[Willowrose]

So, who is doing a homebirth? A birthing center? Hospital?
What made you decide where you will deliver?

 

[ScotiaSky]

We are planning a Birth House Birth with midwives...again. Last time we ended up with a non emergency transfer to a hospital. Same Birth House as before.

I would post the website but it seems not to be working anymore.

I will post the LINK to the one that I am on the waitlist for though.

I am not comfortable with the hospital(Okay I hated every second there) that is associated with my Birth House and would rather not go there if it comes down to another transfer. This is the only reason I would like to switch. My midwifes are not even the same as before both had babies last year lol and are on leave.

 

[ozzyemm]

We don't know anymore! I figured we would birth in the hospital, but with all the medical stuff going on already, I think we may have a "Oops, the baby came too fast" birth.

we have been talking to my mom who literally lives 5 minutes from my hospital. She said it is okay to labor there, as long as we go to the hospital ASAP if ANYTHING feels wrong. She has also agreed to leave us alone during the ENTIRE labor process. Needless to say, we still have a LOT of research to do on the subject.

DH and I really have been talking about UC. I was really worried about him getting squeamish. The only thing he isn't up for is cutting the cord. I told him we don't have to do that at all. I am still undecided about whether to go to the hospital at all, and if so, when. I have a big "need to please" complex, and am afraid if i don't go in, "they" would get mad at me. Gotta get over that one, eh?

So, UC mommas, I would like some info on what I need to know/ have on hand for a potential unassisted birth. Thanks!

 

[Vixxen]

We are planning a home waterbirth this time around as I absolutely refuse to have anymore babies in a hospital! I hated my hospital experience, especially them taking my baby from me for hours at a time (does nothing for encouraging the development of a breastfeeding relationship). Plus I don't want to deal with OB's crap. LoL Can you tell I'm a little bitter? haha

 

[Benji'sMom]

Hospital. DH looked at me like I was a child abuser when I said the words "home birth" so I don't think that will happen - unless we "accidently" don't make it to the hospital in time!

 

[dogmama]

Since I'm "high risk" and had a cesarean with dd #1, no midwife will touch me with a ten-foot pole.

There is no hospital in the area that allows vbac anymore, and I'm very afraid of going in to a combative situation by refusing surgery- which I will do.
I fantasize about accidentally waiting too long and giving birth in my bathtub, but I know that's improbable.
I didn't realize responding to this thread would bring up so much pain, but I'm brokenhearted. The medical establishment has put me in a category, and decided that I don't have the right to make decisions about my own body. And I know that the lovely midwives would love to work with me, but can't put themselves at risk.
And then well meaning people say all that matters is I will have a healthy baby at the end, but they're wrong. The process is important.
Sorry. Short answer, I'm birthing in a hospital against my will.
Mary

 

[hottmama]

I'm having a UC at home, hurray!

ozzyemm- the only thing you NEED for a UC is your body.
I plan to have an inflatable baby pool (with correspnding supplies- tarp, hose, etc), a set of new shoelaces to tie the cord, scissors (which I of course already have), a plastic sheet for the bed, towels, blankets, and my hemp postpartum pads. And I'll have my trusty stethoscope and B/P cuff, but I don't plan to use either during labor. Oh, and I want to get a baby scale, but may not, depending on how much they cost.

 

[gethane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogmama Since I'm "high risk" and had a cesarean with dd #1, no midwife will touch me with a ten-foot pole. There is no hospital in the area that allows vbac anymore, and I'm very afraid of going in to a combative situation by refusing surgery- which I will do. I fantasize about accidentally waiting too long and giving birth in my bathtub, but I know that's improbable. I didn't realize responding to this thread would bring up so much pain, but I'm brokenhearted. The medical establishment has put me in a category, and decided that I don't have the right to make decisions about my own body. And I know that the lovely midwives would love to work with me, but can't put themselves at risk. And then well meaning people say all that matters is I will have a healthy baby at the end, but they're wrong. The process is important. Sorry. Short answer, I'm birthing in a hospital against my will. Mary

Hugs. I'm right there with you and could've written your post.

 

[Willowrose]

Mary, I am so sorry you are feeling sadness with your impending delivery. I wish you much peace, I can't even imagine how hard that would be.

I am leaning towards a homebirth....that is, if I can ever get in contact with the midwife I want!
2nd option is freestanding birth center, where I had both boys. AWESOME experience, loved it. VERY pricey and I'm not sure we want to go that route this time with the cheaper option of a homebirth. I sure would miss my midwife though

 

[LoveMyLil'B]

This will be another hospital birth with a midwife. Last time I was already complete when we got there, so I'm hoping that happens again. I enjoyed being able to labor at home. This time the hospital will only be about 3 miles from home, so we will stay home as long as possible. I went really fast with ds, so I hope we make it in time. If not, I have complete faith in my dh. I just don't want to have the baby in the car! I think I'm one of those people who secretly fantasizes about everything happening so fast that the baby is born at home.

 

[jayayenay]

.

 

[Getz]

Well, if I had my way I would have a home birth! (my parents actually delivered me via UC).

But DH freaked so it is a hospital birth for me. I plan on laboring at home for as long as possible and having a very specific birth plan for as little intervention as possibe. The hospital we are delivering at insists on rooming in and breastfeeding so I hope it is a little more "natural" friendly. The last thing I want to be forced to labor strapped in a bed.

 

[MamaTaraX]

PPlanning a home waterbirth w/a midwife. Would love to do it UC, however, my DH is a little skeptical. He thinks everybody should UC, everybody but ME that is. After much talking, he agreed to homebirth. Meeting a homebirth midwife really helped I think. I toy with the idea of not calling her, but she's a really cool lady and I like her a lot, plus she's very hands-off. My DH likes that, all he wants is someone there "justin case". In fact, he'd probably do fine if I'djust have over a few female friendsincluding some who have UC'd. Maybe we'll UC next time. This time, I'm justhappy to be staying home.
Oh, what made me decide that? Because I'm healthy and have had two uncomplicated normal pregnancies and births so there's no reason to leave the house. I had no intentions of leaving last time. If it weren't for antibiotics that I needed, I would have stayed home and we'd have had an unplanned UC. My first was a hospital birth w/doula, second was birth centre w/two midwives, both were fantastic births. I just don't want to leave home again and I really really don't want to do transition in a car ever again.

Namaste, Tara
proud mama to Doodle (6), Butterfly (22mos) and Rythm (due at home 1/06)

 

[Nature]

A hospital waterbirth hopefully, with an OB in attendance because I didn't have any luck finding a midwife that would accept our insurance, and payment out of pocket is out of the question.

I did have two births in two different hospitals that went completly fine. My only issues were AFTER labor, when they wanted to give my dd formula even though I was trying to breastfeed. Other than that, I was able to labor the way I wanted to in the hospital and had no issues. This time around it will be yet another hospital a bit further away, (30 minutes compared to the one 3 min down the road) but they are supposed to be very family friendly, private rooms, water births, whirlpools, etc...

 

[ehsclt]

I've had two great hospital births with CNMs. Both births were unmedicated, and followed our birth plan perfectly. We were able to room in the babes, etc. So, I would be comfortable using this same set-up again, but we are moving from NC to Indy mid-pregnancy. I understand from a friend in Indy whom I have met on MDC that there are two great birth centers there. I plan to check them both out and to definitely use a midwife for pregnancy and the birth and also to deliver in a place that supports unmedicated birth with no unnecessary intervention (eg. episiotomy,etc, etc.) I understand that I could have a water birth at one of these facilities (or both?) and that intrigues me, since laboring in a hot tub really helped both of my previous labors.

How refreshing it is to communicate with all of you about so many of these topics. I really appreciate both the spectrum of responses and the inclination most of us have to avoid intervention and to let our bodies lead the birthing process.

 

[SMR]

A hospital with CNM for me! It's unfortunate because I live a 5 minute walk to a hospital - except it's not known for it's good care and they don't deliver babies! I also live in walking distance to a birthing center, but if there were issues I'd want to be like right across the street from a good hospital (and not the one through the woods in my back yard!) haha
I feel good about my choice - the midwives seem to be very open to letting us do our birth how we want! I keep hoping for one of those super quick the kid fell out type of births that way I wouldn't have time to 'need' drugs! I'm just really terrified of the delivery for some reason.. I think seeing it 4 times with my sisters assured me enough that it HURTS REALLY BAD!!

So I'm keeping an open mind about pain options so I don't feel like a failure if I need something!

 

[VikingKvinna]

A birthing center at a hospital, with a CNM in attendance. Last time I was at a different hospital's birthing center, and although I had a crappy, crappy birth experience (36-hour labor, drugs galore including a failed epidural -- so it ended up being a "natural," i.e. excruciatingly painful, birth anyway, failed vacuum extraction and finally, finally a forceps delivery -- UGH!) I am just more comfortable in a health-care setting. I know that makes me unusual here!

I don't know if it's because last time was so fraught with danger and complications, and so I'm gunshy, or what. I like the option of having the drugs if I need them. I like having the atmosphere be different than that at home. I don't want to have to worry about the animals, and the laundry, and the phone ringing, and all the ordinary distractions. I want to be in a clean bed with nurses buzzing around me. Call me wacky, but there you have it.

I am going with a midwife this time, which will be a change. And the birthing center has laboring pools in each room, so I hope to be able to labor in water for a while (there was one on each floor in the other center, and I never got the option to use it).

Anyway, here's hoping everyone has the birth of her dreams!

~Nick

 

[hankiesmama]

I was lucky enough to find a VBAC homebirth midwife. (Pamela, you are a goddess!!!) so I will have my baby at home, as long as everything goes as planned.
Right now, I'm learning to trust my body after the last rollercoaster pregnancy. It's not that I HATE hospitals, I would just rather have everyone stay out of my bidness.

 

[zjandosmom]

Right now we are planning on a hospital with a mw. I am not completely happy with that, but dh and I are also not comfortable with a homebirth as it is not legal for a mw to attend one here in GA. I have also had 2 out of my 3 in the NICU for various reasons. I haven't even found a midwife I really like. I even cancelled my 12wk check-up because I just didn't feel like going

: . Normally I love going to the midwife! My other 3 were in hospital with mw and they were really great births. I was able to go natural with little to no interventions. They were very respectful of our desires. I found I just had to state what we wanted and as long as we sounded like we had done our homework they were fine with our requests. We live in a different city now so I don't have my comfort factor anymore. I guess I'll just see how we feel and try to talk to more people. I almost feel like I'm in denial about being pregnant. My pants are really tight.....I am pregnant! Silly.
kathy

 

[ajsgirl]

We're planning a hospital birth with a midwife. My last was like this (altho we lived in a different state) and I have very few complaints. It was a very baby-friendly, pro-breastfeeding environment (they never sold my name to formula companies). The recovery room had a double bed so my dh could sleep next to me.

My only concern this time is that the hospital we're going to this time is about 45 minutes away (the ones nearby are atrocious) and my last labor was only 6 hours long. So, I'm going to be prepared for a UC home or car delivery!