Anyone interested in home birth?

khrisitnagable

My best friend had her second child at home and has nothing but great things to say about it. I am curious if anyone else is looking into home birth as an option.

b15chik

i think they are awesome, and i definitely have respect and admiration for anyone that does a home birth. that being said, there are too many "what ifs" for me and it's not a situation i'd be comfortable in. i do have a friend who recently had one and must admit i was a little jealous, but dh is definitely not on board and i guess i'm not really either.

MrsCase1

it's not for me but my good friend loves it. she had her first baby, four weeks after delivery got pregnant again, gave birth got an iud and got pregnant 6 weeks after the birth. each time she blows up a tub, pops the kid out, takes a nap and then goes about her day. i guess maybe some people are just born to birth? she makes it look easy. she's seriously done in less time than it takes to work a shift. 

littlepoppyseed

My good friend had a home birth last year and LOVED it.  She wished she had done it at home for her two other kids, as well.  I am not big on the idea of a home birth for myself, mostly just because I don't want to deal with it in my space.  I'd rather go somewhere else, but still have it be home-like.  We just visited a very small birth center/home (www.babymooninn.com), that only takes one mother at a time.  I am hopeful that it works out so that I can deliver there with a midwife (many life variables at work here - we may move, so we are waiting to make any decisions).  

 

b15chik

littlepoppyseed:

My good friend had a home birth last year and LOVED it.  She wished she had done it at home for her two other kids, as well.  I am not big on the idea of a home birth for myself, mostly just because I don't want to deal with it in my space.  I'd rather go somewhere else, but still have it be home-like.  We just visited a very small birth center/home (www.babymooninn.com), that only takes one mother at a time.  I am hopeful that it works out so that I can deliver there with a midwife (many life variables at work here - we may move, so we are waiting to make any decisions).  

 

soooo awesome. i would LOVE to deliver there. of course they're not an in network provider obviously....i have AWESOME out of network coverage (80/20 which is what most people pay for in network) but my in network coverage is 100% and since we're on one income i don't really think it's the best decision money-wise. sooo jealous!!

rock-elle

Nope, no way, not for me!  Everything that could go wrong scares the crap out of me.  I'd be so much more comfortable in a modern healthcare facility.

desmerelda317

I would LOVE to have a homebirth.  As it is, DH is military and we live overseas and not in a country that is very conducive to homebirth I think.  If we lived in Germany or England or any other country where midwives are the norm though, I'd totally do it!

samanthahollman

I really like the idea of home births. However, they are not for me. I'm too big of a wuss and needs meds. I'm also stuck on all of the "what if's".

But I totally give props and admire anyone who does home birth. They've got some balls! =o) 

ParisBenders

I'm planning on having a home birth. This is my first baby but I really feel like I don't need a hospital. I'm obviously low risk or else the midwife wouldn't let me have a home birth, so I'm confident that everything will be fine. If you're thinking about having a homebirth read "Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin, it really did a lot to calm my fears and put everything into perspective.

latinachica29

I'm still considering all our options so I haven't ruled it out. I have a feeling though there may be a hassle with insurance and then I'm under the impression that it's not common in NC. I have no clue, but that I would love to.

Stellasmom

I think if you're really into unmedicated birth AND have already had a complication free delivery at a birth center or hospital, then homebirth can be a valid choice.

I can't get behind a first birth without having all medical help available very quickly. Too many unknowns.

(Like my previously undiscovered malformed pelvis, that made vaginal birth impossible, so I was at a 3 for about 12 hours and ended up with a c-section. The surgeons literally went "Oh! THAT's what was wrong!" As soon as they had Ds out and could see my pelvic structure.)

Auki13

I had both my kids naturally but still like the comfort of being in a hospital in case something happens.  I also liked having the nurses there for support after the first one, and to have that one night alone with the baby before bringing her home to our firstborn the second time around.  I have always played with the idea of homebirth though, and give kudos to those who go through with it!

khrisitnagable

After watching about a dozen home birth documentaries and reading like crazy I am also seriously leaning toward home birth. I am going to continue to see my ob for the next few appts just to be sure I am low risk and if she and the midwife agree- then I am pretty sure I will have mine at home. I guess I feel the opposite of a lot of women because I feel less worried about being home then in a hospital! Thanks for the reading suggestion!

Jennairess

Nope, no way...HECK NO....Im a nurse and know everything that could go wrong during labor there is no way in heck I would ever deliver unless I was in a hospital with a NICU on site

megd06

Hell to the no. I had a natural, meds free birth in a hospital with DS and that was perfectly fine with me. I'm using a midwife this time, and if it was an option, I'd use a birthing center, but never home. Too many variables. My mom almost bled-out after delivering me--what if she had been at home? Besides the fact that I want to associate rooms in my house with peaceful things, not trying to pass a bowling ball out of a very tiny hole.

And I agree with a PP...I think for anyone who is considering it, they should have their first labor in a hospital/birthing center to see first how their labors might tend to go.

missjilly1025

I'm entirely for home birth and plan to with my first little one. I could go on and on about the risks for hospital births and am honestly concerned for those that believe their health will be better taken care of in a hospital - ladies please do your research. 

 If hospitals are so safe why is it north america is the only continent in the world that primarily uses them?  

Suesse2009

I work in a NICU.  We get many babies that started off with a great pregnancy and labor.  There are so many things that can go wrong during delivery that can have bad outcomes to the baby.  I will never take that chance with my babies.  I actually won't even deliver at a hospital that doesn't have a NICU.  But we see all the bad cases and what can happen so that changes my view on things. 

itsmevkb

My labor was so quick with my second that I almost had her at home, but not by choice.

I know women who have had successful home births but I just can't choose that for myself.  I'm high-risk and on blood thinners so home birth is basically not an option this time around. However, I was low-risk and had a very healthy first pregnancy and would have been considered an ideal candidate for a home birth.  During the delivery my son's shoulder got stuck and it was pretty tense in the delivery room.  Soon after, he was rushed to the NICU because he wasn't breathing.  My point is just that I was glad that I was in a hospital.  I can't imagine what would have happened had we been at home.  Perhaps it would have turned out okay but if it hadn't I would never have been able to forgive myself.

Stellasmom

missjilly1025:

I'm entirely for home birth and plan to with my first little one. I could go on and on about the risks for hospital births and am honestly concerned for those that believe their health will be better taken care of in a hospital - ladies please do your research. 

 If hospitals are so safe why is it north america is the only continent in the world that primarily uses them?  

Ok, I will. Can I ask you to please do some OBJECTIVE research, yourself?

"Research" isn't reading tons and tons of pro-homebirth websites and blogs, and watching The Business of Being Born, which I have a feeling is what you've done.

Please read up on the other side of the argument.  Surrounding yourself with material that only supports your personal leanings is dangerous.

84Lauren

missjilly1025:

I'm entirely for home birth and plan to with my first little one. I could go on and on about the risks for hospital births and am honestly concerned for those that believe their health will be better taken care of in a hospital - ladies please do your research. 

 If hospitals are so safe why is it north america is the only continent in the world that primarily uses them?  

This is just one study, but it matches most things I've read (I will fully admit I haven't done tons of research on this) - From the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology: "Specifically comparing only planned home births with planned hospital births among healthy, low-risk mothers in industrialized countries found no difference in the home and hospital rates of perinatal death."

I guess my philosophy is that saying hospital births are the devil, OR home births are the devil, is gross exagerration.  Stuff can always go wrong no matter where you are, and I'm sure there are horror stories on both sides and obviously success stories on both sides.

I personally would never do a home birth simply because I don't want to deal with that in my little house.  I want to go somewhere else, have someone else bring me things and take care of me, and most importantly - have someone else clean up the mess!  And then leave all that behind and take my baby home.  It just seems natural to me - but that's just me!

rpm22

I live in Portland, OR....where home birth is very popular.....there are more mid-wives than you can shake a stick at!!!!  One major hospital also has a program for water births right there in the room of the hospital.  So, I know lots of people who have done home birth.....some have gone just fine, and some had to be rushed to the hospital for complications.

I think that no matter where you deliver, you should have a plan about the what if's......that way, everyone is on the same page...

 I am using a midwife, but she only delivers at the hospital.  That is what is comfortable for me....I have thought about a birthing center.  I never considered home birth....I just know I would be sitting in the tub thinking I should be cleaning under the couch!!!!

LJR 84

Not a chance in hell! (For many reasons).

littlepoppyseed

khrisitnagable:

I guess I feel the opposite of a lot of women because I feel less worried about being home then in a hospital! 

I totally agree with this!  

Karma01

not for me. I would be more comfortable in a hospital.

kmoses10

More power to the women who do them, but it's not for me. I admit I am weak and I don't just want an epi I NEED it. Also I agree with not going to a hospital without a NICU, it is awful if they have to transfer you and if you need a consult it takes way too long.

preg_amy

If I weren't attempting a VBAC, then I would seriously be considering home birth.

If this VBAC is successful, it's likely that I will try for a homebirth next time.

B&R+A=love

latinachica29:

I'm still considering all our options so I haven't ruled it out. I have a feeling though there may be a hassle with insurance and then I'm under the impression that it's not common in NC. I have no clue, but that I would love to.

 

I live in NC and I've looked into finding a birth center or anything besides a hospital and there is NOTHING so I've pretty much given up on the idea.  boo

crunchylove77

Jennairess:

Nope, no way...HECK NO....Im a nurse and know everything that could go wrong during labor there is no way in heck I would ever deliver unless I was in a hospital with a NICU on site

 

Um, yeah.  I too am a nurse, and I while I don't work L&D or PPM, I did spend an entire semester of nursing school interning in L&D.  I hated every minute.  Half of all the "things that could go wrong" were caused by medical interventions.  One thing leads to another, and the fear of litigation causes too much medicalization of a completely natural process.  Certified Professional Midwives are highly trained, and have the ability to handle any labor emergency that may arise.  They also know when to risk someone out, and refer them to an OB-GYN.  

I say if you're looking into a home birth, read, read, read up on it!  Educate yourself.  Whatever you choose, you have to be 100% comfortable with it, or you'll be too tense to enjoy and have a relaxed birth.  A few recommended reads...

"Pushed" Jennifer Block

www.thefeministbreeder.com

Ina May Gaskin is a pioneer of midwifery.  Read her books!!

Also, just go meet with a midwife and discuss it.  I guarantee she will be more than happy to help you make an informed decision.  Best of luck!

robnnoel

JSMFamily:

I really like the idea of home births. However, they are not for me. I'm too big of a wuss and needs meds. I'm also stuck on all of the "what if's".

But I totally give props and admire anyone who does home birth. They've got some balls! =o) 

This!!!