I want all of your input

• 09-02-2009 6:21 AM

  Dave's Buttercup Joined on 06-19-2008 Victor Colby Born 100% Naturally 1/12/2009 Posts 105

  I want all of your input Reply Contact Up until this point, I've always said I draw my line at homebirth.  But having read so many successful and amazing stories of homebirth, I'm really intrigued on the subject, and I'm considering it as a birthing option for my next birth, we are looking to get pregnant again in January 2010 (it's sneaking up on me!) I had a wonderful and amazing birth experience at a local birthing center, and because it went so well with the absolute minimal intervention of a fetal doppler for measuring his hr and my blood pressure, I'm really questioning the need to pack up and go to the birth center again for a birth then leave 12 hours later when I could be laying in bed with my baby.  So I'd love to hear your reasons for choosing a home birth and how you came to the final decision to have a home birth.  Thanks in advance!!

• 09-02-2009 6:50 AM

  In reply to

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

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact It sounds like if you've had a birth center birth you've already had a homebirth....just in somebody else's home so to speak :)  If you are within a reasonable distance to a hospital and have a trained midwife present at your birth it really isn't much different than a birth center.  Midwives carry anti-hemmoraghic medications, oxygen, and are trained in neonatal resuscitation.  Maybe start looking for midwives now, talk to a few of them and see how you feel?  Homebirths are as safe or safer than hospital births for low-risk women.  I have had three hospital experiences, all natural with the exception of a very late AROM (9cm for each of them...per MY request to speed things up).  I didn't like how I was ordered to lay in bed for intermittent monitoring...and I was in no mindset to fight them.  My third stage (delivery of placenta) was rushed and I believe caused more bleeding than necessary which required a shot of pitocin (intra-muscularly) to help with.  With my third I told DH I wanted a homebirth, but he laughed.  I dropped the subject.  After my third hospital birth I said very confidently that my next would be born at home.  I didn't let DH win this time :)  I'm having my homebirth/waterbirth with a team of two midwives in February.  I couldn't be happier about it!! Good luck with your decision!  I'm sure lots of other women here will have some great input as well!

• 09-02-2009 1:14 PM

  In reply to

  Mom~of~Munchkins Joined on 09-14-2005 Posts 237

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact Find a homebirthing midwife and have a consult. I took into consideration the delivery success of my first births and my proximity to a hospital. Though, the proximity to the hospital really didn't matter much, in the long run. The complications that would warrant a transfer that quickly could not have been handled by that particular hospital. Its a toss-up. Was your birthing center attached to a hospital? Would you need transport in case of true emergency or were there OBs on staff? If the answer to both of these is "no," then Sonia's right. You really already had a home birth. My nurse midwife spent several visits dropping off tubs of supplies for medical issues and emergencies. She had everything that I have ever seen at a hospital birth with her (with the exception of surgical equipment, other than what would be necessary for an episiotomy...which she said she's never had to use).  I don't think I would have had a home birth for my first child, honestly. I probably wouldn't have been even so brave as to go to a birthing center! However, I think the option becomes easier with subsequent births, because you now have a proven pelvis. The risk of anything is unbelievably low. The same as for anything happening in the birth center. You really have to assess the proximity of emergency care, as your only distinction. I am a great advocate for home birth, for the right moms. Its not for everyone. I remember reading your birth story and I think, barring any unforseen complications in the pregnancy, that you would be a fine candidate for it. I do recommend normal prenatal workups and ultrasound though. And to start with a homebirthing midwife early, because they are more about prevention of problems than fixing them when they come up. Which means few medications (more herbal remedies, like vitamin C for colds and papaya for heartburn), more diet management, and exercise. Let me know if you have any questions! I just did this in June and LOVED it. It was the best choice I've made in a long time.

• 09-02-2009 8:27 PM

  In reply to

  verybusymom Joined on 08-17-2005 DFW, TX Posts 149

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact I totally agree w/Sonia in that if you delivered in a freestanding BC, then you have come very close to having a HB already.You just had to travel to get there :) I had my DS in the hospital w/ a MW. It was a VBAC and my 1st vaginal delivery so there were a few things she wouldn't budge on, and I didn't have the energy to fight about it. She demanded continuous EFM. But I did forgo the IV, the oxygen finger monitor, and the blood pressure cuff. I wanted to be able to move around and couldn't w/all these things connected to me. My MW encouraged me to stay at home as long as possible (I was almost 8cm when I got to the hos) and to be upright, out of bed and moving around for the entire labor. The EFM was a pain in the a** but I suffered through it. However, my movement was limited to how far the wires would allow me, so I ended up pacing around the bed, I felt like a caged animal and the movement kept dislodging the monitor so the nurses had to keep comin in to adjust it...they were not happy and kept telling me I would be more comfortable and it would be easier on me if I would get in bed. Easier on who? Me or you was my standard response. I followed my body's instincts and that was def not to lay down. Immed. after he was born MW gave me a shot a Pitocin (w/out my knowledge or consent, she just did it as part of routine mgmt of third stage of labor, had I known I would've refused unless bleeding became an issue) She was ready to discharge me w/in a few hours of delivery but the pediatrician refused to release my baby until the next day. All in all it wasn't a bad experience, and minus the EFM and the pitocin after it was a natural birth w/no interventions required. Considering all the problems other women have in even getting a VBAC I considered myself lucky to have had such a supportive MW. But for this birth I wanted intermittent monitoring and I wanted a WB and I wanted to go home ASAP (if I am fine and they tell me my baby is perfect and healthy then why are we in the hospital???). But b/c I am a VBAC I was told by my MW that the 1st 2 were impossible she demands continuous EFM and the hos doesn't consider me a candidate for WB and refused to put me in the WB room. As for going home imm I was told its up to the pedi and if I take my baby AMA they will prolly call CPS on me.  None of the BC in my area will take me--again w/the VBAC! So the only way to get my WB and not have to fight over refusing continuous EFM and standing guard against suprise shots and being able to go home w/ my baby ASAP was to go for a HB. This was not a decision I made lightly. I did a lot of research on the topic of HB, uterine rupture, and HBAC. I have read countless studies and articles and after hours and hours of research , I decided that HB is safe and would allow me to have the birth experience I was looking for. In the water, no stress, and no travel time. Instead of fighting to go home I can lounge in my bed and enjoy the moment w/my family uninterrupted. I found a MW in my area that will do HBAC and I got my insurance to pay for it (thats a whole other story :) and got my DH on board (again that was also another issue I dealt w/to get my HB) I encourage you to check out the following links and read about the safety of HB. http://www.homebirth.org.uk/ http://www.gentlebirth.org/ronnie/homesafe.html#safety http://www.acnm.org/Home_Birth_Resource.cfm http://www.collegeofmidwives.org/Citations%20or%20text%2002/BMJ_HmBirth_Jun05.html http://www.midwife.org/siteFiles/education/Home_Birth_10_08.pdf http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/rapidpdf/cmaj.081869

• 09-03-2009 11:34 AM

  In reply to

  BoldBeautifulBirth Joined on 11-08-2005 Puget Sound Area, WA Posts 625

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact My first two births were in the hospital with epidurals. When I became pregnant with Finn (baby 3) I know I didn't want any drugs or interventions - I felt the hospital was too 'tempting' for me. I didn't want to have to 'fight for my right' with nursing staff - and my husband is easily persuaded, and I knew he would have been talked in to things by the staff and then I'd have to fight with him too. I knew my best bet for getting the birth I wanted was out of hospital. So then it was between a birthing center local to me (independant) or home birth. The way I figured, I'd have the same provider at both places, and the same care (my mw cleans anything that needs cleaning after the homebirth, it's actually not very messy at all), and the out of pocket costs were the same with both the birthing center and home birth (for me). So: Same provider Same care Same out of pocket costs Same amount of 'cleaning' (none!) Almost exactly the same transfer time if I needed a transfer -- Why the heck would I drive to a birthing center then!? I remember the drive to the hospital being VERY uncomfortable, and figured - why not just stay at home?? So those were my reasons to stay at home, and after actually HAVING my home birth, I wouldn't want it any other way. I felt perfectly comfortable in my own home. I was in my space, and felt more in control because people had to do what *I* said/wanted, they were on MY turf... kwim?? About an hour after ds was born I was in the shower. About 2 hours after he was born, everyone left and my husband and I laid down with Mr. Finn and went to sleep! It was wonderful!

• 09-03-2009 8:16 PM

  In reply to

  Dave's Buttercup Joined on 06-19-2008 Victor Colby Born 100% Naturally 1/12/2009 Posts 105

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact That was definitely another question of mine... the mess.  My birth center was free standing, but very close to the hospital, like 7 mins from being in the birthing suite to an OR if need be, with no ob's in the birth center, but there are two ob's on the board of admin.  I made a huge mess during my labor (probably why Victor was *sparkling* when he came out, there was practically nothing left in there LOL) which I spent on my feet, and hadn't I been checked before push time on my back obvoiusly (I didn't know what I was waiting for, I just felt like I needed someone to tell me it was ok to push instead of just listening to my body) I would've given birth on my feet.  I just remember standing over the giant pads and stuff falling out every where and water continuing to come out with each contraction, and I would get a tissue and wipe up any goop that didn't make it on the pad (I'm such a freak< I know).  But I like to hear from other people that have had homebirths that it really isn't all that bad.  I like the idea of having more control of the situation, and even though I accomplished all my birthing wishes, there are things that I am hoping I can do slightly differently for my next birth.  Being a first timer going through birth, and even as I educated myself as much as I could, I still felt like I needed some instruction... until the contractions got really intense, then I didn't listen to anyone LOL.  I really REALLY like the idea of not having to get up and leave, we were so content in our warm little bed especially it being mid January and about 20 degress F out!! But like all things, it had come to an end and it was our time to move along.   I want to be fully on board with this myself, before I go and try to talk Dave into it, which as far as I have read, can be a difficult task! OK so more questions I have (and I really appreciate all of your answers!): Mess factor, please don't be discreet Who all attends?  MW, Nurse to help MW and me after birth (my postpartum nurse was very hands on with giving me a hand and answering lots of questions, but like I already said I didn't know what to expect)  Where did you give birth in your house? Were your other children present for it? Did you have any extra hands around to help you?

• 09-03-2009 8:20 PM

  In reply to

  Dave's Buttercup Joined on 06-19-2008 Victor Colby Born 100% Naturally 1/12/2009 Posts 105	Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact Oh and THANK YOU SO MUCH for those links!  Saved me some google time! LOL.

• 09-03-2009 9:22 PM

  In reply to

  verybusymom Joined on 08-17-2005 DFW, TX Posts 149

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact I'm having my 1st HB this time around so I cannot answer your questions from exper. But I had the same questions you do and I can share what my plans are My MW wants me to have lots of clean, soft towels and washcloths, a couple of disposable vinyl tablecloths, a large plastic dropcloth (like the ones painters use) to go under the birthing tub, plastic bed pads, and a couple of large trash bags. She said the towels and washcloths will be reusable but...I will prolly just dispose of them :)  I am a neat freak and was really concerned about the mess too :) She said not to worry thats her job. Said mess will be cleaned up as we go. I was worried about the birthing tub--set up, filling, maintaining/monitoring the temp, and draining it w/all that "stuff" in it. She said she would handle all that too! I wanted to have the tub set up in my bedroom upstairs and have the baby there. DH was worried about the upstairs being able to support the weight of the tub but MW said its fine, she has them upstairs all the time. So as of now the plan is to deliver the baby in the tub in my bedroom. That will allow people to be at my house (downstairs) while I deliver upstairs :) When I had my DS I gave my DD the option of being in the room (she was almost 10) but in the end she decided to wait outside and a nurse brought her in seconds after he came out. This time she has the same plans. I have encouraged her to watch and she is welcome but I am leaving it up to her. I hope that my DS (he will be 4) will be able to witness the birth but we'll see how he does. If it upsets him or distracts me then he can just sit w/ sister and my Grandmother until right after. My MW will bring a trained birth assistant w/her (either a nurse or another MW) to help her and provide extra support for me, my DH of course will be there (I want him in the tub w/me but he is icked out by the thought of being in the water w/all that "stuff", so i'm still working on that :) and my best friend will be there, she is a massage therapist and is trained in prenatal and labor massage :) MW said that she and the assistant will stay for a few hours after to clean up, take down the tub, make me a meal (if my Mom doesn't beat them to it :) and "tuck me into bed" How great is that! I invited my Mom and my MIL to stay in the room and watch the delivery, my Mom says she doesn't think she can handle seeing me in pain but MIL was excited about the opportunity. MW said anyone that I want is welcome to stay in the room--as long as they are open and support HB, no naysayers or worriers allowed :) So, thats my plans. My Mom usually stays for a few days after to take care of me. Gotta love the Moms!!!

• 09-03-2009 9:37 PM

  In reply to

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

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact Well a lot of my reasons could be resolved by going to a birth center, but here are some reasons why I chose home over birth center. 1 is definitely so I didn't have to be on the road while I was in labor and I could just enjoy my baby with no interruptions. 2 home is where I am most comfortable and they say the more comfortable you are the easier it is to relax during the labor. As for clean up, I haven't personally experienced this is this is all hypothetical, I'm having a water birth which really can be done it any bath tub and that makes for an easier clean up. I was, however, able to find a cheap birthing pool online for less than $100 including shipping that would make it even easier and comfortable since it's inflatable and not hard like regular bath tubs and also you don't have to worry about straining anything out so it doesn't get clogged in your plumbing. I also bought towels, sheets, etc from Goodwill that were cheap and if anything, I could just throw them all out when it's over with. I'm sure your MW will have some advice and give you a better idea as well.

• 09-04-2009 4:04 PM

  In reply to

  Mom~of~Munchkins Joined on 09-14-2005 Posts 237

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact Mess factor, please don't be discreet There was no mess. None. I bought vinyl backed table cloths ahead of time to line the floor of the bedroom and for under the birthing tub. She brough chucks pads and lined underwear for me to wear in labor under my nightgown. I had the baby in the birthing tub, got out, walked to the bed (which was also covered in a vinyl backed table cloth and chucks pads), nursed, we did the stats on the baby, I nursed again, and then I took a shower. After I showered, I nursed again and during that half-hour or so, I dozed off....when I woke up, everything was gone. She used a sump pump into the toilet to drain the contents of the birthing tub, which was lined with a liner. Everything was gone within a half-hour. The placenta for me was the most "icky" part. I felt a contraction coming on just after the cord was cut (and stopped pulsing). I stood up and she caught it in a tupperware tub and disposed of it in a haz waste bag (that she took back to her doctor's office for disposal). I think the most amazing part was feeling the cord for pulsation to stop. I was the one who told her when to cut! Who all attends?  MW, Nurse to help MW and me after birth (my postpartum nurse was very hands on with giving me a hand and answering lots of questions, but like I already said I didn't know what to expect) I had my certified nurse midwife on hand and she had an assistant (training to be a CPM) who was also a doula. I was allowed anyone to be in there at any time. She stayed as long as I needed her, which was only a few hours after birth. Where did you give birth in your house? We have a large master bathroom, so we put the inflatable tub in there. I labored in the master bedroom and in the hallway before entering the tub. Its good to have hose-access to a toilet and a sink or washer hookups. You just buy a hose attachment that fits the faucet to fill the tub. Then, the hose attaches to the sump pump and goes into the toilet. Just a normal garden hose does the trick. Were your other children present for it? No. And if there is one thing I regret, it is this. My husband was worried about the "gore" of it all. I figured that I had swayed him into a home birth. He needed control over something. So, we sent the kids next door for the birth. They would have been so thrilled to be there; in fact, my 4 year old was thoroughly pissed about it for days. LOL Its important to have someone there JUST for the baby, though. So, someone other than daddy should be there to tend 100% to the needs of the baby. Did you have any extra hands around to help you? I did not. It was me, daddy, MW and CPM/doula. I was actually out playing with the kids within 12 hrs of the birth.  You know, everyone warned me of the mess (most of them had never seen or done a home birth, though!). There was less mess for my home birth than any of my hospital births. In the hospital, I basically bathed in the fluid, mucous, and blood for a few hours while going through labor, birth, and getting my "epi-legs" back. For Aizy, I had sat in it so long, that it was like glue to my body. It was humiliating. I never once felt dirty in the home birth. Not once. And there was nothing left to show for it in my house, either. The only thing left behind was the sports bra that I wore in the birthing tub.

• 09-04-2009 7:37 PM

  In reply to

  Mom~of~Munchkins Joined on 09-14-2005 Posts 237

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact BTW: Some midwives supply the tub for you. This is the one I used. I definitely recommend a waterbirth for your home birth, but baby must be born completely submerged, so one of these (or similar) is best, rather than using a bathtub or jacuzzi tub. http://midwiferymercantile.com/labassinedetail.aspx It was so comfy! It inflates for the sides & the bottom, so its like you're sitting on air!

• 09-05-2009 6:12 AM

  In reply to

  Dave's Buttercup Joined on 06-19-2008 Victor Colby Born 100% Naturally 1/12/2009 Posts 105

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact   It sounds like you had a really amazing water birth!!!  Thank you for sharing all of your information!  It's really nice to know that the midwife took care of everything for you after the birth, and did an even better job than the hospital did (really, that wasn't a shock to me LOL).  I imagine the water caught all the stuff that would otherwise be all over the place had you given birth elsewhere.  That sump pump thing sounds like a really nifty tool! I'm really up in the air about having my son present, if things go according to plan, he won't even be two yet, and probably "in the way" of birthing and a distraction (which isn't what birth is about)  Have you ever felt like "it's this current baby's birth, and there wasn't anyone present for the first one's birth, so why shouldn't I give this baby that same amount of attention at birth?"  I don't know if he'd be old enough to understand or even appreciate what is going on, but I don't want to say that for him without knowing what he will or will not be like at that age.  I definitely know I am not interested in a water birth.  I am the kind of person that needs to be on my feet; I thought I would love the water to labor in with my son, but two contractions later and I was scrambling to get out, I just didn't like the feeling for whatever reason and I didn't even think twice about getting  back in at any point.  It just isn't for me.  So just even looking around at my house, I'm having a really hard time imagining where I would give birth in it.  I'll just keep searching for ideas from everyone else's stories!!

• 09-05-2009 8:46 AM

  In reply to

  verybusymom Joined on 08-17-2005 DFW, TX Posts 149

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact Mom~of~Munchkins: BTW: Some midwives supply the tub for you. This is the one I used. I definitely recommend a waterbirth for your home birth, but baby must be born completely submerged, so one of these (or similar) is best, rather than using a bathtub or jacuzzi tub. http://midwiferymercantile.com/labassinedetail.aspx It was so comfy! It inflates for the sides & the bottom, so its like you're sitting on air! This is the same tub that my MW has and I will be using. Great to hear how comfy you said it was. :)

• 09-14-2009 10:54 PM

  In reply to

  BoldBeautifulBirth Joined on 11-08-2005 Puget Sound Area, WA Posts 625

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact Mess factor, please don't be discreet Well, I DID ruin the couch - it had to be thrown out - but it would have happened even if I planned a birthing center or hospital birth. I happened to be sitting on my couch during labor and my water broke. It was an upholstered couch and the af just seeped in to everything. Other than that - no mess. My midwives followed me around with chux pads if I needed to walk someplace, and there were already pads for the places I tended to settle. Also, the bed was all fixed up (even though I never got in it) - I had my regular clean sheets on the bed, then a plastic liner on top (a plastic shower curtain from Dollar Tree), then some throw-away sheets on top of the plastic liner (bought them at Ross for like $3). The plan was to birth on the bed and not worry about chux pads or anything, then just throw away the top sheet and plastic liner and have a ready-made bed all set to go afterward :) Who all attends?  MW, Nurse to help MW and me after birth (my postpartum nurse was very hands on with giving me a hand and answering lots of questions, but like I already said I didn't know what to expect) My midwife, her assistant (another midwife), my husaband, and my good friend Tiffani (also a professional doula, as am I).   Where did you give birth in your house? I ended up birthing on the couch. The air conditioner was right behind it (it was summer and HOT) and it was already ruined anyway, so I stayed there, haha. Were your other children present for it? My other children were (at the time) 3 and 2 and I sent them to Grandma's house. Dh didn't want them there for the birth as he though it'd be too stressful. We're considering having the older children present for the birth in April '10 when they'll be 5 and over 3.5 (but my almost 2 year old will be with Grandma). Did you have any extra hands around to help you? Again, my husband and doula were present to help me. Other than them - no. My midwives and friend left about 2 hours after the birth (a little less actually). They cleaned everything up, got me some food and drinks, had us settled in our bed, and left us to sleep! I never had family or friends stay with us to help after the birth. Hope this helps!

• 09-23-2009 9:11 PM

  In reply to

  Mom~of~Munchkins Joined on 09-14-2005 Posts 237

  Re: I want all of your input Reply Contact I was actually a walker myself, too, during labor. I never sat down from the moment my water broke. I just wandered around the house. Finally, I would start to stand up after a contraction and then have another one before I even stood up, so the midwife just kidn of pushed me into the tub. LOL I didn't find it to be the "water epidural" that everyone thought. For me, sitting on my bottom didn't feel good and being on my knees wasn't really great either. It was good for me that I was only in it for like 15 minutes. LOL I actually think the warm water made my contractions stronger, but maybe it was just bc I was already well into transition. My midwife brought the birthing ball, the birthing chair, a TENS unit, massage treatments, incense, soft music...you name it. We had it. My labor was only a little over an hour and a half, so I really didn't need any of it.