What kind of birth?

[SlingWearin'Mama]

What kind of birth are you planning?
What kind of birth would you _like_ regardless of what you may be planning or what reality dictates?

We are soon going to start interviewing MWs for a homebirth. We've interviewed two, and things didn't work out with them. I was excited about a third but she will be on vacation when I am due, so my search continues. DH would prefer a hospital birth due to (his) ease and convenience, it's free, it's what he knows, the "just in case" reasons. But he understands it's something I would really like and is on board! I do agree with him that there is no reason insurance shouldn't pay for it as it is about 1/3-1/4 the amount of an uncomplicated hospital birth... Ugh!

[Glittergal]

we're planning another homebirth. i was blessed with a 3 hr labor the first time around and the midwives arrived right when dd was crowning...perfect!
logistically i think it will be trickier this time around. we're in a different state that is far less homebirth friendly and i'm not thrilled with my two hb midwife options. i'd consider a UC but i had a terrible tear last time d/t to pushing my daughter out in one fell swoop and so i really want someone around with some good suturing skillis. i'm a cnm, so i'm considering just asking one of my coworkers to attend my birth, but that might be weird too. i'm trying not to think about that at this point! secretly i'm hoping the baby comes even faster and we can just wing it on our own

[KarmaChameleon]

I was thinking about a homebirth (my other two were drug-free hospital waterbirths and i just don't have it in me to fight the system again) but I was wondering if I might have a hard time relaxing in my own home because of all the sh*t that needs to be done at all times. Finding ways to relax during labor has been a huge challenge for me, along with letting go of the fact that I can't control my own progress. Yeah, I'm looney.

There's a place about 30 minutes from here called The Birth Cottage (www.birthcottage.com for anyone interested) and i am feeling a really strong pull toward it. My husband is on board too, and not so much with the homebirth, so he's supportive. The midwives there do homebirth also so I could let it all unfold over the course of the pregnancy, another feature I like. :)

[tatgurl]

well, my first was an unmedicated hospital birth with me fighting all the way, drs. wanting us to sign waivers, threatening c/s, LOTS of monitoring, etc.
so we had a wonderful homebirth with my second DS.
Now, my MW from my homebirth who I love has joined forces with a team of MW's and DRS. and although it works out a better situation for her, they do not do homebirths anymore, so I really don't know what we'll do yet.
I'd love another homebirth, but I don't know if there are any other MWs in the area that will do a homebirth. :(

[autumnfaery]

My first two were yucky hospital births, although they could have been worse and I take much blame for the way they went. My last was a wonderful home waterbirth with a CPM. I'd really love to do that again, but due to money and moving issues, and lack of dh support (he wasn't too gung ho last time either), I've decided to have a CNM attended hospital birth. I'm looking at hauling ass 45 miles away so I can be at a hospital with a great rep for supporting natural births, and they actually encourage waterbirths. I would do just about anything to have another waterbirth. It was awesome!

[Sailmom]

My first was a CNM staffed birthing center. I was transferred to the local hospital after 66 hours of active labor at 5 cm where I had the works. Epidural, she broke my water started me on pitocin and I think she thought I was destined for a c-section. 2 hours later my dd was born after 20 minutes of pushing (great epidural - I could still walk) straight into my midwife's surprised hands. But I was holding onto so much stress at the time. My mother had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery 2 days after dd was born. DD was 2 weeks late... and I could not relax thinking that my mother might never meet her grandchild.

This time I hoping to have a completely intervention free water birth at the same birthing center. I am hoping that I can be relaxed and open to the experience.

[BCmamaof6]

I am *hoping* for a 'perfect' waterbirth at home. (We tried for a homebirth with the last 3, but I've had the same 'labor' with all of them...PROM with no ctx, which, after 18 hours, requires antibiotics & has lead to hospitalization & pitocin...at least with #5 I got my waterbirth...in the hospital's 'labor tub' a big NO-NO!!! ;) )

[Ary99]

I had an unmedicated hospital birth last time and that's what I will have this time. I had really wanted a water birth, but the hospital that actually allowed that closed their L&D when i was 36 weeks pregnant.

I'd love to have a homebirth, bu HD isn't there and this is his baby too. So, we will have a doctor and my doula and a nice big chair for me to sit in the shower for hours on end.

[KarmaChameleon]

Ary99 -- I just read a few of your blog entries and I love the way you write. You really capture the raw emotion of fertility struggles. I am sorry life has been so unfair to you in the past but I am rooting for you :twothumbs

[Cygnet09]

Hi everyone,

I love hearing everyone's plans. It's so good to see how many different ways we can do this!

We'll have our third homebirth with this babe. There are several HB midwives in the area and this will be our first baby in OR - our first two were born in So. CA so this will be a new MW. I like her a lot though and I'm looking forward to another waterbirth!

[nfbmom]

I will be having a homebirth. I loved my last one and won't step in a hospital again, like I did with my first 4. The only difference between this time and last time is that I will have a different midwife. I will also have a doula friend there for me.

[jenmk]

I am hoping for a natural birth . . . but it has to be in a hospital. My previous 2 were induced--pitiocin and epidural. I have a clotting disorder, so I have to take blood thinners while pg (because you're more likely to clot when pg). So just in case I were to need an emergency c-sec, having thinned blood would be a big problem. So the safest route has been to induce.

However, I recently learned that I may be able to take a different blood thinner when we get close to due date, that would allow me to not be induced!!!! I may actually be able to experience natural childbirth!!!! The thought of that is really wonderful to me, because being induced is no picnic. Of course, I haven't discussed it with my docs yet . . .

Cross your fingers for me.

[KC in KS]

Actually had a GOOD hospital birth with DD, and I love my OB to pieces, so there's really no question there.

My concern this time is going to be how to keep labor moving along. DD's birth took 55 hours - yes, nearly 2 1/2 days - with DD's showing stress the whole time. I lost track of the number of times the doctor came in and said, "let's give it another hour and then we'll have to talk about surgery." And after the hour, she'd come back and say "well, you made it a little further. Let's talk again in another hour." LOL

I took an epidural at hour 40 just to get some rest, but the medication actually *ran out* while I was pushing (two hours worth!), so it ended up being a natural birth after all!

So anyway, I'm going to be looking in to ways to keep things moving a little faster this time.

KC

[peilover010202]

I had a great experience with an unmedicated hospital birth with ds. And, even though we've moved since then, still hopeing for another great unmedicated hospital birth.

I really want a home water birth, but dh isn't onboard even with all the statistics and research I showed him. I'm not pushing the issue any further either. I'll have a great doula and dh and everything will work out fine.

[mamabearsoblessed]

Excitedly anticipating another unmedicated hospital birth with my amazing midwife. My ob/midwife are a team and ob was there for the births of dd and ds. However ob isn't 'delivering' anymore but midwife is now working w/ a new mw practice that I am to be part of. I loved my ob but she is very medical Hello!? shes an md :lol . It is a good thing I have no trouble voicing my wishes, sticking to my intentions and plans :mischief and had my amazing dh to advocate for me as well :throb . Both births were hospital births, both were amazing.

[Robynee]

I really want a homebirth but there is just no convincing dh. I think because it will be a vbac. He has said that he will be more open on the next one provided everything goes well this time.(That is, if there is a next one. :lol )
I am planning on an unmedicated hospital birth and we're considering a water birth. I have to travel about an hour to get to a hospital that will allow me to vbac and luckily they do water births. There are 3 hospitals that are much closer but the will not allow vbacs. :irked:

[achintyasamma]

We're planning another homebirth, but DH may be starting a new job in August/September and we have no idea where we might be living. Once he finishes his interviews and decides what job to take, we'll have to choose between moving in June/July and going with a new midwife there, or staying here for the birth and moving with a newborn. I'm nervous about using new midwives, because I don't want someone who will push for a transfer due to exhaustion or lack of progress. I had a really long active labor last time, and midwives were exhausted and napping on our bedroom floor next to the tub, but they never mentioned the hospital.

[zimmee]

I had a not so wonderful hospital birth with ds that ended in c-sec ( I was not informed enough, I sure am now!) So this time we will be having a VBAC at home. :love I was able to convince dh over the course of the year he was in Iraq with all the email I sent him with all the research I had done. So we will have a wonderful, peaceful birth at home!! :thumb

[beemama]

Dd's birth was MW attended, very medicated hosp. birth. I was planning a drug free, water birth at the hospital... but, unable to walk or do anything to cope I ended up w/epidural & pitocin. I had pubis symphasis disorder which was excruciating as well as debilitating so I wanted the epidural long before I went into labor...when I did get it, I was able to move my legs for the first time in weeks- which i thought was weird, thought it was supposed to paralyze you...

ANYhow..the possibility of that happening again is keeping me from being wholeheartedly into a HB. I fantasize about it but have the nagging feeling that I'll be in too much pain before labor even starts. At least this time around I know about PSD, and have already started doing yoga to combat it... I'm also on the lookout for a good chiropractor in the area.

Long story short, I'm starting out seeing a hosp. MW, and waiting to see how things progress... hoping to feel confident w/a HB.

[leurMaman]

We are hoping to have another bradley methd natural birth. We had DS at a free-standing birthcenter with a midwife. The birth went very well (14 hours of labor - 1.5 hours pushing a 10.5 pound baby boy). My problem is that the midwife did not do a good job with stitches and provided very little post-partum care. In fact, they sent me home exhausted and overwhelmed with a newborn at 3am in the morning after I finished having him.

We are lucky enough to live near a hospital that is reputed to be very baby-friendly and supported of natural births. I found a team of midwives that practices there, and we are going to have him at their maternity ward under their care. I want to be able to heal properly and get very attentive post-partum care the first day or two so that I don't have the troubles I had last time (It took me 6 months and one minor surgery later to heal from the last one).

Mandi

[amybw]

I am planning a VBAC, at a hospital or birthing center with my OB (LOVE HER!) but I want a midwife too.
I am having a hard time figuring out how to go about that. :lol
My insurance doesnt cover any MW's w/in 100 miles of us.

[the_lissa]

We are planning a midwife attended home birth.

My last birth was a planned home birth-hospital transfer.

I would rather go unattended than go to the hospital again.

[LisaMcB]

We are planning a hb with a CPM.

Our first was a medicated hosp birth. It wasn't planned that way, but impatience, naivety & stress clouded my thinking and had epidural & pitocin. Epidural ran out 2 1/2 hours before birth, but I swore I'd never go that route again.

Our second was an unmedicated hosp birth. I was only in labour 3 1/2 hours and only at the hospital for 1 hour. BUT I had to fight the nurses (except 1 of them) about everything. I gave in on the episiotomy with the MD and I wish I hadn't. DH got to deliver the baby & we got out of there ASAP (still 24 hours later, though).

This one, I just want to be at home with. I don't want to have to worry about someone watching DDs. I want them with us. I just want a private and peaceful birth. DH is somewhat supportive of a HB but he does freak out about the idea of it every once in a while. When we meet with the CPM, I hope she helps deal with some of his fears.

[reiterin]

Due to a serious lack of money, we will be having a hospital birth, hopefully unmedicated, at a Navy hosp, where there are no water births unfortunately. I've always wanted a water birth.

[mlec]

Hi,
We're planning a homebirth w/ a midwife. Last time I had a birthcenter birth w/ a nurse midwife. Transferred to the hospital afterward for stiches, which was a big mistake.

This time, I'm looking forward to a home birth.

[secretresistance]

A homebirth would be my preferred way to bring this baby into the world, but money/insurance, nerves and logistics dictate that a birth center about forty minutes away will be our next best option. I'm still happy and imagine that I will be satisfied with how things turn out. I just hope to stay as far away from the hospital as possible.

[rebeccalizzie]

I don't know! I *want* a midwife and a medication free non-intervention hospital birth. If we had a free standing birth center here I would do that, but I don't think we do (I'm trying to find one...)

Anyway, I need to start my search for a good midwife. They all have to work under OB's in this state, so I'm afraid I'm going to find one that is just as intervention-happy as my old OB.

[sarahkjack]

Another unmedicated hospital birth for me! Ds #1 I had some pain meds in a hospital, ds #2 no meds at same hospital, dd no meds at same hospital - all delivered with same practice by a CNM.

[eleven]

We will be planning an HBAC! Woohoo! I have yet to begin the search for a midwife and am feeling somewhat intimidated at the moment, but I am sure I want to be at home. :)

[3ncountin]

We are planning a midwife assisted natural hospital birth. I have big babies that tend to get stuck ,though my one home birth with baby #2 was smooth and pain free , my DH is more comfortable with having the baby in the hospital. Our last baby's shoulders got stuck tight but we have great midwives who give a homebirth experience at the hospital .So though I would like to have baby at home looks like we will be having it at the hospital.

[BirthFree]

I'm planning an unassisted birth - we have had a homebirth transfer and a homebirth... hopefully they just get better. :)

[the_lissa]

That is awesome BirthFree.

[veganf]

Regardless of the out-of-pocket cost, we are planning to have a third homebirth. I wouldn't want it any other way, though I'm happy that the hospital is close in the case of a real emergency, and that the fire station with an EMT is only a couple doors down the road. We hadn't planned on a summer birth, but now that we have an August due date, I'd LOVE an outdoor birth. We'll see how I feel in August though!

- krista

[radiogirlgr]

I had a wonderful experience with a Hospital birth, and with my epidural. I have a low low low pain tolerance, and with the medication, I have a very positive memory of my birth experience. I did push for 2 1/2 hours, and I hope it will be faster this time.

[wildflowermama]

A second hbac but this time in a home I own. We are surrounded by woods with a nice private deck and screened porch so outdoors is an option for me.

with a midwife, too. I am hoping to avoid the three day labor of my first home vbac!

[Melaya]

Either a homebirth or a birth at the midwifes birth center. I'd feel more comfortable at home, but I love hot showers during labor. And we don't get much hot water at a time at home. Last time was a drug free hospital birth and it wasn't terrible, so if I end up with that again due to financial reasons, I wont be too dissapointed. Guess I don't have much of a plan yet :lol