Hi, I am pregnant, due sometime this winter, and I had my first baby in a freestanding birth center with CNMs.

I'm pregnant again (!) and really wanted to go back. Unfortunately, teh birth center is already closed. . .the midwives still practice, but at a local hospital. They say they will be re-opening "in a few months".

After my first experience with a natural birth, plus the fact that I went significantly past my due date, makes me feel like a hospital birth is just not an option for me. There is no OB in this town who would let me deliver a 9-lb. baby at almost 43 weeks.

I always liked the birth center and never considered homebirth before (they don't push procedures on you but you mess up someone else's place, you don't have to buy/rent equipment, they do the cleanup, wash the sheets, cook you food and send you home within 12 hours! Plus our insurance covered it.) but it looks as if I am going to have a homebirth with this baby.

So this week I interview a homebirth CNM, and a CPM next week. I am also going to see my old midwives to let them explain the situation to me fully, and get my charts. I am using and loving all the stickies here--perhaps I will be joining you ladies soon as I plan my first homebirth!

The silliest thing I'm worried about? We just bought our home in November and we have lovely, dark hardwood floors in the living room/kitchen, and gorgeous new berber carpeting in the bedrooms. Last time my water broke when I hit 10 cm and it was like a splash ride at an amusement park--really huge flood plus it didn't really smell so great:( I'm really worried about having a birth tub in my home--doesn't that make me sound so superficial and snobby:p

No, you dont sound snotty, just concerned about your nice things. Who wouldnt be? I wish you luck w/ your search and I hope you have the fabulous birth you envision.

they do the cleanup, wash the sheets, cook you food

My homebirth MW (and her team) do all of these things at our home. They like to say that they usually leave the house cleaner than when they arrived. :thumb

Seriously, other than having a baby outside my belly, and a placenta in our fridge, you wouldn'ta known I'd just given birth. :)

Laboring and birthing in tubs actually makes for less mess, in my observation. The tub itself requires a little forethought and planning, but you absolutely can protect your things from any water damage.

I'm sorry you feel forced into this decision. I think homebirth is fabulous, but every woman should have a full range of choices available. :hug