are there any others considering hospital birth here?

[happyblessedmama]

I feel a little lonely when I see the 'homebirth mamas rollcall' so I thought I'd try this to see if there's anybody else like me.

I do have unmedicated births; our 3rd (most recent) baby was a birth center transfer nightmare that ended up at the hospital. We live in rural Alaska and our options, since we won't leave town this time, are hospital or unassisted at home. I'm not going the UC route so it's to the hospital for us.

Happily I have short labors and I have a friend who delivers babies at the hospital that I'll be going to for my pregnancy care. It's totally not ideal, but it's what we have available. Anybody else?

[ccohenou]

I will more than likely have a hospital birth, unless both dh and I have a major change of heart. After two traumatic cesareans, the last after a planned homebirth, I think we'll probably be better off in the hospital just in case (you wouldn't have caught me saying that before I had a placental abruption).

[MrsTC]

It would be my preference to use the same birth center I did last time, but it's quite a ways away, and we have different insurance now that won't cover any of it. So we'll be looking at our options, and could possibly go with an unmed hospital birth with the right midwife or OB this time around. I'm not opposed to it, just intimidated by the horror stories I've heard of women being bullied into medical interventions there, though I know that things dont' have to happen that way.

[curlylocks2006]

My DD was a very traumatic birth that almost ended up in a C section. She was VERY stuck and in an odd position that I couldn't change through all my lamaze excercises. After a 27hr labour and 4th degree laceration she was born vaginally, so DH would be EXTREMELY uncomfortable if we were not in the hospital. I'm sure everything will be much smoother this time around. I am planning to use a midwife though.

[jkg]

I'll also be in the hospital. I have immense respect for homebirthers, but DH and I just aren't that comfortable with it for ourselves, at least not yet.

[ILoveMySofie]

I will definitely be giving birth in a hospital. I actually love it. I have a wonderful doctor and besides, after my loss I want to be closely monitored.

[chinaKat]

Definitely planning a hospital birth here. Had an excellent experience (Brigham & Women's in Boston) the first time. My midwife (and the entire team) completely respected all of my wishes.

Plus, somebody else cleaned up everything, and that's no small thing, considering the mess. :)

:: Bonita

[simcon]

I'm hoping to have an unmedicated hospital birth too--and currently trying to find midwives in our area (we moved here after my daughter was born).

With dd, I was induced after PROM at 38 weeks... I did have a vaginal birth, but I was very close to a c-section at one point--I was lucky to have midwives who successfully advocated for me to continue laboring. After the experience (back labor, "failure to progress," pitocin up *way* too high at one point), I probably should have more reservations about trying it again in a hospital, but we live in an apartment in a rural area that's 25 miles or so from the closest hospital, and there are no free-standing birth centers around as far as I can tell. So I'm looking for midwives again, as unmedicated-birth-friendly as possible, and I think we'll definitely have a doula this time (though I actually felt fine about the midwives/nurses last time--they were very responsive in terms of working within the framework they had to deal with--as in "oh, still only 3 cm, but look, I think you're just a *little* bit more effaced, so that's progress!",--or something along those lines anyway).

[LadyInfidel]

I am not a candidate for a homebirth. I started off believing all my births would be at home with midwives but it never worked that way. I will be delivering at a hospital.

[twilight girl]

Same boat. My options are midwife assisted homebirth (which DH is totally NOT comfortable with) or hospital birth. We live in Costa Rica, and have to work with what's available. I'll come back and post more on the subject soon ... Just wanted to let you know you're not alone!

[tullyleague]

Definitely planning a hospital birth here. Had an excellent experience (Brigham & Women's in Boston) the first time. My midwife (and the entire team) completely respected all of my wishes.

Plus, somebody else cleaned up everything, and that's no small thing, considering the mess. :)

:: Bonita

All of my kids were born there as well! This one will follow the tradition. I can't say enough good things about their maternity center.

[LydiaJW]

I have had 2 hospital births. I am planning on getting a doula or midwife this time around, though, and trying to go natural for the first time!! Although my labors tend to be extremely short (first one was 6 hours, second was 2!) my DH is really uncomfortable with the home birth idea and there aren't any birth centers around this area. So we kind of met in the middle. plus our hospital has a really nice birth center and we've had a decent experience there. I am going to be QUITE FIRM on going home almost immediately following birth. Does anyone know the laws on that one? Are there any?

[pianojazzgirl]

I'm planning on a hospital birth. I am psyching myself up for a VBAC and I'd like to hire a doula. Last time was an emergency c-section before I even went into labour (she was in serious fetal distress and almost died).

[babysol]

A hospital birth for me. We had a good experience last time; I liked the doctor and labor nurse. I guess I don't feel like I need anyone with me the entire time except my spouse.

I'm also not worried about being bullied into things I don't want. First off, I think they're pretty good that way at my hospital, but also, I'm pretty assertive when I feel it's important.

[MsElle07]

I am going to be QUITE FIRM on going home almost immediately following birth. Does anyone know the laws on that one? Are there any?My DH was very uncomfortable with the idea of a birth center or homebirth as well. I finally realized that it's not his birth. Yes, it's his child too, but it's *my* birth. I should be the one making decisions about where *I* feel the most comfortable. If he doesn't feel comfortable, then that's not my problem. :) I told him he was free to join me or not join me. :lol I ended up going to a birth center, had a nice birth, and will be doing this one at home.

When I was doing my research, one of the deciding factors for me was the return home -- if I was going to the hospital again, I wanted to be able to check out as soon as me and the baby were stable -- 6 hours or so. I found out that this is generally not possible. :( Often doctors or MWs (I was delivering with a CNM) are fine with letting the mother go home after a short stay, but once the baby is born, they are officially under the care of a pediatrician. Peds have a policy of at least 24 hours of observation. If you leave early, you sign out Against Medical Advice, AMA, and your insurance will not cover any of your stay.

[twilight girl]

My DH was very uncomfortable with the idea of a birth center or homebirth as well. I finally realized that it's not his birth. Yes, it's his child too, but it's *my* birth. I should be the one making decisions about where *I* feel the most comfortable. If he doesn't feel comfortable, then that's not my problem. :) I told him he was free to join me or not join me. :lol I ended up going to a birth center, had a nice birth, and will be doing this one at home.

When I was doing my research, one of the deciding factors for me was the return home -- if I was going to the hospital again, I wanted to be able to check out as soon as me and the baby were stable -- 6 hours or so. I found out that this is generally not possible. :( Often doctors or MWs (I was delivering with a CNM) are fine with letting the mother go home after a short stay, but once the baby is born, they are officially under the care of a pediatrician. Peds have a policy of at least 24 hours of observation. If you leave early, you sign out Against Medical Advice, AMA, and your insurance will not cover any of your stay.

Very interesting point! I will have to find out what the laws say here in Costa Rica about getting discharged.

I have no option for a birth center here. It´s either hospital or midwife assisted home birth. We live in a condo, and I'm not sure I'm very comfortable with the entire block of condos listening to me labor!

I do like your point too about it being the mama's birth. DH had a terrible time with it last time, ended up calling in my sister and mother for reinforcement. And when your women arrive, you think, "ah, finally, someone who can actually handle what's going on here!" So, I'm thinking that we'll do the hospital birth here at the private hospital, which I hear has a great labor "package" including private room, meals for mom and family, etc. I'm trying to find a midwife here to act as my doula, and I've got a line on two right now.

I really want to shoot for laboring at home as long as possible, then going with the midwife/doula to the hospital for the end, unmedicated, little intervention, etc.

[Rowan Tree]

Hospital for us too. No birthing centers or midwives nearby. I had a great experience delivering DS at the local hospital. The nurses were very supportive and loving, delivered naturally with very little medical intervention (just their required IV and then an internal fetal monitor during the very last stages of labor due to a sudden lowered heartbeat). I really admire homebirthers, but can't feel down on myself for going this route. :innocent All mothers are amazing no matter how there beautiful babes come into the world!

[Ben's Mommy]

I'm planning on a hospital birth. I am psyching myself up for a VBAC and I'd like to hire a doula.

Me too! I'm also hoping to hire a doula or a midwife to act as my doula so they can back up the ob. Basicly so I can have an experienced caregiver with me at all times during labor! :thumb

[sparkprincess]

I'll be having a hospital birth as well. Midwives are illegal here in MO and the nearest birthing center is HOURS away. So to the hospital we will go. I have to admit I'm scared to birth in a hospital again. It's a looong story, but basically I hate how much stuff they push you into. When my ds was born he wasn't too keen on eating. So after 24 hours they informed us that they would be taking him to the special care nursery and performing various tests on him - including a spinal tap. We felt like we couldn't fight it without getting in trouble with CPS so we played along. :( I pray this time goes smoother - at least we aren't newbies anymore! :wink

[happyblessedmama]

Wow, I'm not alone. Yay! And I'm so happy there haven't been any negative "you really should be at home" comments. Can be a sensitive topic ;)

As far as "early" release, I was released 16 hours after the birth of #2 because the maternity ward was full. They wanted to put me in the main hospital ward because I'd had an easy delivery. I said no, but I'd be happy to go home! LOL So that's what we did.

#1 was a rough delivery and #3, my baby was in the NICU so I stayed at the hospital the full 48 hours so I could have easier access to her (her stay was almost 2 weeks).

I've been told (last pregnancy, before we switched care away from the local place - long story - but we don't have "options" this time) that here they like at least 24 hours. Fine... but at 24 hours, I want out. I would love to be out before that... but whatever. We'll see.

Sparkprincess - IKWYM about the hospital pushing things. I had so little control over the things that happened with my 3rd baby in the NICU - granted, at the outset she was very sick and I am grateful for the care she received - but in the non-critical care NICU portion - just some painful memories... and I was politely vocal and not a 1st time mom.

[DecemberSun]

We have tons of midwives in my area. The closest birthing center is very far away though. I wouldn't be opposed to just staying home and laboring by myself and if the baby comes, as long as everything's going well, then so be it. But I will most likely be delivering in the hospital again. I had preterm labor with my DS and was in the hospital for treatment three times. My doctor and nurse practitioner are awesome though and they basically just go with what I want. They ask me a question, I give them an answer, and they go with it. I never felt pressured into ANYTHING. Plus they allowed my DH, mom, two SILs, and sister in the room with us. It was very crowded but the hospital staff was very accomidating. And even though my son was born 4 weeks early he NEVER left my room. I am hoping I can avoid the preterm labor this time around. But I am looking forward to having a very "me-centered" hospital birth again. (Unless of course I stay at home too long and the baby is "accidentally" born at home.) :)

[grapejuicemama]

Definitely planning a hospital birth here. Had an excellent experience (Brigham & Women's in Boston) the first time. My midwife (and the entire team) completely respected all of my wishes.

Plus, somebody else cleaned up everything, and that's no small thing, considering the mess. :)

:: Bonita

Bonita Applebum? Are you from CR.com? I don't think there are very many Bonitas.....

If you are her......Hi from a fellow CRer, but a CH lurker!

If not, ignore my strange language and congratulations on your pregnancy!:thumb

[Llyra]

I don't want anything to do with a hospital this time, but it turns out I have very little choice, so hospital it is. I'm planning to VBAC, and a licensed midwife can't attend a homebirth VBAC in NJ. I could get one to do it anyway, but then insurance wouldn't cover it, and I'm pretty darn poor. So hospital it is. I spent a week in this hospital last time with preterm labor, and also labored and ultimately had my section there. I know all their "procedures" and all that jazz, and I'm going in there armed to the teeth with protection for myself against the BS. I'm anticipating having to fight to get the birth I want, but I'm sure gonna try.

[lilduds]

Hi, I'm going to have to have a hospital birth too. I really wanted a homebirth - but several things are standing in my way on that one. First off, I live too far away from the hospital (30 min) and I have some minor medical conditions (thyroid) so the homebirth midwives won't take me anyway.
We also have no birthcenters here - so that's not an option.
When we first started TTC - I got a CNM that delivers at the better of our 2 hospitals - but as of last month, she is no longer doing OB work, just GYN, so now I can't even have a midwife. There are only 2 in this town, and she just quit.
Now that I'm pregnant, I found out I'm "high-risk" because of my thyroid condition and my low progesterone & spotting. So now I get to see a specialist OB in maternal/fetal medicine - but my friend the CPM says he will let me birth how ever I want and that he is very comfortable about not pushing drugs - we shall see!
I do also plan on having a doula (I'm a doula) and a friend of mine will be attending my birth. We back eachother, so we made a trade for services!
I'm probably the only one here that will stay in the hospital the whole 48 hours - mostly because our hospital doesn't really have a nursery - and if you need a NICU, you have to transfer to the other hospital. I know my baby will be with me at all times - and if I go home, I'll be without any help except dh and 30 miles away from everything. If I stay at the hosptial for a day extra, my family will have a chance to drive in from where they live (10-14 hours drive away). I know I will want some extra help at home so dh and I can enjoy our baby!
-Jodi

[ChillMom]

Oh my god, I can't believe Midwives are not legal in MO -- how insane! Talk about taking away choices!

Anyway, I will be having a hospital birth again, as I did for my first daughter. I wasn't so keen on the idea of a hospital birth with my first, but my OB practice only delivers at a particular hospital and I didn't feel like changing doctors. I actually found the whole labor and delivery process to be very personal & intimate, and it went pretty smoothly. We had a doula who really helped. The nurses and doctors pretty much left us alone until it was time to push. They checked my IV every now and then (pit), but I barely remember them there. I was also hoping to have a quick in and out experience and be released the next morning. Unfortunely, when I went into the recovery room, I had really bad hemmoraging and ended up in the hospital for 4 days. In hindsight, I'm really glad I was at a hospital where they could treat me as fast as they did. At this point, I wouldn't even consider delivering outside a hospital in case I have similar complications.

My biggest lesson learned -- no matter where you give birth, as long as you make it your own experience, it is the right thing for all. Also, it was way more like "Scrubs" than like "ER"!

Rebecca

[babysol]

grapejuicemama-

Bonita is the same, and I'm from CR.com, too. I'm "jebba" over there. What a small world.

[Bennifer]

hospital here probably, too. I am hoping for a VBAC and was considering an HBAC but then was reading stories on the VBAC forum about ruptures, and I just feel like I should be at the hospital...just in case. I didn't have a doula last time and you better believe I'll be hiring one for this birth; possibly even a midwife to act as a doula.

[chinaKat]

Bonita Applebum? Are you from CR.com? I don't think there are very many Bonitas.....

If you are her......Hi from a fellow CRer, but a CH lurker!

If not, ignore my strange language and congratulations on your pregnancy!:thumb

Hee hee, whoops, I signed my other name! :)

You're on to me! Thanks!!!!

[ASusan]

I'll be doing a hospital birth, too. I am considered "high risk" because I have lupus, and a kidney anomoly. The lupus is well-controlled, but I am on medication. As for my kidneys, I have a double mega-ureter on the left side, and a mega-ureter on the right. They haven't given me any trouble in 35 years - didn't even know there was anything amiss until I was 33 - but who knows what they will do with a fetus pushing on them.

Because of the lupus, I'm at higher risk for pre-term birth, and for pre-eclampsia.

I'd like to hire a doula to be with me.

[sparkprincess]

Oh my god, I can't believe Midwives are not legal in MO -- how insane! Talk about taking away choices!



Actually, midwives are legal for hospital births, just not homebirths. Sorry for the confusion. From what I've been told they can't make homebirths illegal so they make it illegal for anyone but an ob to attend a homebirth. They'll getcha one way or another!

The law was challenged in the spring, but it's just not a big enough issue here so nothing ended up happening. :irked: They are going to push for changes again next year. It'll be too late for me, but here's hoping, ya know?

[bluebird68]

Hi there... We will be doing another hospital birth, and I feel fine about this (even though I have always thought it would be amazing to be able to have home births). We had DS in a great birthing center in a hospital, with a very pro-natural OB and the 2 midwives in his practice. They were awesome and supportive, and totally sensitive and comforting about the fact that we had to slowly change almost all of my birth plan throughout the 78 hours of labor we went thru, ending in a C-section. Our little guy ended up being posterior and tranverse, which would not have resulted in either of us surviving if it had been even 100 years ago. So, I am super thankful that the staff in that hospital enabled me to labor that long (had preeclampsia, too), until I felt like I needed help getting him out (my OB said I could have continued hypnobirthing all week long and he definitely would not have budged). So, I felt like despite there being lots of challenges with the actual process of getting DS out, I could not have felt any more respected and supported. It was truly a beautiful experience. THe only bummer is that we have moved out of state, and now we are getting ready to meet a new OB, but at least I have heard rave reviews about him. Just wanted to share my experience, and second the mama who affirmed that all mamas are awesome no matter how they get their kiddos into this world! Thanks, everyone, for sharing! Michelle

[dividedsky]

for a long time i thought i wanted to use a birth center, and i still may, but am thinking that i may want to opt for a hospital birth with midwife instead. i am all about doing it without meds, excessive intervention, etc, but i would like the peace of mind of knowing that should anything go terribly wrong, i am already in the right place with the necessary people/equipment available. the thought of transfering to a different place while in labor does not sound pleasant to me, and who knows, it may be necessary...

i have enormous respect for those who opt for homebirths. the idea is very appealing to me... but i'd rather not have to be moved should anything go wrong. that's really the main concern.

[blessed with boys]

I'd really like a homebirth or midwife assisted hospital birth, but dh isnt comfortable with a homebirth because of my past traumatic births and the hospital that has midwifes is an hour away and with my speedy labors we wont make it there in time, sigh
I am really having trouble coming to terms with a hospital birth with an ob again. I'm making a birth plan this time around so I hope things go my way. I pray that all goes well....and that my dr delivers me and not some on call witch like last time!
Jackie

[sewingmomma]

me I have had 2 preemies one haivng GBS so I would nto be a good homebirth candidate

[RachelJune01]

I will be delivering at a hospital also. My daughter was delivered there also. I am not the happiest with my OB (she recently told me I had to stop nursing my daughter because it was taking too much from me and the baby--whatever). I am considering my options now, but planning for a hospital birth.

[Samjm]

I will be delviering this bean at the same hospital as DD. I am "high-risk" - pre-existing Type 1 Diabetes - so I "risk-out" of midwife care. Due to my medical issues, I am not comfortable with an unassisted home birth, so I don't really have a choice.

I was mostly pleased with my care last time, and the hospital is lovely (very new - they don't even have a seperate nursery for babies - all babies room in with mom AND dad).

[Yo Becca]

I will be delivering at a hospital also. My daughter was delivered there also. I am not the happiest with my OB (she recently told me I had to stop nursing my daughter because it was taking too much from me and the baby--whatever). I am considering my options now, but planning for a hospital birth.

Yeah, this one doesn't sound like a winner - certainly not knowledgeable about nursing...

Samjm - Your DD and I have the same birthday!! and she's only 12 days younger than my DD!

[Yo Becca]

I'll be delivering in a hospital, I am sorry to say. I chose a hospital birth with CNMs for DD - mostly b/c i liked that you show up to a clean place, and they clean up after you. And I liked my midwives and the care I received. I would do the same again if I could. But I moved, and there are only 2 midwives here = so every third day, if you go into labor you get the OB on call. My SIL did and I was her birth coach and it was frustrating and a horrible care situation IMO. SO, I decided we would pursue a homebirth when we got PG, and I got really excited about that.

But now we're moving to China - where homebirth is apparently illegal, and the C-sect. rate is over 60% (mostly elective):irked: . And some hospitals still do pubic shaving and other crazy stuff. But there is a hospital that offers water birth, so I'll be investigating that. Wish me luck - I'm skeered.

[DecemberSun]

Good luck on a great birthing experience, Yo Becca. :D

[elle7715]

Hospital for us too. Our insurance won't cover the birthcenter, and I wasn't that impressed anyway. I really liked the hospital where I had DD (the DR, not so much) but we'll be at a different one this time so I'm a little worried. DH will be watching the little one like a hawk, and so will I when I'm up to it. At the last hospital we kept her with us the whole time and even coslept with no problems.

[josybear]

i'm not pg right now, but i like chiming in anyways.
ds (9 mos) was born in a hospital with a midwife in attendance. not everything went the way i would have liked and not all my wishes were respected, but i am SO glad that he wasn't born at home.
the day after the birth i went into shock from blood loss and they had to bring me back. if i'd been at home that would have been it. so i have NO complaints about the hospital birth -- otherwise ds wouldn't have his mama!

[Frannyo]

I haven't been on this board long but I suspect this is a really polarizing issue here.
For me, I wouldn't seriously consider homebirth. Each of the three births I've attended have been hospital births, and though the post-natal nurses can be a real pain, I would rather not place all that responsibility on my partner and a midwife. I am a huge fan of Traditional Chinese Medicine and I'm sure I'll see my acupuncturist right up until the day I give birth, but that's about it in terms of letting my body take care of itself. I'll stay home until I absolutely am in active labor, just because I like my own bed and my own dogs and my own back yard, but when it's time to go, I'll go.
Now - this is my first kid, and maybe I haven't been enlightened yet, so I'll keep reading on and see what I learn. I'm only doing this once, though, and I'm more of a "manicure and massage" type girl, so in the end I'll probably cave and do whatever it takes to make me comfortable.

[baturay]

We did hospital birth with my first and are doing it again with this one. I wouldn't mind a homebirth at all, but dh is not onboard, and a birth center would be great, but they are illegal in IL. :irked: So, hospital birth with midwive :)

[wildmonkeys]

I am using a hospital with a midwife. My first birth experience was horrible (not because of the hospital, but because it began with lots of bleeding for a specific medical reason I won't get into) and I was reassured that I was in a hospital. My second birth experience was in a hospital and very positive.

My main reason for wanting to be in a hospital (and stay as long as they will let me :lol ) is that BOTH of my boys (as well as myself, dh, my brother and one of my bils) had extreme jaundice and needed treatment in the NICU after delivery...they actually tried to send me home WITHOUT ds2 and I put up such a stink that I got an extra day for myself :lol

BJ
Barney & Ben

[Arwyn]

Josybear - for every story like yours (:hug by the way), there's a woman convinced she would have died had she been in the hospital instead of at home. All we can do is look at the statistics (which say that for the majority of women, both home and hospital are equally safe places to birth in terms of maternal mortality), then make a decision based on our own personal factors, the issues that make it safer, or more comfortable, or more affordable, or more whatever to give birth in one place over another. I for one fully trust an informed woman to make the best choice for her, no matter where that puts her.

[bscal]

I am definately having another hospital birth, assuming we make it there in time! My first child was a medicated hospital birth (what can I say, I was uninformed then) and if I had known at the time that my DD would be born 45 mins later then I wouldn't have bothered with the epidural. The OB had checked me at 8 am and I was at 4-5 cms... since it was my first baby they thought I'd take awhile so the nurse didn't bother to check me when I called her and told her I was having a lot more pain and I'd like the epidural. It was barely starting to numb me when she glanced at the monitor in alarm and went to check me again... and commented to my DH about the full head of hair our baby had b/c she was crowning! (Apparently the pain I felt was that ring of fire thing.) With my second child my water broke in the car and by the time we got to the hospital she was crowning so there was no time for any intervention. Now that I know I can handle a natural childbirth I plan to be very assertive in what I'd like this time. I just hope I can get there before this one is crowning... let's just say I walked into the hospital (gripping my DH's arm) and it wasn't comfortable at all.

Oh, and I live in GA so having an attended homebirth is not legal (and my ins wouldn't pay for a midwife either.)

Beth

[pottermama]

I had 2 hospital births w/ a mw. I plan on doing it again. I have so much respect for women who can homebirth, I would just be to paranoid. Plus my ins. won't cover that. I have the same midwives I had before and they know I want unmedicated completly natural births. :thumb

[josybear]

ok, i admit it. yes, being in the hospital for ds's birth saved my life, but i didn't know it would at the time. here are the REAL reasons i wanted a hospital birth, and why i will have another one day.
a) i never changed a diaper until i got home. i just buzzed a nurse. so i never had to clean meconium.
b) they have a birthing tub. i don't. it seems cheaper to use theirs than to rent one
c)i had one of those cool beds that goes up and down and all over the place. it's not often that i get to play with one of those.
d) they brought me meals. if i didn't like the meals i sent dh out for subway. it wouldn't have occured to my friends (who are mostly single & childless) to bring me food.
in short, i LIKE the hospital. i get to relax and i don't wash dishes or nanny other peoples' kids or take phone messages...
whew! i finally admitted it!

[Mizelenius]

I had both DDs in a hospital, both times unmedicated (1st with an OB, 2nd with a MW). I'm having a MW again.

Personally, I am fine with the hospital for the most part. If I were at home, lemme tell you, EVERYONE (inc. DH) would be expecting me to be back to the routine that same day. I like the idea of having at least 24 hours to just be with the baby.

My poor sister. She has 4 kids and gets no break. The way she talks about the hospital stay . . .it's like she's talking about a resort. I almost think she keeps having kids just to get that little hospital break every few years!

[pinuchkin]

Hospital with midwife & doula. I don't have a good setup for homebirth (very poor water quality from our well, and our roads aren't snow routes in case of an emergency transfer - March in WI is unpredictable). And there aren't any birth centers within an hour that will take a VBAC.

The thing I hated about hospital with DD was the clock. My BOW ruptured spontaneously before I'd had any ctx. I was GBS+ & they wanted to do an antibiotic run, so we went in. There had been a blizzard here the night before, and they didn't offer to discharge me, and not knowing any better we didn't ask. So just shy of 16 hrs later I wasn't "making progress" at a fast enough rate & had a c/s. The one thing that really broke it was that it was my midwife's only night out of the state that whole month. :(

So I learned. I'm hiring a doula just in case the timing is off and I miss my midwife on a fluke again. I'm working on being GBS negative. I'll take extra Vit C etc. to try to strengthen the BOW. I'm not going to go gung-ho on the natural induction stuff like I did before. And if it does SROM before labor, I'll go get checked for cord if baby was high before, but then will check out & go for a WALK somewhere other than the halls of the maternity ward (with all the epidural-moms glaring at me from their beds as I moaned & rocked & disturbed their vibe. **rolling eyes**).

[blue-eden]

I'll more than likely be in a hospital too.

I think it's *very* unfair that this is a polarizing issue, that some people are sanctimonious enough to decide that because they want a homebirth, that all women should and anyone who births in a hospital is somehow not "good enough" or "womanly enough". I've seen a lot of that attitude.

There are so many things that can go wrong during a birth. It may be natural and "routine", but it can still be a very difficult and dangerous process. Women, we must remember, do still occassionally have fatal problems during childbirth (the babies too).

I think women who have homebirths are perfecty justified. But I also think women who choose to give birth in a hospital where sophisticated medical help is readily available are justified as well.

[Bennifer]

we just decided (after interviewing doulas, HB midwives, and an OB) that we will be having a hospital birth with an OB and a doula. My OB is awesome and people can't say enough good things about him. I am planning a VBAC and just couldn't wrap my brain around getting comfortable with a homebirth--ds's birth was so scary that I just want that extra reassurance. We are really happy with our decision and I have a feeling it is going to be successful.

[Savmay]

I am having a VBAC at the hospital with a midwife group that I really trust and a doula. Likewise, the birth of my son was intense and I am not sure he would have made it without the emergency c-section so I was glad to be at the hospital. I think the choice for woman as to where to birth is very personal and I base my choice on my intuitive sense of what is right for me rather than my idea of what is "right". I have attended homebirths and hospital births as a doula myself and feel they are both "safe" places to birth, depending on the situation.