Midwife or Uc?

[zahirakids]

Hi I still have a while to make a decision on what to choose this time around. I have only had two hospital births...and I had all the testing done and did everything they recommended. Well over the past two years we have really strayed away from the whole allopathic scene...So here I am pregnant with #3 and not sure what to do. My last birth was perfect at the hospital we were left alone just about the whole time until my daughter was about to be born...My husband and I work very well together during labor...


I would love to hear others experiences using a midwife or unassisted..Any advice would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

[aylaanne]

I'm using a MW and it's my first. My mom used a MW at home with her third (not me) after her first two were born in the hospital. I think it really comes down to your comfort level. Do you think you'll feel more comfortable paying someone who has experience with childbirth to be available and observe your labor and birth to watch for complications, or do you feel confident that you don't need that at all? You may want to post on the UC forum and ask why those mothers decided to go UC and see if that's right for you.

Good luck and congratulations!

[Jenlaana]

I think that choosing the right birth is most definitely a personal choice. What works for some would not work for others, or in other circumstances.

I have had a cesarean, a UC, and possibly a midwife assisted hospital birth coming up. For me, the choice was made by a lot of research and a lot of soul searching. I UC'd because my DH and I felt it was the safest way for us, given the options available to us. No way of birthing is wrong, if it works well for you.

[alegna]

I used a midwife and probably will again. BUT only because she's a UC friendly midwife :lol She actually had her babies UC.

So, it's worth it for me to have her there (I'm not a private birthing person so her presence doesn't bug me)

If I couldn't find a hands-off midwife I'd UC.

-Angela

[lyttlewon]

I really like my midwife and it makes me comfortable to have her there. I don't think my husband and I are ready to UC yet I still want the support and experience of the midwife. My mom had me UC, I was #4, and she loved it. For me a lot of it has to do with comfort level. I am an anxious person and having another person to ground me is what I need. My DH isn't confident enough to be that person. He doesnt' want to be that person either he would rather have assistance too.

[StrawberryFields]

My midwife was very hands off while I worked through contractions with dh, but she was also really hands on in that she did do cervical checks, lots of checking with the doppler, and I think eventually she broke my water (I had a really long labor, things are kind of hazy at that point).

For me, a midwife is the way to go. I'm not uncomfortable with UC from a safety standpoint, but I learned that I am a really hands-on person and I actually could have used a midwife who was *more* involved than mine had been. Dh was an AWESOME partner but emotionally I need a little more direction, I didn't like being left to my own devices. I felt lost and overwhelmed a lot of the time.

I am the type of person who could probably even use a doula on top of the midwife and dh and my mom, who were all here.

[Peony]

I had a MW for DD2's birth, I would of been very ok with a UC. My MW was very hands off, slept on the couch the whole time, my kind of MW. :lol I might use her next time if she is still practicing, if not, well no big loss, I know what I'm doing. :wink