Having first homebirth

• 08-14-2008 6:32 PM

  Coastiewife Joined on 12-06-2006 Elizabeth City, NC Posts 35	Having first homebirth Reply Contact   Second baby, first homebirth... What do I need/need to know?

• 09-19-2008 12:46 PM

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  BoldBeautifulBirth Joined on 11-08-2005 Puget Sound Area, WA Posts 624	Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact  Trust your body.

• 09-26-2008 12:18 PM

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  erin78657 Joined on 02-07-2008 Posts 238	Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact  awesome choice!! start by reading both of Ina May Gaskins books & go from there.... how far along are u & do u have a midwife youre happy with?

• 09-26-2008 1:15 PM

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  ~ lisamarie ~ Joined on 02-26-2006 Caden~Oct. 2006 #2 Due April 14, 2010 Posts 635	Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact I will be following this thread since I am in the same boat..just found out I am pregnant wiht #2 and would love to have a home birth......

• 09-26-2008 8:18 PM

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  lil nugett Joined on 11-20-2006 CA Posts 256

  Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact I've had one homebirth and doing it again for a second time. I think one of the most important thing is to find a midwife that your happy with. i had DD 21 months ago and still talk to my midwife. were not using her this time around bc we moved out of state. The second most important thing is you nee to believe and trust in yourself that you can do it. It also helps if you have friends and family that are supportive of choice. With DD I went into the labor and birthing at home blinded. i didn't want to read or learn anything about a homebirth or labor even bc i was afarid that all that stuff would scare me. Hope this helps

• 09-27-2008 8:52 AM

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  upholding birth Joined on 04-07-2005 NE Indiana Posts 413

  Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact read everything you can get your hands on. Information from doctors, articles everywhere and especially birth stories. You'll soon notice differences in how care is handled. here is my reading list:look at your locl library and if they don't have them, check for an inter-library loan in your reference department. Books about Cesarean and Birth 1. Open Season by Nancy Wainer Cohen 2. Silent Knife by Nancy Wainer Cohen 3. VBAC Very Beautiful and Courageous by Lynn Baptisti Richards 4. Artemis Speaks by Nan Koehler 5. Birth After Cesarean; The Medical Facts by Bruce Flamm, M.D. Books about Pregnancy and Birth 1. The Secret Life of the Expectant Mother by Carl Jones 2. Mind Over Labor by Carl Jones 3. Husband Coached Childbirth by Robert M. Bradley, M.D. 4. Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly *** Read 5. A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer 6. Choosing Waterbirth; Reclaiming the Sacred Power of Birth by Lakshmi Bertram 7. The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger 8. The Guide to Natural Childbirth by Ina Mae Gaskin 9. Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn; Everything You Need To Know by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, and Ann Keppler 10. Hard labor by Susan L Diamond 11. Birthing From Within by Pam England 12. Giving Birth by Catherine Taylor 13. Emergency Childbirth by Gregory White M.D. 14. Birth Reborn by Dr. Michel Odent The History of Obstetrics and Birth 1. Rediscovering Birth by Sheila Kitzinger 2. The American Way of Birth by Jessica Mitford Obstetrics and Medical Research 1. Obstetric Myths Vs. Research Realities by Henci Goer 2. The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer 3. Unassisted Childbirth by Laura Shanley Parenting Books 1. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International 2. Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor Other Books 1. The Death of Common Sense; How Law is Suffocating America by Philip K. Howard; atty 2. The Medical Racket by Martin L Gross 3. Miracle Cures by Jean Carper 4. Wise Woman Herbals for the Childbearing Year by Susan Weed 5. The Intelligent Patient’s Guide to the Doctor-Patient Relationship 6. Calcium; Nature’s Versatile Mineral by Gene Spiller 7. Women’s Health Solutions by Gary Null, Ph.D. 8. Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler Other< 1. Video: Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper . 2. www.birthlove.com (you can find at archive.org ) 3. unassistedchildbirth.com 4.midwiferytoday.com 5.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html 6. geocities.com/upholder_of_birth 7.mercola.com 8. garynull.com 9. susanweed.com 10.hencigoer.com 11. ICAN-online.org 12. icpa4kids.org 13. birthingwithin.com 14. gentlebirth.com 15. breechbabies.com 16. lotusbirth.com 17.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Pager&DB=pubmed 18. DONA.org 19. birthjunkie.com 20. kellymom.com

• 09-27-2008 8:57 AM

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  upholding birth Joined on 04-07-2005 NE Indiana Posts 413

  Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact Oh, and if you haven't already, write a birth story of your first birth, go over anything you have questions about, even get records, not just reports, but doctor notes and progress notes etc from your previous birth. And think about the birth you want, if money or anything else were not a factor, write a birth fantasy. It doesn't mean you will get it, but it is good to concentrate on and decide, it can change after you learn more too.

• 09-27-2008 1:19 PM

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  Chamelyan Joined on 10-30-2007 Midwest Posts 119

  Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact  Read anything you can which supports natural or home births.  Prepare a positive mantra of your birth, such as "I will have a loving, safe birth at home," and tell it to yourself every day.  You may get a lot of negative reaction to your plans, but keep telling yourself that you are making a safe, healthy decision for you and your baby.  Trust in your body, baby, and your ability to birth without needless interventions.  Write a birth plan.  Keep your body healthy and work on your flexibility and strength (yoga is a low-impact workout).  If you decide to use a midwife, hire one that compliments your personality and is completely supportive of your childbirth views.  Hire a doula; she can assist you in addition to your midwife.  Some midwives will bring a birth crew along, but they're usually focused on what to prepare for the baby, when you push, and to help clean up after the delivery.  You also have the choice of a UC if you can't find a midwife you're happy with. You'll need to get a birth kit set aside in the later part of your pregnancy.  There are some online stores which can supply you with tinctures, scissors, and cord clamps, but most materials will be available locally.  There are so many other things I could mention, but they've escaped me!

• 09-29-2008 11:22 AM

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  *Christa* Joined on 09-06-2005 Posts 461	Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact Trust in yourself!  I can't remember are you getting a doula?  I would defenitally get one.  I have no experience in homebirth myself, but wanted to wish you lots of luck fellow bb member!   I know you can do it!

• 10-06-2008 4:17 PM

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  YeeHawGamMaw9 Joined on 11-01-2004 Kansas Posts 1,922	Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact Pray & breeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaathe slowly.
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• 10-19-2008 6:25 PM

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  Coastiewife Joined on 12-06-2006 Elizabeth City, NC Posts 35

  Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact Well I have 5 weeks left! I do have a midwife that I like but I have only talked to her on the phone due to the fact that she lives somewhere else. It sucks but this was my only option. I live on an island and there are NO midwives here. I did contact a few different ones and eventually decided on this  one. I am still seeing an ob since she doesnt live here to give me prenatal care. I am having a hard time with this... she wants me to continue seeing an ob but I really hate to. I have turned down all tests an plan on turning down the one that is left. The only tjhing I go in for is h/b, weight and b/p. The OBs Ive seen have been so/so about it and its annoying. Im not sure if I want to u/c if she doesnt make it on time. Shes flying out a week before Im due and staying with me until the baby is born. My only worry is tearing because with my dd I had a VERY uneeded episiotomy. Oh and HELP with the herbs I need for GBS! For my own reasons I plan on not getting the test done and my m/w is supportive of that and said there are lots of things I can do to ensure not having it but I was in such a rush last time I talked to her I didnt get to ask her what to get for it.

• 12-15-2008 2:49 PM

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  Katrinangel Joined on 06-05-2006 California Posts 7

  Re: Having first homebirth Reply Contact That's a GREAT list of resources! Thank you. I read Childbirth Without Fear while pregnant with my son, and highly recommend it! Dr. ***-Read (hilarious that they censored out his name, by the way) was a man ahead of his time. I like him even better than Bradley, because he was always against episiotomies, too. He had tremendous faith in the female body, that we were built for this and that it wasn't meant to be painful. Gave me faith, too. I'm in the same boat as this poster--second pregnancy, first homebirth!! If you're interested in the book Childbirth Without Fear, the first part of the Dr's last name is the nickname for Richard. I appreciate the censoring of profanity, but it's too bad it makes it impossible to plug this book.