Nope. That is not for me. I want to be right near the medical stuff with tons of trained staff in case anything goes awry. I found it really eased my mind when delivering my first.
Maybe! We’re talking to a midwife tomorrow but there’s also a birth center in town.
I was team “hell no” with my first but after two uncomplicated pregnancies and vaginal deliveries, the last being unmedicated, we feel comfortable exploring our other options. We were so miserable being unable to sleep at the hospital last time that it would be nice to be home for all of it. Plus, we’re 4 minutes from the hospital should anything happen.
Never... my aunt lost her son due to a home birth. There was a cord accident. I was pregnant with my son at the time. It would have been prevented with a hospital birth.
Nope. I like medical professionals helping. I also will be wanting drugs. My twins were c section and my son was not breathing. I am very thankful they had a full medical team ready for each of my children when they were born.
I almost had a homebirth with my fourth baby. I had had 3 very fast and uncomplicated deliveries, and was terrified of trying to get to the hospital on time. I changed my mind at the last minute and had a hospital birth. ****trigger warning*** my son was born with a true knot and severe meconium staining. They pressed the emergency button and an entire team of doctors came pouring into the delivery room. I was so thankful that I had the good sense to switch to a hospital birth. I do support homebirth, but for me, I would never do anything that might harm my baby. Of course there are risks of infection etc at the hospital, but seriously I could never forgive myself if something happened to my baby at home...even if it couldn’t have been prevented in the hospital.
I was planning for a homebirth with my first, but ended up having a planned c-section. That took a while to get over!! My second was a natural birth at a hospital because I lost my FTM mojo.
My advice to you, if you are seriously considering it, would be do what you feel is right for YOU, after having researched it thoroughly, explored what homebirthing teams are available to you, and if you live near a hospital.
I still love the idea of having a home birth but I’m too nervous about it now. My SIL and two of my closest friends both had successful home births, one of whom was a FTM, so it is possible!
Nope. I want an epidural again. Please and thank you.
On a serious note though, my DD was born with the cord loosely wrapped around her neck. I'm glad it wasn't serious, but even an uncomplicated pregnancy can turn into a complicated birth in a heartbeat. I prefer to have doctors with me and my baby. I'll take the 2 days of constant nurse check-ins if it means our health is in good hands.
@arteduc8 amen on the epidural... what a miracle of modern medical science!!!
*i know the epidural has its fair share of risks involved, and is not for everybody, but every birth and every woman is different, and sometimes the benefits outweigh the risks. I was so against it when I was pregnant with my first, but after my water broke and I was in labor for 30 some hours with very slow progression, the epidural gave me relief so I could actually sleep for a few hours before I needed to push. It was a lifesaver and I'm glad I changed my mind about it!! Okay, story time is over! Sorry this ended up long!!
Nope. I had a very long labor and terrible back labor with DS and needed an epidural. I had to push for over three hours and DS had the cord around his neck and those second in between him coming out and crying felt like a lifetime. I was so glad I was at a hospital.
A few moms on my BMB have done home births multiple times with midwifes and had very safe deliveries. It’s just not for me.
@Ceridwen77 yeah.... Are they just referring to vaginal, or are they referring to unmedicated? No epidural?
@motherofmonkeys Just curious, what do you mean when you use the term "natural birth"? FTM and still getting used to the labor and delivery terms that people use.
@kpc914 Great question. I find the term “natural birth” can be condescending toward anyone who had meds/surgery/etc but maybe it’s just me. I believe that each woman should choose what works for her from a medication perspective, and if you need a major surgery to have your baby, you’re a super powerful mama!!
@mileswithmyles I can't even bring myself to click it, I'm already enraged lol. @Ceridwen21 I'm with you too. Natural sounds so condescending. Medicated or unmedicated should be the only terms.
I have found around me most people refer to vaginal as "natural". Honestly as someone who had c section, it doesn't bother me. I know I did what was safest for my kids and I would hope any sane woman woild do the same. We have had people ask if our next will be a c section or natural and I'll respond "natural" just because it isn't worth the effort to explain how any birth is natural.
I think natural means unmedicated. Back in the olden days that’s what they called it. Maybe because of the Bradley method or something? Anyway, nowadays people seem to use the term unmedicated.
I've seen people say "natural" to mean "vaginal". I'm not a fan of that. When "batural" means unmedicated I'm not so bothered because it's a term used for non-medicinal products in general. You can treat a child with natural products with a naturopath.
I'm conflicted about home births. I wouldn't do it because of the mess and feeling like I need to host people in that moment. I know it's weird, but that's how I would feel. I also think it's important to be very close to a medical team just in case. That said, the hospital setting can be tough. I had 2 very different l&d experiences and both times there were medical decisions that weren't my preference. Still, I don't think it's worth the risk. Second time around, I labored at home for a while and only went to the hospital when it was really intense. Hoping for the same this time.
Normally with pregnancy, I would say do what's best for *you*. However, in this case it should be what's best for the *baby*. So many things can go wrong with a home birth, I just can't think of any reason to put both mom and baby at risk like that. Especially when there are so many fantastic birthing centers around to offer the best of both worlds. Just my opinion.
I’ve had two (free standing) birth center births and plan the same this time. While I love the idea of a homebirth in theory, the practical stuff gets me. I don’t want the mess. I don’t want my other kids or my mom there. Logistically I don’t want to deal with all the stuff required. Plus insurance is often weird about cover home birth. And I had two amazing experiences, so I’m not taking on all that.
However, I think it is a falsity to assume a hospital is always the safe option. How about the average c-section rate being over 1/3? That’s nuts. I am not at all judging those who have had one. But I am judging OBs in general because there is no way that number should be that high. That is the most extreme intervention but every intervention has risks and the chance of getting some intervention, in a hospital versus at home is astronomically higher.
When I hear natural birth I think unmedicated however very few people can undergo surgery without medication so maybe there is no difference? For the record I use the term unmedicated to try to be PC. However I think being offended when someone uses natural and means vaginal is a bit irrational. Natural, like nature. Natures plan is for mammal babies to come out vaginas. That doesn’t always work out and it is a wonderful thing that we can save these mamas but that doesn’t make it natural. I’m a biologist by education so I may be skewed but that’s not a judgement, just a statement.
When I was in nursing school I had a clinical instructor for OB who wouldn’t allow us to use the term “c-section” and preferred “cesarean delivery”. He was adamant that those moms births not be boiled down to a surgical procedure. Anyway, the “natural” vs “unnatural” debate made me think about that. Everyone’s birth may be different but one isn’t necessarily “more honorable” than another even if that is the stigma.
MissusTexas apparently some people do unassisted births meaning, no doctor, midwife or anyone helping. Personally I can't imagine not being in a hospital surrounded by doctors much less doing it alone!
Being married to medicine, I am way too risk adverse to consider a home birth or a birthing center birth. My husband often moonlights in the birth center and he has way too many stories of shit going sideways even with all the medical intervention possible. Hospital with a NICU ready to go is the only way for me personally.
@Pearlvirus I wouldn’t be here without the miracle of caesarean delivery but I agree with your logic on use of the word “natural.”
What I do think is natural is for those who didn’t do something we’re told “our bodies are made for” including c/s and breastfeeding, unmedicated births, etc. to want to normalize whatever we ended up doing by defending it however makes us feel better. I did it when I had an epidural and induction with my first and talked to moms who had unmedicated births and went into labor naturally (there’s that dern word again!)
I agree I think people usually mean unmedicated, but I can see where it could run someone the wrong way. @mileswithmyles I also couldn't manage to click the link. Maybe tomorrow. However your baby comes out you gave birth. Surgically, vaginally, with an epidural, without one, at a hospital, birthing center, your car, at home... I don't think I could do a homebirth though for a few reasons. First off, I don't think my landlord would go for it! And also with my DS there were so many complications and risks it wasn't even an option. He went straight to the NICU after about five seconds. I also tested positive on the Strep B test so had to have IV antibiotics during labor.
funnily a Mom in my kids playgroup just had her second kiddo and had an accidental home birth! She woke up in the night to her water breaking and the baby was born like twenty minutes later. Babies will make their own plans sometimes too!
I use natural to mean unmedicated. There's nothing condescending intended, speaking as someone who has had one medicated birth and one natural birth. An epidural isn't natural but that doesn't mean it's bad. Tylenol is unnatural and I take all the tylenol. Poison ivy is natural and I'm sure not going to be rubbing that all over me. I think the association of natural=good unnatural=bad is silly.
Home births with a midwife does not mean that you don’t have trained medical staff available to you, a midwife is trained medical staff. They have requirements that have you to be met to be able to deliver at home and a low risk, healthy mom, can have a perfectly beautiful birth at home. Without looking into it and educating yourself on the decision and your options, I think saying no BECAUSE it would mean you don’t have “medical staff” around you is actually an incorrect assessment of what an assisted home birth is. Also, midwives clean up everything and typically leave your house better than when they showed up! *if it’s not something you’re comfortable with that’s perfectly fine, your body, your birth. But just examples of why it’s a hell no, are actually not necessarily valid truths.
I would love to have one, especially with the ease of our first babe being there and us not worrying about logistics of that but our insurance allows us to go into the hospital for $0 opposed to $4000 OOP. It stinks that that’s the deciding factor but maybe the next baby will be different.
To be more polite I use the term unmedicated, but natural does still creep out from time to time. I run in a lot of hippie circles that do unmedicated, vaginal delivery births (weird wording but w/e) who breastfeed or bust, where the term natural is the all encompassing umbrella term for that type of birth... erm style? Not sure how to word that because it's not like a preference or individual taste for a lot of different complicated reasons...
I'm a hardcore birth advocate, which is not saying that I'm 100% only backing and supportive of women who give birth at home, surrounded by women chanting blessings into the moon. I'm an advocate for choice, and informed consent. My birth experience with J left me both physically and emotionally damaged because the medical team I had chosen did not listen to me.
I'm going to echo @mamabird515 here, midwives ARE trained medical professionals. They're who is in charge of pregnancy and delivery in most of the world, not OBGYNs like the US. (and Brazil actually...)
Re: Homebirth
I want to be right near the medical stuff with tons of trained staff in case anything goes awry. I found it really eased my mind when delivering my first.
I was team “hell no” with my first but after two uncomplicated pregnancies and vaginal deliveries, the last being unmedicated, we feel comfortable exploring our other options. We were so miserable being unable to sleep at the hospital last time that it would be nice to be home for all of it. Plus, we’re 4 minutes from the hospital should anything happen.
Just to clarify though that there is a huge difference between a homebirth, and an unassisted homebirth.
My twins were c section and my son was not breathing. I am very thankful they had a full medical team ready for each of my children when they were born.
happened to my baby at home...even if it couldn’t have been prevented in the hospital.
My advice to you, if you are seriously considering it, would be do what you feel is right for YOU, after having researched it thoroughly, explored what homebirthing teams are available to you, and if you live near a hospital.
I still love the idea of having a home birth but I’m too nervous about it now. My SIL and two of my closest friends both had successful home births, one of whom was a FTM, so it is possible!
On a serious note though, my DD was born with the cord loosely wrapped around her neck. I'm glad it wasn't serious, but even an uncomplicated pregnancy can turn into a complicated birth in a heartbeat. I prefer to have doctors with me and my baby. I'll take the 2 days of constant nurse check-ins if it means our health is in good hands.
*i know the epidural has its fair share of risks involved, and is not for everybody, but every birth and every woman is different, and sometimes the benefits outweigh the risks. I was so against it when I was pregnant with my first, but after my water broke and I was in labor for 30 some hours with very slow progression, the epidural gave me relief so I could actually sleep for a few hours before I needed to push. It was a lifesaver and I'm glad I changed my mind about it!! Okay, story time is over! Sorry this ended up long!!
A few moms on my BMB have done home births multiple times with midwifes and had very safe deliveries. It’s just not for me.
Also just wondering what those who call a vaginal birth a “natural” birth would call a c-section? Unnatural?
@motherofmonkeys Just curious, what do you mean when you use the term "natural birth"? FTM and still getting used to the labor and delivery terms that people use.
I think there was someone on my last BMB who thought c-sections weren’t “real birthing.” So ridiculous! I’ll have to see if I can find the post.
ETA- here’s the link. The fun starts on page 2. https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12105895/uo/p1
@Ceridwen21 I'm with you too. Natural sounds so condescending. Medicated or unmedicated should be the only terms.
We have had people ask if our next will be a c section or natural and I'll respond "natural" just because it isn't worth the effort to explain how any birth is natural.
I'm conflicted about home births. I wouldn't do it because of the mess and feeling like I need to host people in that moment. I know it's weird, but that's how I would feel. I also think it's important to be very close to a medical team just in case. That said, the hospital setting can be tough. I had 2 very different l&d experiences and both times there were medical decisions that weren't my preference. Still, I don't think it's worth the risk. Second time around, I labored at home for a while and only went to the hospital when it was really intense. Hoping for the same this time.
However, I think it is a falsity to assume a hospital is always the safe option. How about the average c-section rate being over 1/3? That’s nuts. I am not at all judging those who have had one. But I am judging OBs in general because there is no way that number should be that high. That is the most extreme intervention but every intervention has risks and the chance of getting some intervention, in a hospital versus at home is astronomically higher.
When I hear natural birth I think unmedicated however very few people can undergo surgery without medication so maybe there is no difference? For the record I use the term unmedicated to try to be PC. However I think being offended when someone uses natural and means vaginal is a bit irrational. Natural, like nature. Natures plan is for mammal babies to come out vaginas. That doesn’t always work out and it is a wonderful thing that we can save these mamas but that doesn’t make it natural. I’m a biologist by education so I may be skewed but that’s not a judgement, just a statement.
What I do think is natural is for those who didn’t do something we’re told “our bodies are made for” including c/s and breastfeeding, unmedicated births, etc. to want to normalize whatever we ended up doing by defending it however makes us feel better. I did it when I had an epidural and induction with my first and talked to moms who had unmedicated births and went into labor naturally (there’s that dern word again!)
I don't think I could do a homebirth though for a few reasons. First off, I don't think my landlord would go for it! And also with my DS there were so many complications and risks it wasn't even an option. He went straight to the NICU after about five seconds. I also tested positive on the Strep B test so had to have IV antibiotics during labor.
funnily a Mom in my kids playgroup just had her second kiddo and had an accidental home birth! She woke up in the night to her water breaking and the baby was born like twenty minutes later. Babies will make their own plans sometimes too!
*if it’s not something you’re comfortable with that’s perfectly fine, your body, your birth. But just examples of why it’s a hell no, are actually not necessarily valid truths.
I would love to have one, especially with the ease of our first babe being there and us not worrying about logistics of that but our insurance allows us to go into the hospital for $0 opposed to $4000 OOP. It stinks that that’s the deciding factor but maybe the next baby will be different.
@tincupchalice
Also, considering how pathetic I am being with just having poison ivy, I’m doubting an unmedicated bith is for me. But to each her own
Married: 8/22/15
BFP #1: 8/22/17 | DS: 4/20/18
BFP #2: 7/14/19 | EDD: 3/18/20
I'm a hardcore birth advocate, which is not saying that I'm 100% only backing and supportive of women who give birth at home, surrounded by women chanting blessings into the moon. I'm an advocate for choice, and informed consent. My birth experience with J left me both physically and emotionally damaged because the medical team I had chosen did not listen to me.
I'm going to echo @mamabird515 here, midwives ARE trained medical professionals. They're who is in charge of pregnancy and delivery in most of the world, not OBGYNs like the US. (and Brazil actually...)
I forgot my original point with posting this...