Homebirth, birth center, or hospital?

[Mommay]

I so want to do a homebirth, but now that my stbxh and I are divorcing, I'll be living with my brother, who's really cool, but is the furthest from crunchy possible. Maybe I can still convince him. But I'm gonna count on going to a birth center. I'll also be lacking a partner, but can someone who's had a doula tell me if they think a doula is enough, or should I ask someone besides her to be my partner?

What are your birth plans?

[Mallory]

This one will be at home! But a center can be nice to because most try to also create a community of like minded familys where you can meet new friends.

I haven't had a doula, but I think if you get one you really connect to, she should be enough. I don't know about you, but I never wanted too many people there.

If your other child is going to be there he (she?) will need someone else for a support person.

[CaliMomof4]

As long as my bp stays down, this will be our second homebirth. I had two hospital vaginal births with a general practitioner, one c/s and then homebirth with a wonderful midwife - I am looking forward to doing it again - it was an incredible experience that I hoe we can improve on this time around!

[jessiemom]

I'll be having my baby at the hospital. We do not have any birth centers here and no midwives either so hospital is pretty much the only option.

[psyche]

I'll be having a hospital birth. :(

I can't do the birth center because my first was a c-section. I've explored the option of a homebirth, but just can't justify the money. Our insurance would pay nothing for a homebirth but everything for a hospital birth (and only one $20 copay at the beginning of my prenatal visits). However, I can have a midwife in the hospital and will have a doula. Over time, the money saved will probably pay for all of our kids' college textbooks so I try to think of it in those terms.

[BennyPai]

With my first birth, I had an experienced doula who was also licensed in pregnancy massage and not afraid to speak up for me. If my husband couldn't have been there, I'm sure she would have been excellent support! I agree that if you are comfortable with your doula, or grow comfortable over the course of your pregnancy, she will be enough. Just take your time choosing the right doula. Don't be afraid to ask for contact info so you can interview the moms she has supported. I was happy to respond to pregnant mothers asking about my experience with my doula.
I also agree that your older child will need a separate support person. Children can become restless and may need someone to help them pass the time, understand what's going on, etc.
:blah I could go on and on. I hope I've been helpful.

[nepenthesea]

If things go my way, it will happen in a midwife-owned birth center. I sure hope it does happen. I went to see it, and it is BEAUTIFUL! I would love to give birth in one of their "bedrooms". Also hoping for a waterbirth, or at least to labor in water.

[Mrs Dimples]

I voted already, but I am having a homebirth, attended by a DEM. :love

[Mariposa]

My vote was for homebirth! Abby was supposed to be born in a freestanding birth center, but we had to go to the hospital because I had high blood pressure. I can't wait to have a homebirth and not have to go anywhere after our baby is born!

[katiejon1]

At this point I'm undecided. I had my ds in a hospital. All in all it wasn't a bad experience. My water was ruptured for over 47 hours, and the ob still allowed me to have him vaginally. My midwife was there with me, but since she is not allowed priviliges at the hospital, she couldn't catch him.

This time though, I'm considering a home birth. I think my labor would have been much shorter if I would have stayed home as I was petrified of the hospital.

Oh, btw, I'm Katie. I just got a positive the other day. :-) I was due in May 5 with my first, but had him early, so I popped over here to see what was happening. I hope that 's ok.

[melamama]

as long as all goes well this will be our third homebirth. hopefully this one will be able to be born in the tub as well just like the siblings.

[allismom]

I'll be having this one at a hospital again. We have a wonderful Womens and BAbies facility here and my personal experience with it was nice. The 'what if's of homebirth just scare me too much. I think part of my good experience was a relatively easy vaginal delivery with little to no medical internention. I would probably feel differently had things not gone so well for me. I am not afraid to speak up or question what drs/midwives are doing ;) I have read the book "Misconceptions" though and it raises some very interesting things about MD's and hospitals.

A midwife delivered my baby and most likely will again.

[nubianamy]

This is my first and we are planning a homebirth. I knew I wanted one for years, long before I became a doula, but attending births at home (and in the hospital) really did it for me. My bf would like to catch. =) We will have a pool available -- I have also seen the "wonders of water" to take away pain, so water birth it will be if I have my way.

There are things that could get in the way of the HB experience, but I am not thinking too hard about them. If I need to go to the hospital, that will be OK too. We will have our birth plan and our midwife will go with us to help set those research hospital OBs straight. =)

[Swandira]

I'm doing a hospital VBAC with a CNM. I had a pretty good experience at the hospital the first time, although it did end in c/s.

[MamaChel]

Planning our second home water birth here.

[etoilech]

We're planning our first home water birth. My son was born at 29 weeks in hospital last time unmedicated, but we'd like to skip the premature and in hospital part this time. :thumb

Olivia

[Mommay]

I'm so jealous of all the homebirthers. I had a hospital birth with ds, and had a very bad experience. I did the research and kicked myself for not trying homebirth earlier. Now I don't think I'll be able to. But I'm sure a good midwife and doula will make up for a lot. At least I'm moving to an area with free-standing birth centers. Where I am now, NJ, doesn't have any in the whole state!

[kdamnspot]

.

[yvonnemlv]

Hiya, think I introduced myself awhile back. thougth I would explain my OTHER vote in that I will be having an Instinctual birth at home (also known as unassisted childbirth).

[RedOakMomma]

My first birth was at a hospital (twins, one was breech, and both had heart abnormalities). My OB was great, though...he was fine with a vaginal birth, even though the second baby was breech, and he was very supportive of a non-medicated birth. He followed our (very crunchy) birthplan to a tee, and I had such overwhelming confidence in him.

This time we're expecting a very normal (singleton) pregnancy, so I guess I could go to a birth center if I wanted to. I'm choosing to go back to the hospital, though. The biggest reason is my OBGYN--he was so great last time, and he's the only one I'd want. I'm sure I could find a midwife I'd love, but for now I don't see the point. My hospital birth was a lovely birth experiene, and there's no reason to think this next time won't be the same.

This time I will try to change hospitals, though. I'd like to have a birthing tub available to me. I'd also like to go home earlier than I did last time. It's sometimes very hard to rest in hospitals.

Wishing you all the birth experience you're dreaming of!

[etoilech]

Hiya, think I introduced myself awhile back. thougth I would explain my OTHER vote in that I will be having an Instinctual birth at home (also known as unassisted childbirth).

Oooh, I'd love to do this, but I'm just not there at this moment in time.


I see you're around Stockholm, I was just there. What do the Swedes think of UC? I'd imagine you'd be quite the rebel, since I've found it very lagom there. :LOL Anyway, please keep us updated, I'll be stalking you for information. :wink

Olivia

[yvonnemlv]

Oooh, I'd love to do this, but I'm just not there at this moment in time.


I see you're around Stockholm, I was just there. What do the Swedes think of UC? I'd imagine you'd be quite the rebel, since I've found it very lagom there. :LOL Anyway, please keep us updated, I'll be stalking you for information. :wink

Olivia


Oh dear, stalking me? heheh. There is an unassisted birth forum here at MDC, go there and get all the info you need. *smile* There's a sticky of resources at the top.

Swedes are quite polite, at least to your face. I think their responses are "Really? Ok." *smiling while nodding and probably thinking i'm crazy*

What's the birthing climate like in Switzerland?

[Two Spunky Monkeys]

We'll have a hospital birth with a CNM. There isn't a birth center close by and there's no way I could talk DH into a homebirth. It was hard enough to talk him into this baby. i am fine with this - my last birth was in the hospital with the midwives and it was just wonderful.

I also had a doula last time - and I will do so again this time. I found it really helpful.

I am also going to have a ppd doula this time too - with 2 other little ones at home I'll need the help.

[ERSsmom]

Undecided, so far. Would love a homebirth, but need to figure out how to pay for it. Right now I am seeing an OB and planning a hospital birth, but dreading every minute of it. We will see.

[etoilech]

What's the birthing climate like in Switzerland?

Well, it's pretty conservative. Most people give birth in a private hospital, where they can get their hair done, fingernails painted, champagne service, and 5 star meals. :LOL The public university hospital here is GREAT, which is where I birthed last time. Their NICU was very AP oriented and friendly. The L/D had all the right stuff, but was a bit on the interventive side. They are not really used to women who have demands about the birth. Which is why were doing a home birth. My midwife can deliver anywhere so if I feel I want to go to the hospital, I can. (They have lovely birth tubs and family suites.)

Homebirth still pretty uncommon. I haven't told anyone yet, so not sure what the reaction will be.

The reaction of the Swedes sounds about like what the Swiss would do.

When I said I would stalk you, I was more talking about the fact that it will be wonderful to hear your birth story. :thumb

I've read lots and lots about UC, but I still have some demons to rid myself of from my first birth. I think it would be such a wonderful experience. I'm just not there yet, KWIM?

Enjoy your pregnancy. ;)

(Oh, by the way, we started a "Lost In Sweden" forum for expats. I don't know if you'd be interested, but it might be useful to you. www.lostinsweden.com )

Olivia

[Birth Junky]

I will be having a homebirth with this, my first. Never a question in my mind about where this baby would be born, as I have been planning on becoming a midwife since I was 9, trained as a doula at 17, and then went into massage school for the sole purpose of learning pregnancy massage. (*grin*) My user name really says it all! ;)

Had our first appointment with the midwife yesterday, and she is excellent (Traci Palagi at Puget Sound Birth Center). I knew I wanted her as my midwife since I did labor support at a birth she attended on Mother's Day. Didn't expect to be pregnant this soon (we weren't planning on TTC until NEXT fall!), but once those two little lines showed up I knew INSTANTLY where I would be getting my prenatal care!

Looking forward to this journey, and getting to know all of you along the way . . .

[honeybee]

I'm having a homebirth this time around. I had a good hospital birth with ds, and I love our fp who delivered him. But, there were so many things about the hospital I didn't like. Plus, ds arrived fairly quickly, and the next one might be quicker yet. I'd rather not be driving to the hospital in transition or delivering on the side of the road. I'd rather have the midwife driving to me!

Melissa

[lynn-e-pooh]

This is my second. The first was in a hospital with an OB that nodded in agreement with everything I wanted the birth to be and then went on to completely medicalize the event anyway! DS turned out just fine, but I went home feeling a bit like a specimen - we broke out of the hospital as soon as we could. :LOL

I really want to have a home birth this time. And a water birth seems like it would be very soothing and gentle. There are no birthing centers here, which would probably put my DH a little more at ease, but I think he is slowly coming around to agreeing to being at home. I keep trying to get him to read a few books about midwifery that I have found to be inspiring, but he's resistant. Although, we did turn on the Discovery Health channel the other night and watched a woman give birth to twins, unassisted at home and one was breech! The midwife lived 3 hours away and didn't arrive in time. The husband filmed it all. It was pretty amazing! I think my DH was pretty impressed.

I feel strongly that I could have had DS easily without all the intervention if I had just been given more time and had a support person that knew how to put me at ease and encourage me. I was a bit frightened of the experience initially and I think that held back my progress.

I have had an appointment with an OB just to get an initial check - I have had 2 miscarriages in the past that were due to blighted ovums, so I was interested to know if there was actually anyone in there. Now that I know (saw the heart beating), I am good to go. :) They are already trying to get me to sign forms that say I will agree to an episiotomy and pain medication and going on and on about how I am a high risk pregnancy because I am so ancient (40 - alright, alright, so I am a little long in the tooth :wink ). Yikes!

:blah Sorry for the saga! I am glad to be here. Looking forward to participating and learning!!

[amyjeans]

This will be our third child and second UC. I am hoping for a fast labor like last time, and that the kiddos sleep through it... like last time... :nut

oh and etoilech...it is a truly wonderful experience, one like no other to UC!

plus, its free!!!!! (just a little added bonus) :LOL

[Megs Mom]

My first birth was at a hospital (twins, one was breech, and both had heart abnormalities).

Hello, I have twins, too! I find out Monday how many this time around. I'm planning a hospital VBAC!