Homebirth

theletlers · November 2017

I should also add I was induced, first I had cervadil which basically looks like the string of a tampon and had to have it inserted and left in for twelve hours. They told me to plan for two rounds of it and then pitocin but I would be there for a couple of days. However I started to have contractions right away from the cervadil and had back labor all night (which is when I had the nubain.) In the morning when they took it out they said my cervix was soft enough we could just go straight to pitocin. But I luckily had an awesome nurse who only gave me a small dose of it since I was already displayed two centimeters and having regular and progressing contractions. But about 45 minutes afternoon pitocin started my water broke. And then an hour later they kept telling me I was only 9.5 cm but I'm pretty sure they were just stalling until my OB got there! Once he did I said ready let's go. Pushed for seven minutes and out came baby!

Kendrajos · November 2017

@Pearlvirus

"What's going on? A range of experts made clear to me that there isn't any one factor to explain the increase, but a number of issues, including obesity-related complications such as hypertension and diabetes, the dramatic increase in the number of cesarean section births, a lack of access to affordable, quality health care and more women giving birth at older ages"

From your article. Yes increased c/s is mentioned. However many hospitals are trying to cut back on those. Many women who have needed an emergency c/s like myself would have died without one, our children would have died as well. Sure there are doctor's that push for them, but I have never met one personally. Your article is 2 yrs old and I don't think it's relevant to the home birth discussion. Home Birth is a sensitive subject for me, my aunt's son was stillborn due to a homebirth, he was her 5th homebirth. Sure homebirths can be great but know the risks, know that just because every other birth you've had was easy and uneventful, this one isn't guaranteed to be the same.

Oh and since you mentioned maternal mortality, I think I should share the this.

https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pmss.html

Cardiovascular diseases, 15.5%.
Non-cardiovascular diseases, 14.5%.
Infection or sepsis, 12.7%.
Hemorrhage, 11.4%.
Cardiomyopathy, 11.0%.
Thrombotic pulmonary embolism, 9.2%.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, 7.4%.
Cerebrovascular accidents, 6.6%.
Amniotic fluid embolism, 5.5%.
Anesthesia complications, 0.2%.

curleemama32 · November 2017

I don't know how you ladies remember all the details like how far dilated and how much of what they gave you during delivery...it's all a big jumbled blur to me. I remember the big moments, but wow! You have great memories!

Ceridwen77 · November 2017

curleemama32 said:

I don't know how you ladies remember all the details like how far dilated and how much of what they gave you during delivery...it's all a big jumbled blur to me. I remember the big moments, but wow! You have great memories!

I wrote all of the details of my birth story down within a week after birth. I thought my memory would fade over time too and I didn’t want to forget. I think the act of writing it engrained it in my memory. Almost 2yrs and it feels like yesterday!

motherof2monkeys · November 2017

@JNCPro3130 5cm and you didn’t break a sweat? I would like that please!

@Cerisrichard I’m a hypnobirthing advocate too! It really helped with my second labour. I’d recommend it to everyone! It’s quite empowering isn’t it?

Pearlvirus · November 2017

@Kendrajos I’m glad c-sections are possible because they save lives. And I’m sorry for your aunts baby. I have personal reasons against hospitals so yeah there’s a fair bit of emotional reasoning going on around here. All I was saying is that woman and babies die in hospitals too. And that the water is way muddier than you make it sound. For the record, I am not planning a homebirth.

Pearlvirus · November 2017

Ceridwen77 said:

I wrote all of the details of my birth story down within a week after birth. I thought my memory would fade over time too and I didn’t want to forget. I think the act of writing it engrained it in my memory. Almost 2yrs and it feels like yesterday!

I did this too. I mean I wrote down the stories, but I did it because the paper needs to be my memory as I have none, lol.

suchaglencoco · November 2017

@curleemama32, sometimes I forget they were even c section babies, haha. I don't know how some people have such great memories!

o_so_in_love · November 2017

mamabird515 said:

My sister has 5. 4 routine, medicated, hospital births. 3 out of the 4 Long labors with several interventions (membrane sweeps, water being broken, epi) and honestly, rather dramatic, but that’s just the way she is haha Her 5th at home was peaceful, relaxed and on the babies schedule. She labored in the tub and and shower and eventually had a water birth, with her 2 year old on my lap watching. Babies have a beautiful way of understanding what’s going on, especially if you explain it to them. My oldest niece saw sibling number 3 born and thinks it was the most amazing thing. If you’re comfortable with it, involving the family in the process can be so beautiful.

Are you considering a home birth as well?

nanifrog · November 2017

@curleemama32 I think I found both so traumatizing that I remember every detail.

purple2779 · November 2017

Never. My son was born with an unforeseen birth defect and needed high level care immediately. The hospital staff picked up on his issues five minutes after birth. They were amazing!

JNCPro3130 · November 2017

@motherof2monkeys, LOL yep! In fact, I got to 6cm and wasn't in active labor. I could feel the Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing major. I had a FANTASTIC birth and it being my first I was pleasantly surprised. I will say, when I share my birth story I have people jokingly say they hate me. LOL I hope I'm not tortured by a ridiculously long delivery this time.

laurentzfactor · November 2017

Hi everyone, I thought you guys would be interested in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's very well researched statement on home birth: https://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Planned-Home-Birth, and information from UpToDate (resource of medical evidence)

Of course everyone should make their own decisions. Some key information here:
- Planned home birth is associated with fewer maternal interventions than planned hospital birth
- Planned home birth is associated with more than twofold increased risk of perinatal death (1–2 in 1,000)
- Planned home birth is associated with a threefold increased risk of neonatal seizures or serious neurologic dysfunction (0.4–0.6 in 1,000)
- First time mothers had between a 23 and 44% chance of an emergency hospital transfer (vs. 9% for women who have had children before).

Basically, at home, you do get fewer interventions (c-sections, episiotomies, etc.) of course. There is a very small risk of increased death or seizures in your baby. For people who have had children before, roughly 1 in 10 women will have to be rushed to the hospital urgently. For first time moms, that number is somewhere between 1 in 4 to 1 in 2 women.

I completely respect everyone's choices here. If you do decide to go through with a home birth, consider at least having a certified nurse midwife (CNM) attend your labour. These professionals, while they cannot provide advanced care from home, will generally be able to recognize if you're getting into a dangerous labour situation for you or your baby.

Ceridwen77 · November 2017

@laurentzfactor thanks for providing research based information!

For anyone who wants to reduce their chances of interventions like episiotomies or c-sections, you should research your doctor’s rate of performing these procedures.

The ICAN sure will show you c section rates. https://www.ican-online.org/physician-cesarean-rates/

gildah · November 2017

Thanks @laurentzfactor
I would also make sure your provider has an excellent relationship with a hospital nearby....ideally, they should have hospital privileges. The doctor who was supposed to do our homebirth also delivered at a hospital. It made transferring so much easier.

mamabird515 · November 2017

@o_so_in_love we were but my H got a new job and our insurance covers maternity care 100% so spending 4000 on a homebirth seems really hard. I had a really great birth with my son and ended up only being in the hospital 15 minutes before delivering (2.5 hours of actual labor total) and while it was filled with some frustration (I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the times I was told “you’re a first time mom, you don’t know what you’re feeling, and this is going to take a while”) I’m glad my stay was quick.

Sounds like you are though? I hope you have a wonderful experience and can’t wait to read about it after!

bcmountainmama · November 2017

@o_so_in_love
I’m definitely considering a home birth! The hospital near us is amazing too though so we can’t decide!

sourapple1784 · November 2017

I am. I’ve had three uncomplicated vaginal hospital deliveries. One of which was all natural (labored at home and got to the hospital to have her 30 minutes later). I believe that in a normal, low risk pregnancy, doctors are not necessarily needed. We don’t need a doctor or nurse to “help” us do what our bodies were designed to do. I absolutely hate the fact that there are strange people poking, prodding and looking all in your most private areas during a very special and intimate time in my life. I was very uncomfortable with my first two but with my youngest it wasn’t as bad because all they were there to do was catch her. My hubby could have done that. I’m not in fear of something going wrong. I have a plan in place to handle a few things and am roughly 10 minutes from the hospital in case of an emergency. Majority of women give birth without any complications. That’s what I focus on. We’ve managed to give birth without doctors since the dawn of man, why now do we need one? I think the US has caused an unnecessary fear among women about birth. Majority of women here view it as some medical procedure that needs the attention of a physician but yet we have the worst rate of maternal deaths in the developed world. And we also have the highest number of hospital births. A lot of times, the doctors and nurses interrupting the labor process are what cause the issues that end in induction and or c-section or other issues with Mom and baby. We really need to spend time educating ourselves on this issue and not just leave everything at the hands of our doctors.

bcmountainmama · November 2017

@sourapple1784

I completely agree. Where I live it’s standard practice for midwives to deliver the communities babies, whether in home or in hospital. They leave the decision to have a home or hospital birth up to the parents, stressing that they the midwives are equally comfortable with both options so it’s merely a personal choice for the parents. Either way, Doctors don’t play a role at all unless specifically requested, or needed.

callthemw · November 2017

Yes! It's the right choice for me and my family. Also, according to the research birthing with midwives at home or birth center is safer for multips than hospital and equally safe for primip. These of course are low risk people meaning they don't have an existing disease.

I'm so glad we have the privilege to choose where we give birth and have competent professionals in the home birth setting.

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