new member but would like to share my birth story

[Overproducktion]

Hi,
Well, there are not to many people where I live for my to share my wonderful homebirth story with. After 3 "routine" hospital births I gave birth to my daughter at home. My "due date" was July 19th 2003. Well, on July 15th at around 8PM I started having contractions so my midwife came and checked me and I was 4CM!! But then every thing stopped : (---then at 10PM my water broke when I went to lay on my couch. Things got VERY heavy. My 3 boys-(Tyler 7, Nathan 5, and Hunter 2) were trying to help me by rubbing my back and singing to me. My sweet husband and my wonderful midwife and her student got the pool ready in the dinning room. I got into the water and I was in heaven--well, till a contraction hit. I started grunting during contractions and I realized that I wanted to push. So I did!! I was kind of on all fours, but I had my upper body leaning against my husband. I put my hand down there and felt her crown--it was amazing. At 11:11PM my duaghter Mila Jacelyn was born with her brothers in attendance. Only one hour and eleven minutes of hard labor--and only 8 minutes of that was pushing--I was surprised. I was also surprised to see that after 3 boys I had a daughter. She weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces. My oldest son helped Daddy cut the cord when it stopped pulsating. (we later found out that her collar bone was broke from such a speedy delivery) but she is fine now and she never showed any discomfort. She is now almost 7 weeks old and nurses like a champ. I had an epidural each time for my past 3 deliveries--and after my home birth I would never go back to the hospital.

[anjel]

Congratulations on your decision to home birth! It sounds like you had a beautiful experience with your whole family, thats great. What made you decide to go natural after 3 in the hospital? I have one daughter, Dajel, born at home in the water on April 19th of this year and I wouldnt change that for anything. I never really considered any other route, but at home with a midwife, many people thought that I was just young, (not married, unplanned pregnancy) and ignorant but my fiance and I did the research and are so glad we made the decision to stay at home. And the people in our families who were against it now brag about it to others and are so proud of us. It makes me so happy everytime I hear about another home birth...

[grian]

What a lovely birth, you must be thrilled! Welcome to MDC too:)

[Overproducktion]

Thanks you! It is so encouraging to hear nice things from other people. And Anjel, I am not sure why I chose to be at home and have my duaghter naturally after 3 hospitals and epi's. I think it is becuase thanks to reading material like Mothering magazine I have educated myself on how natural birth is--and it just felt right. I now get angry when I hear how some hospitals intervine and rush. I too am young mother. I had my first son when I was 16, my second son when I was 17, my third son when I was 20, and my daughter was born while I was still 22. My husband is only 26. People thought that my husband and I were irresponsible with some of our parenting choices. (like co-sleeping) I graduated high school when I was 17 and pregnant with second son. I am still attending college (on maternity leave at the time) to get an AA Degree and eventually my masters. So far I am leaning towards Early Childhood Education. We have been on our own since our first son was born. My husband works full-time and I work VERY part-time graveyard--I put my children first, then my school work--then my job. I may not even return to my job when my maternity leave is up. I wanted to tell you good for you. Keep following your instincts-- I wish I would have sooner. I know how frustrating it is to have people think that you do not know what you are doing just because your young. I love my life and I would not change it for a thing.