I am 32 weeks right now. At 28 weeks I switched from an OB to midwives. I had just done research on midwives and non-hosptial birth and decided that I was more comfortable with it. My research all started when I watched the Business of Being Born. So I made my husband watch it. He agreed to do a home birth, and thats when we switched. My parents are not "for" a non-hospital birth (my older brother got stuck on the way out when my mom delivered with a midwife in a hospital and the OB in the hallway performed an episiotomy and he came right out. It was very traumatic for my dad) but they are going to be supportive. I have made it clear that I don't want any negativity around me, it's not necessary. I want my mom at the birth, I believe my husband will need the support and she will take appropriate photos as well. I am very much looking forward to an all natural birth at home with the freedom to be in whatever position I want, potentially have a water birth and not having an OB telling me I've been in labor too long and need intervention. I'm not naive though, if my midwife tells me that I need to transfer to the hospital for intervention, then I will be okay with it. But if I started out in the hospital and the OB told me I needed intervention, I would wonder if it was truly necessary.
And now my husband is having second thoughts. He's comparing birth in a hospital to like having "insurance" (he has a thing for metaphors). With all I know now about midwifes, OB's, hospital and non-hospital births now, I feel more comfortable with a non-hospital birth. Plus, the hospital is barely 5 miles from our house and maybe a 10 minute ride. I trust my midwives. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. My husband is a software engineer, he likes new, modern things, he loves technology and all that stuff. He also deals with anxiety disorder and OCD, which makes him worry about the worst possible scenarios. I love him but he drives me nuts. He thinks he's going to change my mind, but I'm not. I would be too worried now to walk into the hospital to give birth there. (at our hospital you don't have a choice of who your OB is- you get whoever is on call- even from different practices). The hospital is probably one of the best options I could have, but it's the OB that worries me. Especially since I wouldn't even know which one I would get.
I know everyone is just worried about the things that could possibly go wrong, but it is so frustrating. Why can't people in this country be more supportive of home birth? I barely have my parents support. The only friend I know that is for it is an old high school friend I am Facebook friends with and she lives in another state. I'm so glad for this board. It keeps me going. I just wish my husband would stop having these changes of mind.
Sorry that was so long, I just had to get it out. Thanks!
Re: Frustrated (kinda long rant)
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He has already been to 2 appointments- each one we met the 2 midwives.
He's still paranoid :-/
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I already had him see it. That's how I got him to be okay with it to begin with.
He has no problem with the midwives. He's just worried about the tiny chance that something terrible could happen.