Out of hospital birthers.

libertymomrn · July 2018

I would love to be able chat with other ladies planning an out-of-hospital birth!

Lets start out with a few questions-

Where are you planning to birth?
What lead you to this decision?
Anything else?

bdream0916 · July 2018

I'm not sure if mine could be considered an out of hospital birth, as it will still be in a birth center, but I will have a nurse midwife and a doula as well.

Due to the location I'm living in at the moment, I can't have a home birth like I wanted to. The birth center is the least medical environment that there is in my area, so that's why I went with it. My sister is a midwife, so I grew up in an environment where birth was viewed as natural and beautiful, not something to be done in an uncomfortable environment where you are hooked up to endless medical equipment

tosh24 · July 2018

Lurking to say that I'm super jealous of all you out-of-hospital birthers. I have an autoimmune disorder that affects clotting ability so I can't have anything but a hospital birth, even though I've called up the midwives and begged with each pregnancy lol. I have found that at least having a doula in the hospital setting has allowed me to receive the least amount of intervention possible, thankfully. I hope you all get to have the wonderful births you desire!

dragonette505 · July 2018

..also jelly of the home birthers/natural birthing center gals (sorry... never wanted to make that kind of mess at home! lol) years ago when i first got preggers (ended in mc) i was planning to use a natural birthing center... it looked so cool...aromatherapy, music, private suites with beds and private birthing pools, extended family/birth support friendly...sigh... but that was about 10 years ago....
I'm now turning 45 this weekend and have no intention of taking my old *ss anywhere but a hospital. lol.... I will likely still employ a doula, but that's about it. Lucky gals!!

libertymomrn · July 2018

bdream0916 said:

I'm not sure if mine could be considered an out of hospital birth, as it will still be in a birth center, but I will have a nurse midwife and a doula as well.

Due to the location I'm living in at the moment, I can't have a home birth like I wanted to. The birth center is the least medical environment that there is in my area, so that's why I went with it. My sister is a midwife, so I grew up in an environment where birth was viewed as natural and beautiful, not something to be done in an uncomfortable environment where you are hooked up to endless medical equipment

A birthing center is definitely considered out-of-hospital! It seems like it’s basically a home birth in a different home.

I am planning our 4th homebirth with the same midwife we had with our other 3. She has a beautiful birthing center, which my husband did the flooring for as a trade for her midwife services with our 2nd. She didn’t have the birthing center with our 1st, and I guess I got spoiled with the laziness of not having to pack a bag or drive anywhere when I’m in labor; I make everyone come to me.

Sometimes people think that I must be a “granola hippy” because I have my babies at home, among a few other less common healthcare choices I make. However, I’m not. I live in a totally yuppie suburb where my weekends revolve around my kids’ dance competitions and karate tournaments. Also I’m an RN and I have worked in hospitals, care centers, and work in home care and hospice.

The real reason I chose homebirth is because I am a big research nerd and the maternity model of care we have here in the US is terrible. We consistently rank among the worst of the 41 industrialized nations of the world for our maternal outcomes, as well as our neonatal and infant mortality rates. A couple years ago, the World Health Organization was getting several countries to gather scientists to work together analyzing neonatal mortality rates in the top 35 ranking countries in the world to try to identify what the top countries were doing that was different from the bottom countries. They had to extend it to the top 40 countries because the US would only agree that help with the study if our outcomes were involved, and we were not in the top 35 countries for our neonatal mortality rates. The countries that rank the best have far less OBs and far more midwives. They have a much more hands-off approach to childbirth. And they have many more babies born in birthing centers and at home. Here in the US, the standard is to treat pregnancy as a medical condition and childbirth as a medical procedure. The countries with the best outcomes are the ones that have learned to treat pregnancy and childbirth as a normal and natural part of a woman’s life. So I chose the provider and location that I felt gave me the best chance for a normal, natural childbirth, with the best outcome for the baby and for me.

LeahNicole · July 2018

@libertymomrn out of hospital birth isn't for me, but I really respect all the research and thought you've put into the topic. I love when people can make me see why something not as common is favorable for some people!

libertymomrn · July 2018

@cait32 Yes; I liked that thread! I never saw one for July, but I guess I could’ve started a July one as easily as anyone. I actually thought about it, but my pregnancy brain couldn’t think of anything to call it other than the “natural
childbirth” thread, and I know from other conversations on this board that the phrase “natural childbirth” is super irritating to a lot of people. So I opted to just go for “out-of-hospital birthers” instead.

I have ave no problem if we just resume that thread. However, I do think that homebirth and birthing center births are very similar and will have similar considerations and things to discuss. I think a medication-free childbirth in a hospital would be different, and have a lot of different things for those women to discuss, though it would share some similarities to out-of-hospital birthing. I actually think it would be a harder to have a med-free birth in a hospital and am in awe of those who are able to do it, so no disrespect is meant by saying it’s different.

merostomata · July 2018

We're planning to do a birth that's technically within a hospital, but it will be at the midwifery center's birthing center, which is modeled to be low-intervention and like a typical birthing center. They have a large bed, birthing tubs, balls and space to walk around which I liked, and I'll bring in a doula. It is on the same floor as OB/GYN though- women in my family have a history of failure to progress and have had C-sections, so I felt more comfortable doing it that way. I want to do a medication-free birth but know anything can happen so felt like this was a safe option, especially for a nervous FTM. They can wheel you down to the OBs in like 2 minutes if needed.

Also, in support of the monthly checkin too

KLS123 · July 2018

@merostomata I'm so jealous. That is my ideal birthing option that doesn't exist in my city. I will be shooting for a non-medicated birth in a hospital with a midwife and doula.

@libertymomrn I would love to do a home birth but hesitate due to the hospital that is in my neighborhood that I would likely be transferred to in the event of an emergency is abysmal.

merostomata · July 2018

@KLS123 we definitely lucked out~ I'm hoping it's as good as it seems

. Hoping you can find something at least close to what you're looking for and a good doula to guide you through!

dragonette505 · July 2018

cait32 said:

I started a non-medicated/out of hospital thread in June and figured we’d do one monthly. Quite a few people who hoped not to have an epidural chimed in on that one. Might be worth broadening it and just making it the July check in. I didn’t start it this month.

im delivering in a birth center again...I considered home birth but my house is never clean and I’d feel stressed about that. I loved going into that beautiful suite, having DD, and heading home 6 hours later.

well... I'm def trying for non medicated (barring any upcoming complications) so hope to see that thread! Will in hospital non medicated still be included?

dragonette505 · July 2018

libertymomrn said:

@cait32 Yes; I liked that thread! I never saw one for July, but I guess I could’ve started a July one as easily as anyone. I actually thought about it, but my pregnancy brain couldn’t think of anything to call it other than the “natural
childbirth” thread, and I know from other conversations on this board that the phrase “natural childbirth” is super irritating to a lot of people. So I opted to just go for “out-of-hospital birthers” instead.

I have ave no problem if we just resume that thread. However, I do think that homebirth and birthing center births are very similar and will have similar considerations and things to discuss. I think a medication-free childbirth in a hospital would be different, and have a lot of different things for those women to discuss, though it would share some similarities to out-of-hospital birthing. I actually think it would be a harder to have a med-free birth in a hospital and am in awe of those who are able to do it, so no disrespect is meant by saying it’s different.

I don't think there's any disrespect in saying it'll be different... it will! I imagine there's much more pressure to step up medical interventions in a hospital setting (its what they do). Ive been looking at doula services that basically work with you to start labor at home so you are not at the hospital as long. Basically they have super experienced doulas that set up a birthing space in your home, then get you to the hospital when its a good time to go. They have experience helping laboring moms keep to their birth plans (again unless its a medical emergency). I'm setting up appointments with two of these companies and i think its a great compromise for higher risk ladies who want to try to have a natural-ish hospital birth. My hospital is 5 minutes from my townhouse so its a doable plan.

stasiapsmama · July 2018

Hi all! I'm a 2nd timer(3rd pregnancy) and I'm gonna try again for out of hospital. My first I had in a city with tons of birth centers so I opted for that. I unfortunately developed gestational hypertension towards the end. It never got to pre-e but they treated me like I was going to get it any second. I felt very abandoned by my midwives, and credit a last minute doula hire for helping me avoid a c section by a really awful back up doctor. I wound up getting almost every intervention in the book (cascade) and think pitocin is the absolute worst( for me. of course I recognize that it's very useful for many, many people). This time i moved back to my native NYC which unbelievably has almost no birth centers. The big in hospital one just announced it's closing. I originally planned there, but just got fed up with all of the hospital bs, and treating pregnancy like a disease ( as a previous poster said) that once they announced the closure I made my decision to do home birth. My new midwife assured me that if I do have to go to the hospital again, she won't leave me and she'll do everything she can to avoid it. I'm really excited and hoping I get a second chance at a more peaceful experience.

alexaac · July 2018

I’m planning my third home birth. My first was in hospital and at 37 weeks I was pressured into a long awful induction with so many interventions. I had no previous issues but my bp was elevated at my 37 week appointment. Tests showed that there were no other symptoms but they convinced me my baby was in danger. When she had complications after birth they treated me like I was at fault. It was miserable. I had to choose between a better hospital much farther away or home birth for the next. And I’m so happy I went with home. Both home births were amazing experiences and I’m really happy it’s an option where I live. I have an incredible back up doctor if an emergency arises but it’s so nice to be cuddling by the fireplace with your new baby and older kids soon after birth. Using my own bathroom and eating decent food. I found recovery to be so much faster as well. Some people love them but I’ve found that epidurals aren’t for me. It made me sick and I tore so badly with coached pushing. My first was 8 pounds and I had so many stitches. My 9 and 10 pounders didn’t cause tearing at all. I could feel when I needed to push and when to relax.

KLS123 · July 2018

Do any STM+ have experience with the Bradley Method vs Hypnobirthing classes? Any first-timers that have already decided which route (or a totally different one) that they are going to go?

I like that the Bradley classes cover other aspects of pregnancy (nutrition, physical training, education as well as relaxation) but I really like to concept of hypnobirthing. I am considering taking the Bradley Method classes and also using the hypnobirthing tracks for meditations, affirmations etc. Has anyone done a combo like that before?

Out of hospital birthers.

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