I'm curious to hear what sort of birth people expect they'll have. For us, I'd say home birth except that the cost seems prohibitive for us this time, so I'm going to vote birth center.

Well, since I myself am a midwife I will either have an unassisted birth or a homebirth with my midwife partner. I plan on calling her towards the end because I would like another midwife with me just in case.

Lisa

I voted hospital (natural). I love my OB/GYN/DO and the whole practice is really great. The hospital is very natural friendly too. There are no birth centers here and it would mean going without my Dr anyway

I'm lucky because I live only 30 minutes away from the only free standing birth center in North Carolina. I have never heard a bad thing about it- everyone I've talked to LOVES it. I'm super psyched :)

I will have an unmedicated VBAC (positive thinking, right?) in a hospital. Unfortunately the two birth centers within driving distance don't do VBACs, and I'm not comfortable with a home birth. And really, our insurance covers all but a $10 copay for my entire prenatal care and childbirth, so it's hard to justify spending money by birthing any other way. I've already been e-mailing back and forth with a few doulas. ;)

Our first daughter was born at an independent birth center (after switching from OB's at 32 weeks), and our second daughter was born at home. There is no question: this one will be born at home. I love love love our midwife (and consider her a friend, seeing her almost every week), and have absolute faith in her abilities as a birth attendant. I am someone who flirts with the idea of a UC, and would swing that way if she were not as wonderfully hands off and supportive. Her philosophy is that she is there as support, not to 'deliver' my baby - that is what I am there for! I feel so blessed to have someone as empowering as she is, involved in welcoming our children. :joy:

I will have an unmedicated VBAC (positive thinking, right?) in a hospital.

... I've already been e-mailing back and forth with a few doulas. ;)

You will! Doulas are a godsend, and the book "Birthing from Within" is very powerful for women who are working towards a birth that looks different than their first. :D

I voted hospital - natural. There is a great midwife in our area that delivers at a hospital a few blocks from our house. I'm hoping to go without an epidural, because I've seen the risks firsthand (blood pressure drops, increased c-section risk, long-term back pain at injection site, etc), but since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what my pain tolerance is an epidural isn't completely out of the question (e.g. if I REALLY can't stand the pain and feel like it is inhibiting the progression of labor). For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

I'll be having a cesarean at some point between 37 & 38 weeks. Had a placental abruption & stillborn Jan 08, and so they will be monitoring this pg very closely and going in early.

For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

We took Bradley birth classes with our first, and we really liked them. My husband got a ton out of them, and it helped him understand that birth is not an emergency, or a sickness. Finding a doula can not be overstressed as well, because they are like a guide down a forest path you have never been on. When you come to that insurmountable hill, they are the ones who say "okay, I know it looks huge, but let's take this one step at a time and I won't let go of your hand, so don't be afraid of falling".

I have a zero pain tolerance in every day life (like, I got my ears pieced and sobbed) but have had two natural labors. Don't discount yourself yet, you are capable of so much more than you know. :D

but since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what my pain tolerance is an epidural isn't completely out of the question (e.g. if I REALLY can't stand the pain and feel like it is inhibiting the progression of labor). For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

My first was a home birth, so I had no option for pain relief. I really, really don't want an epidural (more scared of needles in my back than the pain), and I consider myself strong and well-prepared. That said, the experience was still overwhelming. At one point, I told my DH that if I wasn't 5 cm, I was going to the hospital. Looking back, I know now that that was transition and I was actually complete! (Fast labor -- <4 hours total.)

I'd suggest giving yourself exposure to as many different methods of getting through labor as you can, because you can't know yet what will work for you. I took Bradley classes, but the sheer speed and intensity of the labor (contractions literally starting before the last one stopped) meant that I just could not relax through it. I'd intended to labor in the labor tub, but it didn't fill fast enough. I ended up spending most of the labor squatting in the entrance to our walk-in closet and occasionally throwing myself against the edge of the bed.

Find an environment and support personnel who will support you in whatever way you need to get through labor. You can't know yet how you'll get through it -- just know that you will.

I voted for free-standing birth center but I'm actually planning to give birth in a BC that is in a hospital here. I had a fabulous birth there with my son and hope I'll get to be there again this time.

I voted Hospital (natural) because I plan to have a completely natural, unmedicated, unhindered VBAC in the hospital... WISH ME LUCK!

I'll be having a cesarean at some point between 37 & 38 weeks. Had a placental abruption & stillborn Jan 08, and so they will be monitoring this pg very closely and going in early.

Wow your story is just like mine. I had an abruption and uterine rupture which resulted in stillbirth so I will be closely monitored and will deliver the safest latest possible date . i have a history of early labor, so doc estimated (when I went to my yearly in May) about 37-38 weeks. Leaning more towards the 37 week mark. However, nothing is certain til we get to that point.

home...assisted. Hopefully the water birth I didn't get to have with DS.

I'll be having a cesarean at some point between 37 & 38 weeks. Had a placental abruption & stillborn Jan 08, and so they will be monitoring this pg very closely and going in early.

I had an abruption and uterine rupture which resulted in stillbirth so I will be closely monitored and will deliver the safest latest possible date .

:hugs to both of you. Here's to an uneventful pregnancy and birth!

I voted hospital - natural. There is a great midwife in our area that delivers at a hospital a few blocks from our house. I'm hoping to go without an epidural, because I've seen the risks firsthand (blood pressure drops, increased c-section risk, long-term back pain at injection site, etc), but since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what my pain tolerance is an epidural isn't completely out of the question (e.g. if I REALLY can't stand the pain and feel like it is inhibiting the progression of labor). For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

My "method" with DS was mind over matter LOL.
My mother used to tell me that pain was a figment of my imagination (when I was little and whining about stuff that wasn't all that bad...) I went with that theory. Just laughed and joked and walked and stopped at the maternity ward's kitchen when I felt like it and just kept saying *it's not so bad, it's not so bad*
It still hurt, but I didn't take anything and I'm still alive. I think that will be my approach this time, as well

:hugs to both of you. Here's to an uneventful pregnancy and birth!

Thank you doll. :hug

Homebirths around here are super expensive. My homebirth last pregnancy was about $6k, all out-of-pocket. Insurance didn't cover a dime. It ended in a c-section (breech) so I also incurred all the copay fees with insurance. I would do it again if I weren't risked out (NJ law won't allow homebirths after c-sections), so I'll be using a wonderful vbac friendly doctor in a vbac friendly hospital. The hospital even allows waterbirths so that is what I am hoping for. I will be using a doula and laboring at home for most of it. That's the plan anyway.

I voted hospital - natural. There is a great midwife in our area that delivers at a hospital a few blocks from our house. I'm hoping to go without an epidural, because I've seen the risks firsthand (blood pressure drops, increased c-section risk, long-term back pain at injection site, etc), but since this is my first pregnancy and I don't know what my pain tolerance is an epidural isn't completely out of the question (e.g. if I REALLY can't stand the pain and feel like it is inhibiting the progression of labor). For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

I highly reccommend hypnobabies, SuzieQ! I did the hypnobabies course faithfully with my last pregnancy and I can honestly say I had no pain. I labored at home until I reached 8cm before we discovered a breech baby and had to transfer for a c-section, but I was amazed how peaceful and wonderful I felt. I really wasn't sure the hypnobabies would work as I usually fell asleep listening to the cds but I am confident that it made all the difference. That's not to say that I didn't have work; I did, but I felt waves, not pain. The program really re-programs how you perceive birthing (no using words like "pain" allowed). You can even get discounted cd's.

We do not always get what we want.

If I were pregnant - I would want a homebirth. I think my chances of having one are 50/50 - I have struggled with high blood pressure in pregnancy.

I am pretty sure I would have a natural birth - 3 kids so far and that is how I do it - but where is up in the air.

Kathy

I highly reccommend hypnobabies, SuzieQ! I did the hypnobabies course faithfully with my last pregnancy and I can honestly say I had no pain. I labored at home until I reached 8cm before we discovered a breech baby and had to transfer for a c-section, but I was amazed how peaceful and wonderful I felt. I really wasn't sure the hypnobabies would work as I usually fell asleep listening to the cds but I am confident that it made all the difference. That's not to say that I didn't have work; I did, but I felt waves, not pain. The program really re-programs how you perceive birthing (no using words like "pain" allowed). You can even get discounted cd's.


Now I might even look into it... I know that my hospital's website has something about it... let me just check
It has a link to a newspaper article about hypnobirthing and this hospital. It seems that one of the labor nurses teaches a 4 week class every other month for $150 inc a book and cassetts. Does that sound like the normal price?

You will! Doulas are a godsend, and the book "Birthing from Within" is very powerful for women who are working towards a birth that looks different than their first. :D

I already started reading it!

I voted Hospital (natural) because I plan to have a completely natural, unmedicated, unhindered VBAC in the hospital... WISH ME LUCK!

Good luck to you, too!

I have a very pro-natural OB, and the hospital is very patient centered. I am anticipating a natural birth there, with rooming in afterwards. I will also be finding a doula after my first prenatal visit. That was a huge lesson learned after my first pregnancy: MUST HAVE DOULA.

I'll be having a cesarean at some point between 37 & 38 weeks. Had a placental abruption & stillborn Jan 08, and so they will be monitoring this pg very closely and going in early.

Wow your story is just like mine. I had an abruption and uterine rupture which resulted in stillbirth so I will be closely monitored and will deliver the safest latest possible date . i have a history of early labor, so doc estimated (when I went to my yearly in May) about 37-38 weeks. Leaning more towards the 37 week mark. However, nothing is certain til we get to that point.

:hug I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. Wishing you both safe pregnancies and healthy babies.

For those going natural, what methods do you use? I've looked into hypnobabies and think I might give it a try, but the package is a bit pricey.

I didn't do the actual Hypnobirthing class, but I did get the CD with Rainbow Relaxation and Positive Birthing Affirmations on it and it was GREAT. I listened to it every night, and often in the morning in the months leading up to the due date. It really helped change my way of thinking, and the affermations did pop into my head during labor... "Each surge brings you one step closer to your baby..." stuff like that.

I also highly recommend reading Spiritual Midwifery in the last month of pregnancy. Read the stories of childbirth. It's so empowering and positive, you really feel like you can do it all yourself.

We are having another homebirth with our fantastic midwife. We had a homebirth (in the water) with our son, too.

Fortunately our insurance covered most of it, the midwife was just considered an out of network provider. They run around $3000 here (Oregon) from start to finish, including all the prenatal visits, post-natal visits, etc. and I think we paid about $900 out of pocket. Our midwife has a great billing person who actually records her conversations with the insurance companies. She bills as they go along, for each visit, etc. so it looks more like what they are used to getting from other providers.

I'm actually looking forward to starting up appointments with the midwife- I LOVE the care of a homebirth midwife- we went to a hospital midwife early in the pregnancy and it was lame. 15 minutes, she never remembered us from the last visit. Ugh. I love the personal attention we get from our HB midwife.

I would consider unassisted... I like the thought of being so empowered, and doing it ourselves... but I just don't think I could. Our midwife is really hands off during labor, so that's nice.

I also highly recommend reading Spiritual Midwifery in the last month of pregnancy. Read the stories of childbirth. It's so empowering and positive, you really feel like you can do it all yourself.


This is a wonderful book for inspiration & strength. It's pretty hippy dippy :o but if you can get over that it's amazing!


Holy COW re: 6k out of pocket homebirth!!! Our homebirth was covered by our insurance & we paid far less than if I had birthed in a hospital (or even a birth center!). In Washington State homebirths are even reiumbursed by Medicaid. We're pretty lucky!


It's funny because I was kind of up in the air about where to birth until day before yesterday when I had an OB visit. It's just been a trainwreck. I had a WONDERFUL homebirth with my daughter, but my midwife has taken a sabbatical and I was nervous about the change in circumstance. So! I thought why not just stick with the OB & see what happens... HA!

This is how the story goes:

Apparently I had a sour batch of EPT's & for the last 2 months thought I was having fertility issues (read: no period). I saw an OB out of a local hospital a couple weeks ago & it was a freaking TRAINWRECK.

1) I gave a urinalysis upon my arrival, saw my OB, px progesterone & sent on my way

1 week 1/2 later no period, called made new appt. Suddenly let down colstrum while laying with my daughter, bought a new box of pregger tests = BFP!

2) Called OB to ask results from initial pregnancy test & they aren't in my file. Nobody can find them. 4 hours later OB calls & tells me I'm pregnant :p

3) Show up at my appt & nobody knows why I'm there. After explaining, extremely rude nurse tells me I must not have taken a urinalysis my first time (!!), says "We'll see how the results go this time, because it (pregnancy) seems unlikely" tells me to strip down & then leaves the door open (!!!)

4) OB finally comes in & says "Oh, so Carley... you still haven't had a period huh, nothing? There are some options you have..." OMFG! OMFG! OMFG!

5) As I'm having my bloodwork drawn aforementioned nurse continues to insist I hadn't taken a urinalysis the previous visit OR this visit!

Who knows if I'll ever see my bloodwork! Apparently their office is one huge black hole :eyesroll

So yeah, found a midwife & DEFINITELY going with a homebirth. Those were clear signs that I would be totally screwed in a hospital setting. I could not BELIEVE IT!


I am a HUGE fan of midwives, doulas and lots of labor support. I LOVED the community feel of my homebirth - it was so wonderful. Always someone to hug, massage, talk to, laugh with... it was truly beautiful!

Here are some photos! http://www.flickr.com/photos/41951551@N00/141163629/in/set-72057594126693964/

Clearly I had to exclude the pictures with nudity (which is basically all of them ;) ) so there aren't any pictures of my doulas or the birth, but it was so wonderful ladies! I'll always have wonderful memories of when my water broke (during labor) - we all cheered so loud! It was a great celebration!

I'll be having a cesarean at some point between 37 & 38 weeks. Had a placental abruption & stillborn Jan 08, and so they will be monitoring this pg very closely and going in early.

Wow your story is just like mine. I had an abruption and uterine rupture which resulted in stillbirth so I will be closely monitored and will deliver the safest latest possible date . i have a history of early labor, so doc estimated (when I went to my yearly in May) about 37-38 weeks. Leaning more towards the 37 week mark. However, nothing is certain til we get to that point.

I'm so sorry for your losses. Wishing you both easy pregnancies and healthy babies.:Hug

As for me, I am planning a hb, but you never know what will happen!

I'm planning a home VBAC. I'm really excited to tell my midwives, though I'm waiting another couple of weeks. Every day that goes by and I don't have any spotting, I feel more confident that a) I'm pregnant and b) it's going to stick. Last time we paid $3000 for our eventual homebirth transfer, plus the $5000 copay for the hospital stay. This time, if we transfer, the hospital will be covered 100%, and I'm taking out a HRA for the homebirth.

My plan this time around is HBAC-assisted (although I have one badass friend who did a UBAC and she's my hero right now). I feel like the only way I can avoid another c-section is to stay out of the hospital.

I voted naturally in a hospital because although I want to be in a birth center, the local one won't allow it because I'm on blood pressure meds. I have looked into a birth center that's inside a hospital so we'll see. I would also entertain a home birth but I'm not sure if I'll run into the same problem with eligibility.

I voted free standing birth center, but I will probably aim for a home birth.

We have no insurance so having my DH suggest a home birth was interesting. Although my others both needed help moving along. My 1st flew out right as they were about to take me into surgery, thank God!
Due to my prior experiences I would prefer to be at a hospital although depending on what my midwife (when I find one) says, it maybe at home, with or without insurance. As long as I can do a water birth, I'm good where ever I am. Plus at the hospital, we can have the nurses refuse people so we don't have to be the bad guys.
Our daughter was born in December and I barely let anyone around her. Just such a sickly time to have a baby.
Glad April is much better!

Well after wanting a UC twice and ending up with a hospital birth induction twice (for very different reasons) I'm hesitant to plan anything.

I know I won't plan a hospital birth unless I feel it is medically necessary. If my midwife will attend me at home then I'll choose between having her there or not... if not I guess I will be planning another UC.

I really am hoping to keep this one at home though :thumb

We're hoping to have a safe, healthy UC at home. We researched this even before we tried getting pregnant. Rationally, for me, that option makes the most sense. And then emotionally I feel safe/comfortable/relaxed with that option.

I think we're as prepared as can be - we took infant CPR classes, read midwifery manuals extensively, spoke with a few midwives, etc. Theoretically, we're very prepared. Of course, reality, is a lot different than theory. ;) But, we're hoping our UC works out with no hospital transfers.

This is a wonderful book for inspiration & strength. It's pretty hippy dippy :o but if you can get over that it's amazing!


Holy COW re: 6k out of pocket homebirth!!! Our homebirth was covered by our insurance & we paid far less than if I had birthed in a hospital (or even a birth center!). In Washington State homebirths are even reiumbursed by Medicaid. We're pretty lucky!


It's funny because I was kind of up in the air about where to birth until day before yesterday when I had an OB visit. It's just been a trainwreck. I had a WONDERFUL homebirth with my daughter, but my midwife has taken a sabbatical and I was nervous about the change in circumstance. So! I thought why not just stick with the OB & see what happens... HA!

This is how the story goes:

Apparently I had a sour batch of EPT's & for the last 2 months thought I was having fertility issues (read: no period). I saw an OB out of a local hospital a couple weeks ago & it was a freaking TRAINWRECK.

1) I gave a urinalysis upon my arrival, saw my OB, px progesterone & sent on my way

1 week 1/2 later no period, called made new appt. Suddenly let down colstrum while laying with my daughter, bought a new box of pregger tests = BFP!

2) Called OB to ask results from initial pregnancy test & they aren't in my file. Nobody can find them. 4 hours later OB calls & tells me I'm pregnant :p

3) Show up at my appt & nobody knows why I'm there. After explaining, extremely rude nurse tells me I must not have taken a urinalysis my first time (!!), says "We'll see how the results go this time, because it (pregnancy) seems unlikely" tells me to strip down & then leaves the door open (!!!)

4) OB finally comes in & says "Oh, so Carley... you still haven't had a period huh, nothing? There are some options you have..." OMFG! OMFG! OMFG!

5) As I'm having my bloodwork drawn aforementioned nurse continues to insist I hadn't taken a urinalysis the previous visit OR this visit!

Who knows if I'll ever see my bloodwork! Apparently their office is one huge black hole :eyesroll

So yeah, found a midwife & DEFINITELY going with a homebirth. Those were clear signs that I would be totally screwed in a hospital setting. I could not BELIEVE IT!


I am a HUGE fan of midwives, doulas and lots of labor support. I LOVED the community feel of my homebirth - it was so wonderful. Always someone to hug, massage, talk to, laugh with... it was truly beautiful!

Here are some photos! http://www.flickr.com/photos/41951551@N00/141163629/in/set-72057594126693964/

Clearly I had to exclude the pictures with nudity (which is basically all of them ;) ) so there aren't any pictures of my doulas or the birth, but it was so wonderful ladies! I'll always have wonderful memories of when my water broke (during labor) - we all cheered so loud! It was a great celebration!

What an ordeal! I am going to have a midwife assisted homebirth, my 4th HBAC. The midwife I used the first 3 times has moved too far away, so I'm looking for a new one. Who are you going with? I'm in the greater Seattle area. (just north)

~Suzanne

Hey!!! We're in Greenwood (north seattle)! Where abouts are you? Maybe we could get together sometime :)

A friend from my 2006 birth class (with Penny Simkin) referred me to Cindie Brown. She loved her so I'm really excited. Finding a new midwife seemed pretty impossible after such a great experience!

midwifeseattle@gmail.com

Home birth (HBAC) for me. I am not sure yet if I want it assisted or not. I will deff be getting a doula though. Everyone gets a MW in this country and everyone, legally - no matter what, has every right to a home birth in this country as well. As its a national health service, they don't tend to hand out c-sections here as much as America does and they also tend to encourage home birth as its cheaper for them. Of course - that doesn't always mean that they are 100% supportive or 100% natural... So its one of those things that I shall see what happens when the time comes. I feel confident enough I think for UBAC (calling the MW after the fact) but we really need to wait and see until the time comes I think.

I will be using a freestanding birth center. I love my midwives and can't wait to use them again

I voted hospital-natural. It will be a VBAC, so it might end up as a c-sec anyhow. My first baby was supposed to be a wonderful, hypnobirthing-guided natural birth, but didn't happen for reasons outside of everyone's control. I'm planning for the positive again.

Hey!!! We're in Greenwood (north seattle)! Where abouts are you? Maybe we could get together sometime :)

A friend from my 2006 birth class (with Penny Simkin) referred me to Cindie Brown. She loved her so I'm really excited. Finding a new midwife seemed pretty impossible after such a great experience!

midwifeseattle@gmail.com

I think I've heard her name before...I've put a call in to Suzanne Thomson, I was at a friend's homebirth with her about 6 years ago and I recall liking her. I'm in Mountlake Terrace, so not too far!

~Suzanne

I'm the only one that said other :lol

Well, I'm having a hospital birth. My first 2 were c/s (#2 was a planned HBAC turned emergent c/s), my third was a hospital VBAC. No epidural, but not 100% "natural" either- I got a shot of nubain to manage a panic attack, demanded they break my water at 9cm, and had an episiotomy (which sucked, but I'd been pushing for two hours and couldn't move to get myself to squat, so I actually welcomed it...snip and BAM! Baby!)

Of course my ideal is to have a natural vaginal birth with no intervention, but I also believe in making decisions based on my needs, the baby's needs, and the situation at hand. I don't regret at all the interventions with my VBA2C, though of course I'd rather not have them.

So that's my "other" explanation :)

Of course my ideal is to have a natural vaginal birth with no intervention, but I also believe in making decisions based on my needs, the baby's needs, and the situation at hand. I don't regret at all the interventions with my VBA2C, though of course I'd rather not have them.


cherrybomb, i am planning to start teaching childbirth classes in the fall and that's EXACTLY the attitude that i hope my students walk away with regarding planning for their birth experiences. good for you!

*

A friend from my 2006 birth class (with Penny Simkin) referred me to Cindie Brown. She loved her so I'm really excited. Finding a new midwife seemed pretty impossible after such a great experience!
]


The Penny Simkin who wrote "The Birth Partner"?! We've LOVED that book...it really helped dh feel like he knew what was going on and could advocate for me/us when needed. Awesome. :thumb I would love to take a birth class with her!

Yes! "The" Penny Simkin! I am so lucky to be in Seattle - she completely changed my life. Her assistants were even my doulas! It was seriously magic.

If anyone is a survivor of sexual abuse, I highly recommend her book "When Survivors Give Birth." I know 100% my birthing experience would have been completely different if I had not read her book and received her confidance.

Penny is a wonderful, wonderful woman. I am SO thankful for her!

My husband also loved her book The Birth Partner. He buys it for every dad "to be"

cherrybomb, i am planning to start teaching childbirth classes in the fall and that's EXACTLY the attitude that i hope my students walk away with regarding planning for their birth experiences. good for you!

Aww shucks, thanks! :innocent

As for pain tolerance...I think the way you approach it all mentally helps a great deal.

I think this is definitely true to an extent, but I know for me personally, positioning had A TON to do with it. Dd2 was OP and asynclitic, and it was the most horrifying pain I've ever experienced in my life. Dd3 was positioned *perfectly* and it hardly hurt at all! While I was pregnant with dd3 I tried to be really mindful of how I was sitting and I went to a chiropractor regularly the last couple months. I think it made a big difference!

I plan for another hospital birth, hopefully natural this time. I freaking love my OB, and the hospital I delivered DS at was amazing. With DS, I managed to get all the way through transition and pushed for two hours before I finally decided I needed the epidural--he was sunny side up and had his arm over his head so he was stuck and HAD to be turned, and the two times my OB tried while I was unmedicated hurt worse than the labor. Much.much.worse. I screamed :o I couldn't go through it again, so I got the epidural, slept for 45 minutes, woke up, OB turned baby, and he was born 3 minutes later!

Anyway, I *almost* got a natural birth last time, so I'm trying again. My method for pain management worked surprisingly well considering I didn't take a class or anything--I counted through every contraction while taking deep breaths. I can't remember now how long they were, but I knew at the time so when I got halfway through my count I knew the worst had hit and the pain would ease. It worked for everything but transition, and my DH and awesome amazing nurse got me through that!

I think I've heard her name before...I've put a call in to Suzanne Thomson, I was at a friend's homebirth with her about 6 years ago and I recall liking her. I'm in Mountlake Terrace, so not too far!

~Suzanne


I met Cindy, Mel & Jen at the midwife meet & greet tonight (I think they have one every Wed if you're interested) & I was floored! Not only is Cindy amazing, her partner Jen is awesome and her partner Mel was the apprentace of my midwives with my first daughter! Talk about kissmet!

I am thrilled - completely whole again :love Wishing you the same!

I have had 3 natural births and 3 epidurals and truly as much as I am a natural person I HATE PAIN.
I couldn't have a epidural with my last 2 because they came in 15 minutes and 30 minutes,so there was no time for any pain meds whatsoever.

With my 1st I was 16 and the nurses listened to my mother and not me,refused to give me any meds cuz she said no she was teaching me a lesson for getting pregnant so young.

Home birth with a midwife. DD was born in a birth center, and we LOVED it, but we have moved to another state and there are no birth centers. Really, our home birth won't be "too" much more expensive than the deductible we had to pay for the birth center. And the worst part of my previous labor was just the thought of the car ride to the birth center, lol. So that won't be an issue. :wink

We'll be having another UC.

Probably a natural hospital birth for me. As long as everything goes well I will probably wait to go in until I am pushing because this will be my second VBAC and my local hospital is not very VBAC friendly. I will probably labor at my Grandma's which is a block away. I desperately wanted a homebirth but have come to accept that I am not really gonna get one due to $$$, my State's stupid regarding to HB, my weird labors and my the fact that both of my guys needed some help after being born. My goal for this delivery is to actually be able to hold my newborn after birth instead of the hours I had to wait to hold both of my older guys.

Natural hospital birth. Like last time.

There is not a birth center where we live and I don't want to pony up 4 grand for a homebirth :innocent If it didn't cost so much, I do it in a heartbeat.

The midwife I plan to use, though, is awesome from what I hear. Everyone I have talked to calls her births "homebirths in the hospital". We are new to the area, so I haven't met her, but I am really excited. My midwives last time were a bit of a letdown, honestly.