Change of plans--I'm having a home birth!

jbBeans · July 2012

Last week MH and I went to a home birth discussion at our midwife clinic which included lots of info by the midwives and a talk from a mom who delivered at home recently. We had been leaning toward a hospital birth--more MH's preference than mine, but I was ok with doing what he was more comfortable with. I had laid out my reasoning for why I liked the idea but didn't want to push him into it, so I was really shocked when he said he'd changed his mind and he was fine with it! (That we're moving to a bigger place definitely helps as well.) Just had to share b/c I'm really excited about it!

Who are the other home birth mamas? I know InTheFlowers...

Holly_1007 · July 2012

so great! I'm jealous! our insurance would never cover anything like that, we are stuck delivering in a hospital (and not even my 1st choice hospital) hoping for a natural birth, but we have to take a hospital tour still to see if the hospital is on board with that. to be honest, I will be completely okay if the baby comes "too fast" and DH and I have to deliver at home on accident. DH might be less than thrilled though hehe

good luck with your homebirth planning!!

Jams1002 · July 2012

That is great! I am happy your DH got on board, I have been trying to get MH to open up to the idea of a home birth for months, but he just seems so uncomfortable with the idea. He's been great about not just shutting me down and being open to discussion, but it hasn't mattered what I've said or the research I've shown him. He still can't wrap his mind around it.

GL with your home birth I can't wait to hear about it!

SpartyMom2B · July 2012

So happy for you that you are getting to deliver where you want to!

gingerchix1980 · July 2012

I'm doing a home birth and can't wait. DH was onboard pretty much from the start (aside from a little glitch in the middle where he was freaked out by some nurses he worked with!). We attended a similar home birth info session and it cemented our feelings about home vs hospital birthing.

The only people who've been funny about it are some of our paramedic friends, everyone else has been really supportive.

terri_doula2010 · July 2012

Yaaay congrats!! I can't wait to read your story.

If this weren't a VBAC I'd be having a home birth. I considered it anyway and talked to some MWs who would do it, but this time around I think I'm meant to be in a hospital.

If this one goes well and we ever have another one, it will defintiely be a homebirth.

HRP22 · July 2012

We're doing a home birth. I'm really excited about it.

AnaKat405 · July 2012

We hadn't decided if we were going to use the birth center or have a home birth until one of the midwives said, "Maybe after laboring at home you won't feel like getting in the car and driving over here." lol and that was the one thing that solidified my decision to stay home. I also like the idea of not having to bundle the brand new baby into a carseat for the drive home.

LILBIT1221 · July 2012

I have never even thought about doing this. Tell me what makes this something you want to do? (Not judging, just curious) I would be scared something would go wrong.

LILBIT1221 · July 2012

auroraloo:
LILBIT1221:

I have never even thought about doing this. Tell me what makes this something you want to do? (Not judging, just curious) I would be scared something would go wrong.

I can't fathom it. I have a friend with 7 (!) kids who had a home water birth for her last 3 and she loves it. But it is not for me.
Congrats, OP, I'm glad you get what you want!

GAH! 7? I can't even think about that without my vagina cringing. OP, I am happy for you too! I am just trying to learn about all the things that you ladies are bringing up. I am so sheltered. ha-ha

gingerchix1980 · July 2012

LILBIT1221:

I have never even thought about doing this. Tell me what makes this something you want to do? (Not judging, just curious) I would be scared something would go wrong.

For me, it was the fact that our midwife will come along with everything that a level one hospital in Ontario has on hand during a regular vaginal birth. If there are issues with me or baby, they will pick them up as soon as a Doctor would and have no qualms with calling it and saying that we're off to the hospital.

In case of emergency, the hospital we would be going to is a level one hospital which requires an approx 20 minute or so heads up (for inpatient or outpatient births) to prep the OR and get the OB and anasthesiologist on hand for an emergency c-section. The midwife is able to call this in on our way to the hospital (5minutes away), so that when we arrive everything would be set anyway.

I know that my midwives have the experience and knowledge to make this birth just as safe at home as it would be in a hospital. Plus, my husband is a paramedic so I have an additional pair of medical hands there if needs be. I wasn't comfortable with the notion of going into a hospital for a birth (unless needed) and I know that having the baby at home will be much more comfortable for me. We're doing a water birth as well and just having all of my stuff around and being in my space relaxes me.

LILBIT1221 · July 2012

gingerchix1980:
LILBIT1221:

I have never even thought about doing this. Tell me what makes this something you want to do? (Not judging, just curious) I would be scared something would go wrong.

For me, it was the fact that our midwife will come along with everything that a level one hospital in Ontario has on hand during a regular vaginal birth. If there are issues with me or baby, they will pick them up as soon as a Doctor would and have no qualms with calling it and saying that we're off to the hospital.

In case of emergency, the hospital we would be going to is a level one hospital which requires an approx 20 minute or so heads up (for inpatient or outpatient births) to prep the OR and get the OB and anasthesiologist on hand for an emergency c-section. The midwife is able to call this in on our way to the hospital (5minutes away), so that when we arrive everything would be set anyway.

I know that my midwives have the experience and knowledge to make this birth just as safe at home as it would be in a hospital. Plus, my husband is a paramedic so I have an additional pair of medical hands there if needs be. I wasn't comfortable with the notion of going into a hospital for a birth (unless needed) and I know that having the baby at home will be much more comfortable for me. We're doing a water birth as well and just having all of my stuff around and being in my space relaxes me.

that's awesome. I guess the thought never crossed my mind because my DH can't handle the delivery part of my labor anyway. Yes, he is THAT guy.

Jams1002 · July 2012

gingerchix1980:
LILBIT1221:

I have never even thought about doing this. Tell me what makes this something you want to do? (Not judging, just curious) I would be scared something would go wrong.

For me, it was the fact that our midwife will come along with everything that a level one hospital in Ontario has on hand during a regular vaginal birth. If there are issues with me or baby, they will pick them up as soon as a Doctor would and have no qualms with calling it and saying that we're off to the hospital.

In case of emergency, the hospital we would be going to is a level one hospital which requires an approx 20 minute or so heads up (for inpatient or outpatient births) to prep the OR and get the OB and anasthesiologist on hand for an emergency c-section. The midwife is able to call this in on our way to the hospital (5minutes away), so that when we arrive everything would be set anyway.

I know that my midwives have the experience and knowledge to make this birth just as safe at home as it would be in a hospital. Plus, my husband is a paramedic so I have an additional pair of medical hands there if needs be. I wasn't comfortable with the notion of going into a hospital for a birth (unless needed) and I know that having the baby at home will be much more comfortable for me. We're doing a water birth as well and just having all of my stuff around and being in my space relaxes me.

Wow it sounds like we went to the same seminar! If you don't mind me asking where abouts in the GTA are you? I'm just north of Caledon.

HRP22 · July 2012

LILBIT1221:

I have never even thought about doing this. Tell me what makes this something you want to do? (Not judging, just curious) I would be scared something would go wrong.

For me, a hospital birth sounds terrible. I have a strong will and cannot stand to be told what to do without a valid reason, and then finally without some choice in the matter. Hospitals, in my experiences, take that away from you. They've administered drugs without telling me the side effects, risks or dangers. They use fear to get family support if you happen to be in the state of mind that you are still asking questions. They, in my opinion, do a lot of things in regards to labor, birth and newborns that cause problems/more pain because they remove so many aspects of the natural process. If my home birth option was removed I would dread having my birth at a hospital. As it stands, I'm really excited about my home birth and I think it's where I belong. My sister recently had her baby in a hospital and I was astonished and very greatful that my DH was on board with a home birth after leaving there.

miss50 · July 2012

Good news! I would love to do the same, but like lilbit I have THAT guy at home. He is worried about me breast feeding so I never even considered that to me an option!

Congrats and I can't wait to see how it goes. Keep baking in there!

gingerchix1980 · July 2012

Jaime: "Wow it sounds like we went to the same seminar! If you don't mind me asking where abouts in the GTA are you? I'm just north of Caledon."

(Sorry, my quoting skills are failing me!!)

In Scarborough. The notion of going to one of the Scarborough hospitals didn't help me feel at ease with a hospital birth either :P

Jams1002 · July 2012

gingerchix1980:
Jaime: "Wow it sounds like we went to the same seminar! If you don't mind me asking where abouts in the GTA are you? I'm just north of Caledon."

(Sorry, my quoting skills are failing me!!)

In Scarborough. The notion of going to one of the Scarborough hospitals didn't help me feel at ease with a hospital birth either :P

I hear you there! The hospital in Orangeville has a bad rep for having unfriendly nurses and for trying to rush births. I know I have MW as my advocate but I also know I would feel so much more comfortable in the privacy of my own home. Just wish DH was more receptive to the idea......

jbBeans · July 2012

Sorry I posted and ran! I had to get to work!

LB and Rora--no judgement felt! I'm happy to talk about this decision

So pretty much everything gingerchix said about the midwives having a level 1 set up in your home is definitely part of our decision. (I'm in Ontario as well). The midwives are very well organized here. The decision is open all the way to the birth, basically, so if I or my midwives feel I've moved into a higher risk category for whatever reason, I'll be heading to the hospital (I'll still register there and everything so that the midwives would basically prep me on the way and I'd be able to go right in). So I feel very confident that my midwives are totally capable of keeping me and LO safe.

It's also about the comfort factor for me. I don't have an issue with hospitals, but the more research I've done on birth the more I've come to believe that this is something my body is truly capable of doing, therefore I don't NEED to be in a hospital unless something is going wrong. So I figure, why be in a hospital where I'm out of my element and more restricted when I can be at home in my own space? I'll have more freedom to walk around, eat when I want, etc.

All that said, I totally understand why someone would be more comfortable in a hospital, so I don't judge people who choose to go that route, either. This is just something that as I've learned more about, I really like the idea!

ETA: the hospital I would deliver at is 15 mins away (and there is another 5 mins away if I REALLY needed to get there ASAP). My midwives have a great relationship with the one they normally deliver at, so I also feel comfortable that if we had to go there for an emergency and there was a transfer of care to an OB, it would be smooth.

jbBeans · July 2012

AnaKat405:
We hadn't decided if we were going to use the birth center or have a home birth until one of the midwives said, "Maybe after laboring at home you won't feel like getting in the car and driving over here." lol and that was the one thing that solidified my decision to stay home. I also like the idea of not having to bundle the brand new baby into a carseat for the drive home.

Yeah, I also like the idea of not having to go anywhere. Also, if everything goes smoothly with delivery and Baby and I are doing well, we would head home in about 3-4 hrs after the birth. That idea also does not appeal to me so much! I'd rather just get tucked in at home--the midwives said they'll do all the laundry, etc, and just help us get all settled in with the new LO. It sounds really nice

ifwisheswerefishes · July 2012

oh, i am so happy for you, and so very jealous! we are doing this hospital birth to make DH happy and more comfortable with my past miscarriage and medical history. but if this birth goes "normally," then DH is willing to talk home birth for our second baby!

enjoy the experience, and i cannot wait to hear your story!

jbBeans · July 2012

And in case anyone else is curious, here's a little fact sheet about how the midwives in Ontario handle home births:

https://www.cmo.on.ca/documents/home-birth-sheet-FINAL.pdf

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Change of plans--I'm having a home birth!

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