UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D

• 08-18-2009 1:44 PM

  BoldBeautifulBirth Joined on 11-08-2005 Puget Sound Area, WA Posts 630	UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact Please note this is on the NATURAL birth board, if you don't have anything nice to say about NATURAL birth, please don't post. There's a reason I didn't post this elsewhere: Just wanted to let you gals know I'm heavily considering an UC... yay me!

• 08-18-2009 2:26 PM

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  Dave's Buttercup Joined on 06-20-2008 Victor Colby Born 100% Naturally 1/12/2009 Posts 105

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact WOW!  Good for you!  I wish you the best of luck! Shyly, I think I draw my own line at home birth.  I REALLY enjoyed my "next-to-home" birth at my birthing center, and I really made a mess there during my labor LOL and I really don't think I could leave it up to DH to clean up everything, and I know I wouldn't be up to it for at least a few days, and that's just not the kind of mess that can wait.  I watched something on TLC called "Twins by Surprise" and this woman delivered twin girls that were BOTH footling breech by herself in the bathtub.  Talk about CRAZY!  She didn't know she was having twins either because she didn't have any ultrasounds and did her own minimally intervened obstetric care.  Now that is a lot of work to do on your own!  Any other practitioner would have made her have a c-section!

• 08-18-2009 6:29 PM

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  NoLongerDesolate Joined on 02-23-2005 North LA Posts 527

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact I totally think I could do it. But my dh is opposed to even a homebirth with a midwife. Out of respect for him (it's his kid too) I try not to even let my mind go to UC. Sometimes I wish it would just accidently happen. With that being said, it's obviously not a decision to take lightly. I recommend a book called "Heart and Hands." At least, I think that's the name of it. It's been about 3 years since I read it. It gets into the technical parts of giving birth and what to do. It was so technical I kind of lost interest b/c alot of the info didn't apply since I'd be in a hospital. I'm sure it would be great for a UC-er.

• 08-18-2009 8:02 PM

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  TawniAline Joined on 03-25-2004 Camby, Indiana Posts 699	Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact I second the notion about not taking it lightly- definately do your homework- and as long as you're not too proud to know when to draw the line and admit you might need another opinion i'm all for it- let us know what you decide :)

• 08-18-2009 9:54 PM

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  BoldBeautifulBirth Joined on 11-08-2005 Puget Sound Area, WA Posts 630

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact I would NEVER be so naive as to not get medical care if I felt I needed it. The safety of myself and my baby are my utmost priority. My dh is NOT comfortable with it at the moment, so we'll talk it over. If by 12 weeks pregnant he's as uncomfortable with it then as he is now, what I'll end up doing is a mw assisted hb but with my mw staying in the shadows. My good friend will be my mw, and there are some things we'll need to work through (how often she needs to do fetal monitering, vitals, etc.. in comparison to how often I want them done). But nonetheless, I'm still excited at even the possiblity. :-D

• 08-20-2009 1:47 PM

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  hcjfctc Joined on 01-24-2008 Keira Joy born 10/19/2009~Virginia Beach, VA Posts 390

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact Honestly, I'm not ok with UC's simply because things can go wrong. Even if you have been present at many births, you stil may not be able to recognize when something is wrong. Where as a midwife who has done this for years and may even have medical training is more knowledgable of what is normal and what is dangerous. My mws will just be like a lifeguard at a pool. My mom is gonna be my coach and will pretty much being doing all that work, while the midwives will be looking for any dangers and to make sure everything is ok with us once the baby is born.

• 08-20-2009 2:31 PM

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  ~Sonia~ Joined on 09-19-2006 Posts 233

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact Can I ask...what are your reasons for wanting a UC vs. a midwife assisted hb?  Just curious...I'm completely in favor of homebirth, but I'm just wondering how you decide on a UC vs. a midwife hb.  I'm TOTALLY NOT being sarcastic or judgemental...I'm just really curious!  :) I could never do a UC...I am not trained medically to know what potential problems to look for, and doubt I would recognize them while in labor even if I did.  I completely trust my body, but I like the safety of having someone trained and experienced in childbirth present to be guarding the process and watching out for the safety of me and my baby.  AND, dh would never go for it...I *barely* talked him into a homebirth!  :)

• 08-20-2009 9:25 PM

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  *Christa* Joined on 09-06-2005 Posts 475	Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact Yeah for you if that's your choice.  It's not for me, but I am all for supporting others in there choices & we know you'd do your "homework".

• 08-21-2009 8:36 PM

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  BoldBeautifulBirth Joined on 11-08-2005 Puget Sound Area, WA Posts 630

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact I have complete faith in my body to birth this baby without the intervention of others. I feel that without the distraction of others in the room (besides my husband) I will feel completely uninhibited and will be as relaxed as ever to give in to my body to birth. Unfortunately for me, I just CANNOT convince my husband of this - and I can't do it knowing he's not comfortable because I won't be able to get in to the right state of mind if I'm subconciously wondering about him. So unless he changes his mind in the next few months, then we'll prepare for another mw assisted hb. Although this time I went with an even more hands off midwife than before, and am asking her to basically stay in the shadows. She's even agreed to be in another room as long as I agree to do the doppler ever 30-45 minutes and vitals every hour to 90 minutes. I don't plan on calling her until the very end of the labor anyway, so I doubt she'll have time to do either of those things more than once (last time my mw got there and I was already pushing).

• 08-25-2009 2:53 PM

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  Goldie and Luke Joined on 03-20-2007 Posts 16	Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact Congratulations! I, too, am planning a UC sometime towards the end of October or beginning of November. It will actually be a UBAC.

• 09-07-2009 2:50 PM

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  Lisa3141441 Joined on 11-25-2008 Posts 274

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact Personally I think that its up to you. I have thought about what would happen if I didn't get out of my own tub in time to make it to the hospital this time around. I really didn't want to go to the hospital with this baby. my last one was a hb that was great. I plan to labor in my own tub for as long as possible before going to the hospital. I have though about what I would do and I think (if all was normal) I could totally do it. I really don't want to, But if YOU do want to do it, then go for it. Of course have your back up plan (which you already know). I hope that it goes well for you and your baby. Many many well wishes and please keep us informed!

• 09-07-2009 6:07 PM

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  dinee3177814 Joined on 01-07-2009 Posts 1

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact Hi there! This is my first time on this message board. Just had my beautiful baby boy aug 25th. My first, Had him at home with a midwife, in my backyard in a rented birthing tub. for me, the idea of going to the hospital was out of the question unless it was medically neccessary. I found that the other women I met either going to the birthing cottage or staying at home were all very healthy and read/researched a lot about the whole birthing experience. It is so important to properly take care of yourself from the start. To nurture that minime! So many complications can be prevented that way. Of course there are other complications that can arrise, but a good midwife will utilize modern medicine in the way it was meant to be. Women deliver thier babies, not doctors! But modern medicine does have it's place. Midwives also have oxygen, IV's, make sure there is an emergency back up plan, and know how to deliver babies naturally, where as ob's really only know how to perform surgery if absolutley anything goes wrong. Now, not all are like this. I have heard of some pretty amazing OB's that give the power of birthing back to the woman where it belongs. Watch "the buisness of birthing" by ricki lake. It's pretty amazing! Sums up all that I learned while researching the pros and cons. Oh, in the Netherlands, 60% of the births are homebirths, and they have a lower Mortalitky rate that us here in the USA. We also have one of the worst C-sections rates too! And remember, women and babies die in hospitals too. Said, but not even hospitals have all the answers. Most important, things do go wrong. Simple things that you being in labor may not be able to handle. Your baby is the most precious thing to you and your DH. Don't take any chances!! Write a good birthing plan and make sure your husband ENFORCES IT! You could find a hosiptal that has midwives or dulas. I hope this helps you is some way.

• 09-08-2009 11:09 AM

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  BoldBeautifulBirth Joined on 11-08-2005 Puget Sound Area, WA Posts 630

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact Thanks for the advice, dinnee :) I've already had 3 children and a homebirth before though - no way would I ever go to a hospital (unless medically indicated). I'm a doula and have a few friends that are midwives, I went with a friend of mine that agreed to do the absolute bare minimum and stay out of the way :) My husband is happy with that, and I'm happy knowing I don't have to worry about my dh being a baby, LOL

• 10-23-2009 8:04 PM

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  ~willowtree~ Joined on 04-29-2009 Posts 287

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact boldbeautiful: i have known quite a few people who had UC, and some had very happy endings, others had serious trouble. one family i knew, the teenage daughters put their feet down and said, "mom, you are NOT doing this again, or we will not assist you" because of the ensuing issues with baby and mother  (but they are all fine now).   another family stopped employing midwives because they never got there in time, so the mom just focused on trying to get to the bed in time so the baby didn't fall on the floor. ;-)  (i'd love to have that kind of labor!). so i really think the decision depends on alot of factors, but you have a very proven record, so it is like you already know the drill. your body "has it figured out", and you have a good idea by now how it all works for you. honestly, you are at the point where you can totally make that decision in a very informed way. best of luck, and i hope it all works out for you to have the birth you want....

• 10-23-2009 10:06 PM

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  nbennwife Joined on 02-02-2006 California Posts 13

  Re: UNASSISTED CHILDBIRTH! :-D Reply Contact BEAUTIFUL! All 3 of my children I have had in hospitals, and was not happy.  I have always wanted a home birth.  While TTC this time (I am currently hoping to concieve!)  my DH and I have decided on a HB.  I have VERY fast labors.  Baby #2 was 2 hours...baby #3 was 26 MINUTES!  I figure with #4, I will wake up, push and pop goes the baby, LOL!  However, we have discussed UC and HB with a MW and we have decided on a lovely midwife who knows I really want to just do it myself and she will be there "for my husband."    I applaud you for following YOUR plan, regardless of a MW being present or not.  You know your body, your limitations and you are already trained in recognizing issues in labor as you have been a doula.  We can each only choose what we ourselves feel is right for our families and if you decide on a UC, that is YOUR choice! We will keep you in our prayers and hope that no matter what, your experience is the one you have always dreamed it would be!  God Bless!