Need thoughts on homebirth

[jessjillbolyer]

I have been reading the VBAC birth stories and I so long for a at home water birth for my second child.

Here is the kicker, and I would love to know what you all think.

My first son was born via c-section due to me being induced, the labor was going very well tell I got the epideral. Then everything stopped and I got stuck at 7cm. When they pulled my son out he was non-responsive, and they had to take him away to the NICU. He had problems with breathing and they had him on oxygen for a little bit. Not long though. We knew while I was pregnant that something was off about his brain. So with that they ended up doing a lot of test to see what was wrong with him. They found out he has a brain disorder called Joubert Syndrome.

I think though if he would have been born vaginally he most likely wouldn't have had breathing issues at all. He had very little and was in the NICU for only 8 days and that was mainly due to test being done.

We have a 1 and 4 chance of having another baby with Joubert. They most likely will not be able to tell us for sure before the child is born if it does have Joubert. Although I feel in my heart I will know. Jakob didn't move much at all while I was pregnant. I feel if the baby is really active then I will know most likely it doesn't have Joubert.

So I am tossing around the idea of either going with a obgyn that is open to VBAC but it would of course be in a hospital and I would also get a doula.

But I would much rather do a at home water birth. I am scared of the outcome if the baby has issues at birth though.

What would you do?

I am thinking maybe I should just get the midwife and see how the pregnancy goes, get a level 2 ultrasound and try to find out of the child has Joubert early on. If it does then go with a obgyn and do the VBAC at the hospital. If most likely the child doesn't have the Joubert then stay with the midwife and go for the at home birth. Is there to much risk involved?

[eleven]

:hug I'm not familiar with Joubert Syndrome, but I didn't want to read and not respond. Have you considered consulting with homebirth midwives to see what they think?

[2Sweeties1Angel]

I think you need to look deep inside yourself for the answer. What do truely feel most comfortable with? Personally, if I had ANY doubts I'd probably go for a hospital birth, because if something did go wrong I'd likely blame myself.

[dlm194]

Can you talk to a midwife who does either home or hospital births? The midwives I am planning to use next time will do either. They have an ob backup in case of emergencies. I can't see much risk in using a midwife but it sounds like only time will tell whether homebirth is risky. Could Jobert cause any of the breathing problems? It sounds like your first baby's problems were due to the epidural and c-s. Homebirth midwives should have resusitation kits and always have a plan for a hospital transfer if necessary. I think it would be worth talking to some midwives!

[TanyaS]

I think though if he would have been born vaginally he most likely wouldn't have had breathing issues at all. He had very little and was in the NICU for only 8 days and that was mainly due to test being done.


Respiratory problems are common for babies born via c/section. One of the reasons for this is that going through the birth canal compresses the chest expelling most of the mucous this way. If you watch natural birth videos, you can see it happening. My childbirth class instructor paused it so we could see it.

I know we talked on another thread about the options in the area you recently moved to. The doula I mentioned is also a wonderful homebirth midwife. I know she would be glad to talk to you about the risks/benefits of homebirth in your situation. She is quite responsible and would never say someone was a good candidate for homebirth if they were not.

[jessjillbolyer]

Thanks ladies. The breathing issues were probably due to the c/s but with Joubert they can be born with breathing issues. Hope that makes since.

I just moved from Dallas, Tx to Shreveport, La. area so I haven't talked to a midwife here about the situation. I did talked to a soon to be midwife in Dallas and she agreed to doing a homebirth and said there shouldn't be any risks as long as we think the baby does not have Joubert.

Out here in La the hospitals aren't as close by as in Dallas, I guess that is what worries me. I think I will wait tell I get pregnant then talk to the midwife out here and see what she says. I really do want a home birth and I think I will know in my heart what to do once the baby is inside of me.

Thank you for all your responses, I know its a hard thing to say yes or no too.