TTC after 35: birth options?

anitak76

We're trying to conceive and I'm 37.  And, I'm wondering if that means my only options are a hospital delivery, flat on my back, etc.  I've always hoped that I could have a home birth with a midwife, but now I'm not sure that's still possible.  Has anyone had any experiences with such things?  

katie0919

I would assume that as long as you have a healthy pregnancy, i.e. no complications, you would still be a good candidate for a home birth, regardless of being 37!

EDIT: I'm not sure what you mean by "laying flat on your back" and what that has to do with age, and hospitals don't make you lay flat on your back unless possibly something going on with the baby's HR (when I was in labor, they had me turn on my sides at some points because his heart rate was going up). You are free to move about in a hospital until you choose to get an epidural, that's when you aren't allowed to walk around...because you won't be able to feel your legs, lol. A lot of hospitals L&D rooms even have tubs where you can sit and relax in water. 

anitak76

What I mean is that both of my sisters had hospital births and got pushed into c-sections.  The whole time they were laboring, they had to stay in bed and couldn't walk around, even though they had written up more open birth plans.  I want to be able to at least have a water birth.  

Austrogermokee

This might be a better question for the pregnant after 35 board.

Sharon&Paul

I don't think age plays into this decision. It is all about how the labor is progressing and what is going on with the baby. The hospital is going to recommend what is safest for mom and baby. Once you have an epidural you are going to be stuck in bed. However, without an epidural there is no reason you can not walk around. They have many tools in the room for you to use in labor - yoga balls, rocking chairs, bath tubs, etc...

I always felt the best birth plan was not to have one and be open to what is best in the moment. I have delivered three children and each delivery was completely different, but the end result was the same.

katie0919

Agree with @Sharon&Paul completely. The best plan is to not have a plan...that way you won't be disappointed. I did not want a water birth, but I did do everything I possibly could to avoid a c-section. Meditation, yoga balls, etc. I wound up being 11 days late so my doc induced, labor progressed well, easily got to 10 cm....then pushed for 4.5 hours to no avail and wound up with a c-section. I wasn't pushed into it, I had no choice. Baby wasn't going anywhere. It turned out I had a curved tail bone and my baby even had a cone head because he got so stuck. He was also 9lbs 7oz. at birth. No one in my family has ever had a C, so I wasn't expecting it....but that's just the way the cards were dealt. I wish I hadn't been so stuck on the "birth plan". You can only do so much, unfortunately! In the end, if you have a healthy baby, who cares how he/she got here?!

kindershlitz

I agree with PPs, plans don't usually go as planned.  My hospital was very open to what I wanted but ultimately it was baby deciding and I had a c-section.  I never felt forced and it was safest thing for my baby.  

Once you are KU choose your care provider carefully and as long as everything goes normally there isn't a reason you couldn't do a home birth. Getting a doula might help you because it is hard to advocate for yourself in the moment. 

Davie813

I can't speak to all of your question, because I didn't consider a home birth, but my OB and the staff at the hospital where I had DD were very open to my plans (and I was 39).

As it turned out, my daughter's birth was yet another that didn't go according to plan--she had a mind of her own from the beginning!  The elements of my plan I did go ahead and follow honestly made things a lot worse.  If I'm ever pregnant again, I think I'm going to be a lot more "go with the flow" about delivering.

@katie0919 and @kindershlitz, I had an unplanned c-section, too.  I definitely wasn't pushed into it either, and I don't regret it now--better safe than sorry!

kelley72

I've only had hospital births, two unmedicated one attended by midwife, one by doctor, three epidurals- two with midwifes and one a vaginal breach delivery by the doctor.  First issue: get pregnant, second issue: find a provider that will provide the type of delivery you choose wether home/hospital or birth center, your question is for After conception though so probably not the best board for it.