Out of hospital births....

NerdyNurse · August 2014

I'm just curious of how many are planning an out of hospital birth. I'm thinking about changing providers and going to a birthing center instead of in hospital. I really like the idea of going home after delivery instead of spending the night at the hospital.

One of my concerns is that if for some reason I have to transfer to the hospital in labor, I will be given to the Dr. On call and that makes me nervous. One of the on call OB's tries to section everyone! The doula assured me that she will advocate for appropriate care. I trust her but I'm just not sure what to do.
My husband isn't much help. He tells me to just do whatever I want.

Cepelo007 · August 2014

I am headed for my 2nd birth center birth because I thought the midwife/birth center route was so much calmer and better for me than my first hospital birth experience. Also I recovered FAR quicker and it was less expensive by a long shot. If you are low risk I highly recommend it. (3rd time around mom)

drpayne · August 2014

This will be my third birthing center baby, although I was transferred to the hospital midway with my first. I loved the OB on call but it could have gone either way. FWIW, having experienced both, I'm sticking with the birthing center again. Being home within 8 hours was pretty great.

CandEChicago · August 2014

NerdyNurse said:
I'm just curious of how many are planning an out of hospital birth. I'm thinking about changing providers and going to a birthing center instead of in hospital. I really like the idea of going home after delivery instead of spending the night at the hospital.

One of my concerns is that if for some reason I have to transfer to the hospital in labor, I will be given to the Dr. On call and that makes me nervous. One of the on call OB's tries to section everyone! The doula assured me that she will advocate for appropriate care. I trust her but I'm just not sure what to do.
My husband isn't much help. He tells me to just do whatever I want.

Can't help you I am doing in hospital. Have you spoke with your current provider about your concerns and thoughts of going to a birthing center?

brownmouse · August 2014

Birth center for me. I want a homebirth like I had with DD, but since we live in a very old 500sqft apartment (neighbors, thin walls, upstairs shoo no birth tub, etc) a birth center is the closest I will get. Most midwives will go with you to the hospital if you have to transfer, and stay with you until you give birthto advocate for you. Some even have right at hospitals to deliver you.

MaineMama · August 2014

I keep torturing my husband- This is going to be my 4th Csection (To find a hospital that allows for VBAC after even one in my area I'd have to travel at least 2 hrs, booo Maine!) I would really like to have another natural birth, as my first section was after an unmedicated labor and at 9cm my water broke and his cord prolapsed.

Almost all our neighbors are Amish (no joke), so I keep telling him that I'm going to do everything I can to kick start labor in the few days before the scheduled section and pop that kid out on the living room floor. The Amish ladies do it all the time, I'm sure they would come help

He says my ass is getting thrown in the car the second he thinks I'm in labor. What a buzz kill.

marriedinaugust · August 2014

My first was at a hospital with a CNM from our OB office. Their policy was 12hr minimum stay. I gave birth at 3am and checked out at 5pm. We moved and are going with a birth center this time. Their policy is a 4-6hr stay after birth and the midwife would transfer with us to the hospital that is a block away in the event it was necessary.

BayCamp · August 2014

I'm a FTM doing a birth center birth. I'm nervous about the "in event of a transfer" situation but the midwives assured me that they will come with us and advocate. All in all our experience there has been fantastic. Very personal, the midwives really listen when you have questions and I've never felt rushed to get out so the next patient can come in.

weezy29 · August 2014

One of my best friends just had a successful, safe home birth today! It's pretty amazing if you ask me and if I weren't high risk(and a worry wart) I would definitely consider it. In total, she paid $3500.

soulcupcake · August 2014

I'm planning another homebirth. I really wanted one during my second pregnancy, but there weren't any practicing midwives in my area at the time. With my third, I came across a homebirth midwife that recently started her practice in the area. She was/is great, but the climate in NC isn't very friendly toward homebirth.

I went the same route with my fourth, but this time I was living in Atlanta, which has a fairly large "crunchy" community and a number of practicing midwives. I wasn't set on planning a waterbirth with my third due to lack of confidence in the time it would take to set up and thinking it would be futile in the end (I precip). But I gave in to the idea last time, and despite the birth tub being ready, no waterbirth. He was born quite abruptly on my bed.

My desire was the same this time, but now that I'm back in California, in Nor Cal, homebirth is considerably more expensive here. Coming up with $2500 (average cost in the South) was much easier than the going rate of $4500 here. So I wasn't very hopeful, but there is a free-standing birth center all of 1.4 miles down the road that I tried getting into, but they don't take my insurance. It's out of their network. Up until about three weeks ago I was dealing with major anxiety about that whole mess and desperately wanting to avoid birthing at a hospital. But I decided to give it another shot and call a few more midwives near me and I found one that offers a discounted program for those with my insurance. A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

This midwife, a CNM, is part of a cooperative practice with a CPM and OB, which I think is quite awesome. With every midwife I've used, the previous two were CPMs, in the event of a transfer they stay with mom as a doula, and the same would apply this time as she doesn't have privileges at the hospital near me (which isn't very baby/NCB-friendly).

soulcupcake · August 2014

At the birthing center near me, if mom and baby are fine, it's standard for clients to head home 2-3 hours after the birth, and the CNM also accompanies the client in the event of a transfer.

JunkieBrewster · August 2014

I wanted to, but the midwife practices in my area wouldn't take me. Their affliliated OB wouldn't take me, either.

I am now seeing an OB and MFMF at the hospital where I will deliver.

kgoodnow · August 2014

I had 2 homebirths and 1 hospital. I will not do another hospital one unless absolutely necessary. It was a transfer from birth center. They are much more regulated are least in my state than home midwifes. So homebirth again for me

majoraimers · August 2014

I'm headed into my 3rd home birth. We have amazing midwives and if transfer is necessary one of the midwives has practicing rights at the main area hospital, best of both worlds. I had two amazing home birth experiences with my first two boys and am so excited about this third labor and delivery.
The cost out of pocket, with insurance covering some of the cost, is $850 plus co-pays for ultrasounds and blood work. So very affordable. I would pay much more for the home birth experience and have in the past, insurance continues to pay for more and more.
I live in Portland, OR, if you're curious.

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Out of hospital births....

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