[mama2myangels07]

I have the option of a home birth or a hospital birth. Either way I'll be dealing with a midwife, but I'm more like minded with the home birth midwife. Only issue is with a home birth we would have to pay $750 out of pocket. With a hospital birth everything except my husband's food would be covered. And that $750 would come in handy to buy things we would need for the baby that I wasn't able to get for my daughter, including a diaper stash for both of them. And since my husband is out of work right now cloth would be much cheaper.

The major issue I have with a hospital birth is that I didn't get along with the midwife that is closer to me very well. She gave me crap about not doing the GTT from the time I said I didn't want to do it till the day before my daughter was born. I didn't see the need to, though I am a little overweight and my dad is type II diabetic, but he was not diagnosed until he was in his 50's. The rest are about a 30-40 minute drive from me each way though I probably will try to get into see one of them.

The other major issue with the hospital is that LC that came into talk to me. She completely sabotaged mine and my daughter's breastfeeding relationship. My daughter did not want to latch on period and was having weight issues. I was given a SNS and was allowed to try it ONCE! She then jumped to giving formula in bottles. No offer of syringe feeding or cup feeding, nor finger feeding NADA. The only thing that she did that was helpful was make sure I got a pump to use for the little bit of time I was still there. I asked for the SNS back before we left the hospital and I was told 'No you shouldn't need it'. My daughter was my first child that I tried to breastfeed and I feel like I was set up to fail by that LC

I'm leaning towards the hospital birth and just telling them I want that LC kept FAR away from me...... wwyd?

 

[Jazzmin]

Homebirth all the way! I will be paying out of pocket too and I will gladly do that if it means I can be at home.

 

[mama2myangels07]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzmin Homebirth all the way! I will be paying out of pocket too and I will gladly do that if it means I can be at home.

I want the home birth so bad, but it's the cost that is making it harder to decide. And that extra money would help a lot with stuff for the new baby as well as my daughter since my daughter will be just under a year when this one is born. It sucks cause till my husband gets back to work, I have to decide one or the other.

 

[CherryBomb]

My husband is out of work too, so I feel ya. I'd keep the money and use the hospital. How much are doulas in your area? If you explain your situation you might be able to hire one fairly cheap. My last was a VBA2C in the hospital with an OB and it was a very happy birth

 

[mama2myangels07]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CherryBomb My husband is out of work too, so I feel ya. I'd keep the money and use the hospital. How much are doulas in your area? If you explain your situation you might be able to hire one fairly cheap. My last was a VBA2C in the hospital with an OB and it was a very happy birth

I'll have to check about a doula or maybe even a student doula........I'm just so worried about a so called board certified lactation consultant screwing up any chance of breastfeeding the new baby.

 

[belchers1]

I would say that if you have the $750 available, go for the homebirth! You mentioned that DH is out of work, so I totally understand if you cannot get that $750

With the right midwife, you could still have a wonderous hospital birth! As long as you're getting RESPECT from your midwife, things can be just as good as a homebirth!

Can I be nosy, and ask whereabouts in MI do you live?

 

[CherryBomb]

If you can find a doula in training, you should be able to get their services for free. Do you have a local LLL? You can always refuse the LC at the hospital if you're not comfortable with them. A Leader should be able to come give you a visit in the hospital

The LC I had with my first wasn't very good, either, and I'm sure it contributed to our failed breastfeeding relationship.

 

[mama2myangels07]

Quote:

Originally Posted by belchers1 I would say that if you have the $750 available, go for the homebirth! You mentioned that DH is out of work, so I totally understand if you cannot get that $750 With the right midwife, you could still have a wonderous hospital birth! As long as you're getting RESPECT from your midwife, things can be just as good as a homebirth! Can I be nosy, and ask whereabouts in MI do you live?

I'm in Westland. I'd be going through University of Michigan Hospital and I seen the midwife that is at the office in Canton.

 

[mama2myangels07]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CherryBomb If you can find a doula in training, you should be able to get their services for free. Do you have a local LLL? You can always refuse the LC at the hospital if you're not comfortable with them. A Leader should be able to come give you a visit in the hospital The LC I had with my first wasn't very good, either, and I'm sure it contributed to our failed breastfeeding relationship.

Definitely going to look for a doula and I didn't think about LLL. There is one for my area and one for the area where the hospital is. There is more then one LC at the hospital but that one turned me off to the ones there.

 

[Jazzmin]

Will you MW do a payment plan? My MW said that as long as we paid and she didn't have to feel like a debt collector, any length of time for repayment was okay with her. Maybe your MW will work with you.

 

[jdejong]

Since you're near Ann Arbor, check this out: http://center4cby.com/
I only had a minute to look and didn't find it on the site, but they used to have doulas-in-training at low/no cost for mums in need. Good luck!

 

[mama2myangels07]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzmin Will you MW do a payment plan? My MW said that as long as we paid and she didn't have to feel like a debt collector, any length of time for repayment was okay with her. Maybe your MW will work with you.

It would be on a payment plan, and would have to be paid in full by I think the 34th week. We are really tight on money right now. We could probably manage it, but I don't want to get into an agreement with her and then something happen and we can't afford it.

 

[belchers1]

Oh wow - we're close - I'm in Livonia!

I have heard good things about the midwives at U of M A2!

 

[ladyelms]

i had this dilemma w/ my third pregnancy. we couldn't afford to pay out-of-pocket to see my usual midwife so i was stuck w/ some random, test-happy OB. i finally "fired" him around my 30th week because the relationship became very strained due to my not "cooperating" w/ his routine tests. turns out, we were able to scrape together enough funds to pay for a homebirth (because i wanted it bad enough) and i sorely regretted "tainting" my experience w/ a specialist i didn't need.

i tend to think now that if you want something bad enough, or if something means enough to you, it's worth paying for. (can you sell something? babysit a few times? barter? etc...)

personally, i couldn't imagine birthing a healthy baby, under healthy circumstances, in an inherently authorative and coercive hospital. but if you can be a "mama bear" and demand what you want, maybe a hospital can work for you.

 

[Jazzmin]

Do you have your choice of the Dr. that will do your pre-natals and delivery? That might make it slightly better.

I totally understand the money situation. We really had to scrape together what little money we had to pay our MW. DH was graduating from college and didn't start his job until 3 months after graduation. I stopped working when he graduated because DD was born. We had NO income coming in and it was tight. I def. wouldn't have traded the exp. for the world.

 

[Naomismom]

Can you go with another midwife, OB, or family practice doc? I used an OB for my last two births and had a much better experience than my friends that went with hospital midwives. I'd recommend going the family practice doc route if you can find a good one.

 

[mama2myangels07]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naomismom Can you go with another midwife, OB, or family practice doc? I used an OB for my last two births and had a much better experience than my friends that went with hospital midwives. I'd recommend going the family practice doc route if you can find a good one.

I need to see what I can find besides U of M. They have more midwives then just the one but they are out by the hospital which is a 30 minute drive from me.

 

[mama2myangels07]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzmin Do you have your choice of the Dr. that will do your pre-natals and delivery? That might make it slightly better. I totally understand the money situation. We really had to scrape together what little money we had to pay our MW. DH was graduating from college and didn't start his job until 3 months after graduation. I stopped working when he graduated because DD was born. We had NO income coming in and it was tight. I def. wouldn't have traded the exp. for the world.

If I stuck to the office close to me then no, she's the only midwife in that office and I was turned off to OB's with my son's birth. And I think even to go to another office for that hospital they would put me with whatever midwife is accepting new patients and at the hospital I would have whichever midwife that is on call

 

[mama2myangels07]

I think I figured out a way to manage it........pay $375 upfront as soon as we get our state tax return and then if the midwife is willing $50-$75 a month till it's paid off. I know normally it's all due by the 34th week. But paying like that it would be paid for really quick.....

 

[Jazzmin]

:cheers

That sounds like a great plan!