing them for prenatal care, then will probably travel three hours away to rent a house to use a midwife that does have a physician that will "sign off". I am waiting to get that all set up, because I was pregnant this past summer, sent in my deposit, got all excited, and then had a miscarriage. So, I am waiting until I hear a heartbeat. Also, another midwife might be available closer by the time I am ready.

[welldone]

we are planning a homebirth. we've birthed everywhere that's a common option (hospital, birth center, and home) and home was our favorite.

plus, i tend to have speedy labors and births. no time for a trip to the hospital.

[2sweetboysmom]

Assuming this button sticks...Definately a home birth.

My first was an induction for true pre-eclampsia, pit drip 6hrs labor.
Second also hospital birth 7hours labor.
Third was supposed to be a home birth but he developed some odd and disturbing problems at about 36 weeks, perinatologest ordered an induction at 39.5 weeks. pit drip 2+ hrs of labor and baby came flying out (into the ungloved hands of some shocked general practice Dr they grabbed from the hall) My little one had tied a true (and tight) knot in his cord.

I really want a home-birth this time. And my new husband is very supportive.

[Reha]

Originally Posted by turtlewomyn

Hoping for one, but my situation is complicated. I had a c-section the first time (coerced, scheduled for fetal macrosomia) and HBAC's in Florida require a "physician sign off" My local midwives don't have a supportive backup physician. I am seeing them for prenatal care, then will probably travel three hours away to rent a house to use a midwife that does have a physician that will "sign off". I am waiting to get that all set up, because I was pregnant this past summer, sent in my deposit, got all excited, and then had a miscarriage. So, I am waiting until I hear a heartbeat. Also, another midwife might be available closer by the time I am ready.

Wow, this makes me so upset! I'm sorry that you have to deal with stupid midwifery regulations.

[AnnR33]

Yep, homebirth here too. My labors have been 8hrs, 6hrs, and 3hrs so I figure I wouldn't make it anywhere else in time anyway There are no birth centers here and my 1st was a hospital birth that was not horrid but certainly medically monitored and they wouldn't let me walk around-grrr.
I wish I was still on the west coast where homebirth was a lot more common! I'm in the midwest now -blech when it comes to birth options.
I'm interviewing the first of 2 midwives tomorrow.

[MOMYS]

Me, God willing! Have had 2 homebirths and loved it! HAve my first midwife appointment 18 Dec.

[LilMamiBella]

I was hoping for a uc my last pregnancy. Dh did not like the idea. We ended up with a birth center birth. Dh has said if I decided to UC he won't be in the house when I go in labor. he doesn't know I'm pregnant yet. We'll probably end up doing a home waterbirth.

[LauraReaux]

I am really hoping for a homebirth. We're still talking about it and are meeting with her next week. We will have to pay out-of-pocket for it, but with our tax refund, I know we could do it. If we use $1,500 of the tax refund, we would pay $200/month until 36 weeks.

One thing that I'm disappointed about is the MW told me she knows my OB won't back a HB, so I would have to see another OB who is a stupid male with bad bedside manner. I know I wouldn't have to see him but a couple of times, but I loved being with MY sweet OB for my last 2 pregnancies.

[folkymom]

This will be our fourth homebirth (second UC) and I am looking forward to it! I see I am not the only one here with a surprise baby - what is it about us 3rd- and 4th-time mamas and the surprises? We must get lax about certain things, lol.

[treehugger75]

I'm planning on a homebirth in a home that hasn't even been built yet! My contractor knows he has a new deadline, although he's already assured me it will be done long before then.

I'm so excited - there's a new law in NH that requires insurance to cover homebirth, plus I'll finally have a house in which to give birth. Yay!! :

[kihei091604]

Our first baby was induced and I had some medication, our second baby was born w/o medication and was a frank breech delivery at the hospital, we are planning a birth center or home birth for our third. I am trying to decide if we would feel "safer" delivering at home since we live only seven miles from the hospital in the event some weird situation popped up, the birth center is a bit farther away from the hospital. Anyone out there have a birth center and home birth experience that might want to give a bit of advice?

[eli's mama]

Me too. This will be our 3rd HB, our 2nd was unintentionally unassisted. I didn't mind, but I will be calling a little sooner this time around. It's so nice to see so many HBers out there. I was thinking that MDC is the only place where home birth is sort of ho-hum. it's kind of nice.

[AniellasMommy]

ooo ooo me me me!!!
I wouldn't go back to the hospital (to have a baby) if someone payed me. Blech.
We had such an awful experience with DD. Its funny because our last one was a homebirth so we have both experiences to draw on, and we just switch insurance that would fully cover a hospital birth. I said to DH "Do you think we should go, just to save the money." and he just looked at me and said "You are NOT going to the hospital." He is such a big advocate now. He even gave his pregnant sister a lecture the other day about the safety of homebirth. He makes me laugh.

[Megan_in_Holland]

Planning for a homebirth, hopefully a waterbirth! The idea of a waterbirth really appeals to me, and my midwife is really enthusiastic about them, as well.

What really cracks me up is that my insurance only covers hospital birth for high-risk pregnancies or if it's otherwise medically indicated, so I don't have much of a choice anyway (not that I was wanting to give birth at the hospital, but still).

My midwife did say not to get *too* attached to the idea of a home birth, though, since while homebirth is the norm here in the Netherlands, they're pretty strict about sending homebirthers to the hospital if there's the slightest indication something could be amiss (meconium in the amniotic fluid, no contractions within 24 hours of your water breaking, etc). She doesn't want me to get disappointed if I do wind up being transferred. I'm planning on looking into the various reasons for transfer they have so that I can discuss them with my midwife-- what are the real risks involved, are they at all negotiable, etc.

[welldone]

megan, i'm totally moving to the netherlands. or any one of the other homebirth-friendly european countries.

i'm grateful we can have a homebirth here in our u.s. state, but frustrated that insurance won't pay for it. and in the last state we lived in, the "authorities" were trying to make lay midwives illegal, so no one would attend a birth anywhere near me.

[lindsayjean]

okay, anyone else not really telling anyone about having a HB? Ahh! It's going to be so hard. My mom is a L&D nurse who is very opinionated AGAINST homebirth. But I'm hoping she'll watch DD during the birth so we'll see.... I might hire a doula or somebody for that purpose so DD can be there some.

[poiyt]

My first birth was in the hospital and was the worst experience ever. I didnt have the issues a lot of mamas have had - one intervention leading to another - but I felt so invalidated, and humiliated as a woman and as a person. I felt ignored. My dr. played sudoku while I was in transition. He has a student do most of the work and I heard "uh oh" twice. And he told me to stop doing things so he could explain to his student. The student didn't know/realize to take the cord from around the neck right away so Kahlan was born not breathing. I wasnt allowed to change positions - ever - laying on my back was so painful. even though i waned a natural birth, and they knew it, during a contraction they asked if I wanted an epidural - on the next contraction they had me sign the papers. No time to clearly think. Further, they had sent me home the night before even though I was 5cm dilated and having contractions 5mins apart with morphine and a sedative and told me to come back in the morning. I didnt bond with kahlan for about 2-3 weeks after she was born, and I think her birth really played a part in that.

It was really horrible for me. Phew..thanks for letting me share. Im planning a homebirth - hopefully unassisted - but dh is all on board with the HB at this point.

[chrissy]

me! if all goes as planned, this will be my third homebirth. my first, noah, was born in a hospital and it sucked. my homebirths have been great- and fast! like a few other posters said (hi ann!) if i didn't have my babies at home they'd probably be born in the car on the way to the hospital.

i'll probably call my midwife in a week or so.

[Mrs.aLifeofReilly]

I am! I had DS in the hospital and have since become a doula and student midwife and can't imagine not having a homebirth this time around.

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by lindsayjean

okay, anyone else not really telling anyone about having a HB? Ahh! It's going to be so hard. My mom is a L&D nurse who is very opinionated AGAINST homebirth. But I'm hoping she'll watch DD during the birth so we'll see.... I might hire a doula or somebody for that purpose so DD can be there some.

We have been really lucky. Between living in a state where homebirth is about as common as it is anywhere and having family who think we are really on top of things--we didn't get hardly any negativity and most was fixed with some information.

However, if we weren't in that situation, I'd definitely not be telling anyone. It's not worth it. Particularly as your pregnancy progresses, you do not want negativity around you--it's not good for you.