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Natural Birth
Anyone doing a homebirth?
Hello, Mama's. Are any of you planning a home birth with a midwife?
My husband and I have been going back and forth between a midwife-assisted birth at the hospital, and a home birth. He feels very strongly about a home birth, and I'm comfortable with the thought, but I still have my fears and concerns. I am realizing that these fears exist whether we do it in the hospital or at home, but I'd still love some assurance and advice about going through with it.
We have a consultation set up for next week with the home birth midwives, and we will go from there.
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Re: Anyone doing a homebirth?
DD was born at home. It was hard, but I did it. I have NO doubt that, had I been in a hospital, I would have ended up with a c-section. The hospitals in my area are very surgery-happy. I chose a homebirth primarily because I wanted to avoid the temptation of the epi - I knew that I'd ask for it if it were readily available.
The other major plus to a homebirth, IMO, is that you are on your own turf. You don't have to go anywhere when labor starts, and after the baby is born, you are already at home. After having that experience, having to haul my stuff anywhere seems like a major inconvenience.
I've heard a lot of people object to home births because of the mess. Well, I never saw any of it. My birth team washed everything before they left. We didn't have to lift a finger, except to empty the birth pool. My family helped DH do that a day or two later (it was clean water because I only labored in it, and didn't actually deliver DD in it).
What are your fears and concerns, exactly? If you can be a bit more specific, I and the many others who have had/are having homebirths can be a bit more focused in our responses.
<a href="http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/putalittlepolkainyourdot/?action=view
I've had two homebirth in the hospital with a midwife and will be having a homebirth this time.
Do you have a birth center near where you live? If you're not 100% comfortable with a homebirth, that might be a great option for you.
Thank you for your words of encouragement, ladies.
Roundtheworldgirl- I worry about the risks involved. I know it's slim and my fears will probably be eased when we start meeting with the midwives. Right now all I have are reading birth stories online and watching videos. I'm a statistics girl, although that's not always the best thing. The mess is the last thing on my mind! I've got 3 pets that puke on the carpet on a regular basis, a little birth mess doesn't worry me
Our hospital is also VERY c-section happy. In fact, even 30 and 27 years a go the same hospital talked my Mom into having them for my sister and I. She said she felt very pressured and vulnerable, and they talked her into it. I never want that sort of experience.
Britt- Same with mine. He's the one that is really encouraging it! I'm really thankful to have a supportive husband.
Jteneback- Yay!! I'm so happy we're in the same month. We can compare midwife information
Even if we don't for sure go with the homebirth and do it in the hospital, we are 100% using a midwife.
I have watched so many videos and read lots of stories as well, but my nerves are still getting to me. Our transfer hospital is only a 4 minute drive from our house, which helps.
Not one in the entire state. Oklahoma isn't exactly "progressive." I so wish we did! And we only have one hospital that allows midwives. Hospital provided midwives, you can't bring your own. No birthing tubs allowed anywhere.
That's why I switched to a home birth, just so I could have options.
I think it's pretty easy to make the case for homebirth being safer compared to hospital birth in a c-section happy hospital. C-sections are not without risk, by any stretch of the imagination! If you're a statistics girl, look up the statistics for c-section complications/problems. I think you'll find that those are much, MUCH more common than some sort of catastrophic emergency at home where you cannot transfer in time.
Also, if you're planning more babies, look up the VBAC rates for your hospital. I bet it's pretty low, which means that if you end up with a c-section this time, then you'll likely need a c-section (along with all its associated risks) the next time, too.
And yes, definitely meet with a homebirth midwife. If she can't address your safety questions to your satisfaction, stick with the hospital. No harm done
But I bet she'll be able to address your questions with no problem...
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
I can completely relate. I live in Ohio and it isn't exactly homebirth friendly. We don't have a single midwife - hospital-based or homebirth - anywhere within an hour and a half of us. The last one in our area (the one that delivered my last 2 babies) retired earlier this year. I'm having to drive an hour and a half away for all of my prenatal care.
I think you're making a great decision considering a homebirth!
Since you love statistics, you'll probably end up really loving the idea of a homebirth because the statistics are just so much better!
Each midwife has different stats, but, I'll just share mine because I think that they're pretty similar to most homebirth midwives'. My midwives have an 8% transfer to the hospital rate and a 2% c-section rate. Basically, I'm automatically increasing my odds of a natural childbirth just by deciding to stay home! Even if I transfer to the hospital, it's still unlikely that I'll have a c-section.
I'll take 2% compared to my hospital's 36% c-section rate any day!
Good luck!
I just birthed my baby last night/this morning and my experience was exhilarating, I loved my homebirth and plan to have all my future babies this way.
Here is my youtube video link. (there is nudity, so beware)
I had a homebirth with my second, and it was...amazing?? Ha! That seems too simple an explanation for what the experience was. My son's birth story is here, if you're interested in reading it:
https://theazkahles.blogspot.com/2009/03/rohans-story.html
I'm a ?little late since I've been MIA lately. ?And forgive any typos...I'm typing with one hand
?
I had a homebirth and questioned my choice up until labor. ?I had a c/s the first time and I was so scared. ?Scared of labor (didn't labor much with #1), scared of the what-ifs, scared of needing another c/s, and basically scared of the unknown. ?It came down to my strong desire not to have another c/s and doing it at home was almost my only choice. ?specially looking back, I would have ended in a c/s in a hospital. ?
It was hard although I considered my birth pretty easy. ?Having doing one hospital birth and one homebirth, I can definitly say that as long as it is medically possible, I will always do a homebirth. ?? ?
I ?was in my own space, I could labor how I wanted and my mw was wonderful. ?She just let things happen naturally and I labored the way my body was meant to.