Anyone else planning to do Homebirth?

MomToBeAlisonG · October 2013

This is my first pregnancy and I want it to be a natural and peaceful experience (as peaceful as childbirth can be at least). I have looked at all the options and am planning a water birth. Anyone else?

ColeyJ88 · October 2013

We would really like to do home birth, but we were told it costs about $4000 and insurance does not cover. Also we live in an apartment and would like to be considerate of our neighbors:) So birth center is the next best thing! Check out the book Birthing From Within- It was a great resource to me. GL!!

AshB11 · October 2013

I would love to have a home birth but unfortunately our insurance would not cover any of the expenses:( My 2 previous deliveries have been water births at a birth center and I'm planning for a 3rd. I go home about 4 hours sfter birth so i still get to go home and sleep in my bed:)

Jennys9 · October 2013

I hate to chime in so negatively, but my best friend's sister just did a home birth and the baby passed because they were not near a hospital or NICU.

The placenta detached, the baby started losing oxygen. By the time they got her to the hospital they put on a cooling cap, but it was too late. There was no brain activity.

I talked to my friend who is a nurse in an NICU, and there are so many things which can go wrong in which seconds matter. Usually, midwives only recommend a home birth if a mother has had more than one smooth birth at a hospital. If this happens in a hospital, they can get to a baby instantly and get the cooling cap on her head- saving her from brain damage and cerebral palsy.

After what happened and attending baby Robin's funeral this summer, and knowing she could still be alive if she wasn't birthed at home- it was so painful.

I would really urge anyone considering this to talk to a doctor and someone who works in the NICU.

chickpea912 · October 2013

@Jennys9 - that is so tragic! I can't even imagine what that must have been like.

No home birth for me - I will likely be considered somewhat high risk, and will very likely be a RCS, so I won't have many options.

Jennys9 · October 2013

It was the saddest funeral I've ever been to @chickpea912 and the poor family was so tortured as they had begged her to go to a hospital.

My other friend had babies 3 & 4 at home, but again, I just hope for the sake of any babies out there no one does this.

anc5 · October 2013

I just had my first this past March at a birthing center. Loved the experience and enjoy my midwife very much. We will be having this one with her as well.

anc5 · October 2013

I should also say, my midwife has also delivered most of my friends children and I have two friends who are about to have their first with her. Do some research and interview just like you would a doctor. That's how I found mine. She is very well known in my area.

owlcup · October 2013

Right now DH is telling me I'm going to have an accidental home birth this time around. With my second, I was only in labor for 3 hours and had DS within ten minutes of arriving at the hospital.

@jennys9 - That is so horrible! I cannot even imagine the guilt that would follow that. So sorry for her loss!

MississippiCatfish · October 2013

I'm considering a free-standing birth center. Not a home birth, but more homelike than the hospital. It's very close to a hospital in case of emergency, which will ease my mind a little and my husband's a LOT;)

MomToBeAlisonG · October 2013

I understand there are certain risks to home birth but there are also risks to being in the hospital. The midwife I'm working with is very conservative and will only allow you to be at home if there are any risk factors. If there are any home birthers in this group, lets chat more! For those of you who are interested but think you can't afford it, see if there are midwives willing to work with your budget. Mine costs $6000 and there's no way we can pay all of that and she's well aware. Her philosophy (and most true midwives) is that no woman who wants home birth should be denied. Plus, you can usually get some reimbursement for insurance if you're savvy!!! GL everyone

abbyful · October 2013

MomToBeAlisonG said:
I understand there are certain risks to home birth but there are also risks to being in the hospital.

Like?

curlylocks3 · October 2013

There are certain risks to anything and giving birth in any circumstances is not withoyt risks. Generally speaking, when in a hospital or birth center attached to a hospital allows for emergency intervention when needed.

Even if I weren't high risk I wouldn't willingly have a homebirth. I feel safer knowing I'm right down the hall from the OR and the NICU is only steps away.

Kinipela7 · October 2013

No way!

ashtonblair123 · October 2013

I am using a midwife at the hospital with hopefully no meds. It didn't work out say time because I gave in to my sleepiness. I feel more comfortable in the hospital where the baby could be taken care of if something goes wrong.

wimb01 · October 2013

For the record, I had no risk factors whatsoever. I ended up having an emergency csection because her heart rate dropped rapidly. How do they monitor that at home? She had the cord wrapped around her neck twice and was sunny side up. There was no way she would have made it out safely otherwise. You can still give birth in a hospital and it be peaceful and quiet and have no drugs. But at least the medical care is there if and when you need it.

jckeown89 · October 2013

I am also planning to go the water birth route, but I will be at a birthing center.

klink11 · October 2013

Not me. Right now I am planning a VBAC so a home birth is out of the question.

dejavu22 · October 2013

Not for me! I'll be lucky to have a VBAC this time around. But more power to you!

MrsCase1 · October 2013

I was a voluntary c/s first time and will be a RCS. However, my gorlfriend has had three home water births and swears by them! Each baby shebhad came out bigger and bigger and she still preferred that method. Last baby was nearly 11 pounds. She said the water made it much easier. She has three kids under three, including Irish twins but she was in excellent health so not considered high risk. After my first c/s my OB all but forbade me to get pregnant again without letting at least 18 months pass since a c/s os major surgery so if you're looking to have back-to-back babies I think a natural birth is best!

WoodsSeltzer09 · October 2013

No home birth to me - my rainbow baby will be a scheduled C-Section.

But personally the thought would scare the hell out of me - I am roughly 15 minutes (on a good day) from any emergancy room.

@Jennys9 - so sorry to hear about your friends sisters loss. How horable for the parents and family

AllyTales · October 2013

Nope. It's not for me.

I've attended a close friends, and it was truly amazing. But even just watching it made me jumpy- when she was coming out I kept saying "please be ok.." in my head. Of course, she was.. and like I said, it was truly amazing to watch and see. But I need a hospital to feel at ease.. as does my H.

tbmadeamistake · October 2013

Probably not. I would not be upset if labor was so fast and easy that this one arrived at home by mistake, though

. However, I like the idea of having the backup meds if necessary, and DH is against home birth because it makes him really nervous. That said, I really like the hospital we used last time, plus they have a new birthing wing there this time.

mamabird19 · October 2013

We are planning on having a home birth as well. I was born at home as well as one if my sisters (the other was born at a birthing center) and all of my nieces and nephews. I definitely plan on doing a water birth as well. It is really up to the woman and their little family as to what feels safest and most comfortable for them. For me it is definitely at home but I know for others women its the hospital. I wouldn't argue that one is better than the other, it just depends on the situation.

Verstej2 · October 2013

I am planning a home birth as well. My first was a natural birth in hospital and that was fine but my second I had a home birth and it was fabulous. He was born in just 65 minutes and I got to be comfortable and warm in my own environment. I am definitely hoping this one will be just as fabulous!

iadanza · October 2013

Not trying to scare FTMs or be negative either, but, I had a severe post birth hemorrhage and almost died when I gave birth to my son. I had no risk factors and my birth went swimmingly until I had significant tearing and my ute failed to contract when I delivered the placenta. If I hadn't been in the hospital (or a medical facility for that matter) I wouldn't be here today. I get people want to have their kids at home but if its your first time you don't know how it will go and it could, very well, not end up good. I encourage you to really research what can happen when giving birth so you can make an educated decision one way or the other.

Remember that the consistent with kids is that you can plan plan plan and its likely not going to end up like you imagined. Also, there were very high instances of both mother and baby deaths when it was routine to have babies at home. There is a reason why it's recommended to be done in a medical facility.

zg49 · October 2013

I'm too much of a worrier to do a home birth. I haven't decided if I'll try the natural route but I do know we are going to be at the hospital in case anything goes wrong.

babyduejune · October 2013

I am planning a home birth!!! After my horrible L&D experience which included an epidural that did not work, a cascade of unwanted interventions which ultimately almost led to c-section, an OB who had a total personality 180 during my L&D, and a 24 hrs labor; I will be doing baby #2 L&D totally differently. I met with my midwife last night and am super excited to attempt home birth. I am confident in their practice safety statistics, and they have a 0 c-section rate for the past 5 years. My midwife has never had fetal, newborn, or mother demise in the 25 years she has been a practicing midwife.

babyduejune · October 2013

abbyful said:

I understand there are certain risks to home birth but there are also risks to being in the hospital.
Like?

Like hospital acquired infections, the skyrocketing rise of c-sections in the US, the increasing maternal mortality rates despite the vast majority of births in the US occurring in hospitals. https://www.arhp.org/publications-and-resources/contraception-journal/march-2011 Home births have risk. Hospital births have risk. If you have a hospital birth, you are more likely to have a c-section. If you have a c-section, you are much more likely to have complications. Most mid-wives have very stringent reasons for which they will "risk out" a patient who is not a good candidate for home birth. They monitor baby's well-being exactly how it's done in the hospital. Unlike a hospital where you (usually) have one nurse monitoring your fetal heart rate often from a different room, I will have 3 birth attendants present during my L&D, all of whom will be constantly monitoring me and the baby. Of course home birth carries risk, but the unfortunate reality is that moms and babies die in hospitals too.

girl-23 · October 2013

I had my first at home and will have this one at home as well. Of course there are risks, but hospitals freak me out.

abbyful · October 2013

babyduejune said:
Like hospital acquired infections, the skyrocketing rise of c-sections in the US, the increasing maternal mortality rates despite the vast majority of births in the US occurring in hospitals. https://www.arhp.org/publications-and-resources/contraception-journal/march-2011 Home births have risk. Hospital births have risk. If you have a hospital birth, you are more likely to have a c-section. If you have a c-section, you are much more likely to have complications. Most mid-wives have very stringent reasons for which they will "risk out" a patient who is not a good candidate for home birth. They monitor baby's well-being exactly how it's done in the hospital. Unlike a hospital where you (usually) have one nurse monitoring your fetal heart rate often from a different room, I will have 3 birth attendants present during my L&D, all of whom will be constantly monitoring me and the baby. Of course home birth carries risk, but the unfortunate reality is that moms and babies die in hospitals too.

Yes, all births have risks.

A lot of the risks you cite for "hospital births" could be reduced by choosing natural birth. Induction and epidurals increase risk for other interventions, including c-section.

When I delivered DS, there was another women also delivering who was a low-risk, full-term patient with zero prior indication anything would would wrong.

The placenta detached to soon during labor. It was an all-hands-on-deck emergency, nurses and doctors literally running down the halls. The hospital I delivered at has a level 2 NICU, they had to transfer the baby to the local children's hospital that has a level 4 NICU.

(I know these details because my in-laws talked to the women's husband in the waiting room. I don't know what ever happened to the baby, I know it was still alive when we were still in the hospital because the women's husband said he was having to go back and forth between the hospitals. No idea if the baby is still alive, or if it has any long-lasting effects/damage.)

I hope everything goes smoothly for you. God forbid you need to be rushed to the hospital last minute because of something going wrong.

For me, it's too much risk when things can so quickly take a turn for the worst.

SandyD83 · October 2013

I had my first two with a midwife that only does hospital births. We had zero complications and everything went really well. I wanted to have a home birth this time, but my husband is absolutely terrified at the thought of not being seconds from an OR and advanced med equipment.
In the back of my mind he has planted a seed of doubt and if something bad were to happen I'd definitely feel like it is all my fault. I don't know. We are still discussing our options.

Pepper6 · October 2013

No way, there is too much that can go wrong during a home birth. A good friend of mine had a uterine inversion and nearly died. If she hadn't been at a hospital, there would have been no chance.

I'd much rather be alive to complain about how they didn't hand my baby over right away or that they pushed an epidural or c-section on my than to either die myself, or have my child die because we weren't close enough to emergency care. It just doesn't seem worth the risk to me, not even close.

babyduejune · October 2013

iadanza said:

Not trying to scare FTMs or be negative either, but, I had a severe post birth hemorrhage and almost died when I gave birth to my son. I had no risk factors and my birth went swimmingly until I had significant tearing and my ute failed to contract when I delivered the placenta. If I hadn't been in the hospital (or a medical facility for that matter) I wouldn't be here today. I get people want to have their kids at home but if its your first time you don't know how it will go and it could, very well, not end up good. I encourage you to really research what can happen when giving birth so you can make an educated decision one way or the other. Remember that the consistent with kids is that you can plan plan plan and its likely not going to end up like you imagined. Also, there were very high instances of both mother and baby deaths when it was routine to have babies at home. There is a reason why it's recommended to be done in a medical facility.

Were you by chance induced or did you receive pitocin for labor augmentation? Pitocin hugely increases the risk of post-partum hemorrhage. Just curious.

rmjones15 · October 2013

home births aren't legal in NE, but even if they were, I don't know if it's for me. J was almost ten pounds and it took a lot of intervention to get him out...and we were minutes away from a C-section. I feel safer in a hospital, and ours is pretty holistic. I hope to discharge early.

chusum · October 2013

I can't have a home or birth center birth due to being high risk. I think the birth center here is super nice and it's a straight shot down the road to the hospital in town with a super NICU. The L&D nurses at the hospital here (let's be honest they do all the work on birth day) are very pro natural births and will do everything in their power to avoid c/s or unnecessary intervention. It was a wonderful experience and I know most hospitals are that good, but I guess we are lucky.

Baldwinbaby4 · October 2013

I have had all three of my kids at a free standing birth center with an amazing midwife. This next baby will also be born there. Maybe midwives are different but mine is equipped with an extensive amount of life saving measures including ivs, oxygen, pitocin, etc. they are trained to respond to a potential risk Very early on and would not wait until its to late to do something. I loved my experiences and I never had anything go wrong but if it did I know I'm in good hands. Our hospital is ten min away.

I think hospitals intervene too much therefore I would never birth there.

tbmadeamistake · October 2013

I think that whatever you choose, you need to be educated on the risks, the benefits, and what you're going to do if something does go wrong. It's the same at home, in a birth center, or at a hospital. Yes, at the hospital, the necessary "fixes" are much closer, so there's that. At home, you'll probably be less stressed so you might relax into more and not need as many "fixes". If you do your research, you choose your best option and have the back up plans in place, then you'll do the best you can with what you've got. God forbid anything actually happened, at least you know that you put your best plan into action. That's all you can do, where ever you plan to give birth. I choose a hospital because it's where I'm comfortable. My exSIL chose home because her first hospital birth upset her so much. It is what it is.

AshB11 · October 2013

Baldwinbaby4 said:
I have had all three of my kids at a free standing birth center with an amazing midwife. This next baby will also be born there. Maybe midwives are different but mine is equipped with an extensive amount of life saving measures including ivs, oxygen, pitocin, etc. they are trained to respond to a potential risk Very early on and would not wait until its to late to do something. I loved my experiences and I never had anything go wrong but if it did I know I'm in good hands. Our hospital is ten min away.

I think hospitals intervene too much therefore I would never birth there.

Ditto! Although my first birth was at a hospital and also chalk full of interventions. It really can become a downward spiral. I was told I needed a csections but declined as baby was fine and not in distress. I was taking more time then they would of liked. I ended up delivering vaginally after Ivs, pitocin, iv meds, epidural, suggested csections, unnecessary episiotomy, gobs of stitches, and antibiotics. I went on to deliver 2 more babies naturally. One of which was over 9lbs. With zero medical intervention and went home after 4 hours. Thank god I declined the first csection!

girl-23 · October 2013

I can't stand reading this conversation but I can't stay away. I had two midwives and a student midwife with me during labour, one was monitoring baby's heart rate every few mins it seems like. They would never have waited til it was too late to get me less than 10 min to a hospital if it was necessary. I understand home birth is not for everyone (not even close) but it's not irresponsible or unsafe either.

I watched my Dad died in a hospital when I was 20, from an infection he got IN the hospital after he had surgery. To me, hospitals are for sick people. I would not choose to give birth in one. Of course if an emergency situation happens at home I'm not stupid, and would go to hospital if necessary.

babyduejune · October 2013

AshB11 said:

I have had all three of my kids at a free standing birth center with an amazing midwife. This next baby will also be born there. Maybe midwives are different but mine is equipped with an extensive amount of life saving measures including ivs, oxygen, pitocin, etc. they are trained to respond to a potential risk Very early on and would not wait until its to late to do something. I loved my experiences and I never had anything go wrong but if it did I know I'm in good hands. Our hospital is ten min away. I think hospitals intervene too much therefore I would never birth there.
Ditto! Although my first birth was at a hospital and also chalk full of interventions. It really can become a downward spiral. I was told I needed a csections but declined as baby was fine and not in distress. I was taking more time then they would of liked. I ended up delivering vaginally after Ivs, pitocin, iv meds, epidural, suggested csections, unnecessary episiotomy, gobs of stitches, and antibiotics. I went on to deliver 2 more babies naturally. One of which was over 9lbs. With zero medical intervention and went home after 4 hours. Thank god I declined the first csection!

AshB, I feel your pain, right down to my OB yelling at me "if you don't get baby out with next push I'll just do an episotomy!" even though I had only been pushing ~15 minutes. I guess she was in a hurry to get to office that day. It was total bullshit. Being in that position where you feel so vulnerable, concerned about your baby, you are in pain... and being BULLIED by someone for things which are un-necessary has to be the worlds worst feeling. High five to you on standing your ground, and congrats on your subsequent natural deliveries. I'm praying for an outcome similar to yours.
Edited for spelling

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Anyone else planning to do Homebirth?

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Married DH 7/30/11

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