Is anyone planning a home birth?

I was just curious if anyone is planning to birth at home.  As long as I make it to term, we are planning to have the baby at home and I was just curious if anyone else was in the same boat?

[sphillips]

I am planning on having a home birth. My dream is to make it to term with a head down healthy little boy and to labor and give birth in a birthing pool in my livingroom.

[Latrice414]

Home birth, oh no, not me, im too much of a woosie, a need to no there are alot of Drs and Nurses around and a lot of pain meds around lol.  It would be nice if i could do a home birth, maybe i could if i didnt watch the one channel about births, i see these women with midwifes and there sitting in a tub or pool and the last 8 hours of labor they end up going to hospital bcuz of the pain.  I wish both of you ladies the best with your home births, i ll be layn in a too little hospital bed lol.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I wish you both lots of luck too, but I will be in the hospital.  There are many reasons I prefer it that way, but the biggest one is that I want to be there if something went wrong.  You never know and I just feel it is the safest route.  But again, best ofluck to you ladies :)

[snowdancermeg]

Hi sphillips,  I am glad to hear that you are hoping for a home birth too.  I wasn't sure I would meet anyone else who was also hoping for the same thing.  Don't let the other ladies intimidate you.  I apprenticed with a home birth midwife for 5 years part time and witnessed 21 births.  I did see some complications, but there's really nothing that an experienced home birth midwife can't do just as well as any doctor in any hospital.  We did do a few transports...but in the event that someone needed to be transported, there was never anything that couldn't wait until we got to the hospital.  Usually you can see problems that would call for transport WAY before they become an emergency.  In fact, if you read the statistics, there are many better outcomes at home than in hospitals...shorter labors, many less decisions to do c-section, less infection...and in the end, you get to be in the quiet peace of your home with your amazing newborn and no one takes them away from you and you get to just stay there and bond.  In fact, many babies born at home take their first breaths without any tears or major crying because they are not so scared.  I can't think of a better, more peaceful way to introduce my little peanut to the world.  I hope we both have wonderful, healthy babies (head down and facing back) born peacefully into our homes, pink and breathing.  May God bless us with this.  If you want to talk more about it, I would love to.  If not, good luck!  But don't forget to let me know the outcome!

[lmc2132]

My health insurance company will not cover a home birth; I imagine this is a factor in many people's decisions.  If it was an option I would consider it.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

No one is trying to intimidate anyone....Simply answering the question and wishing the poster luck with her decision......

[snowdancermeg]

Sorry, I did'nt mean to offend anyone.  I just don't want anyone to be scared off by the thought that something might go wrong.  I support everyone's individual choices.  It's just that in many communities home birthing has a bad name and I have had many friends be greatly criticized as mothers-to-be for their choice to birth at home because of the idea that it is not safe.  I believe the contrary, and I just wanted sphillips to feel supported in her choice, and that she was making a safe choice as well. Thanks for the wishes of luck and support from all the other moms (especially Michelle, sorry, my intentions in my writing were good) regardless of our differences of opinions.  I hope everyone has a peaceful, healthy labor and birth no matter where they are!!! :)

[chantal21]

With my son I gave birth at a birthing center and loved it. I had a midwife who then had to retire and was assigned another midwife (who only did homebirths at the time) but was able to use the first midwive's center. Hubby and I are not ready to do it at home yet. This time around we are planning on giving birth at the center again (only 20 min. from my house) but the midwife I was assigned with my son, now has a birthing room detached from her house. We don't have insurance, so going to the hospital (unless there is an emergency) is out of the question as it is very expensive. I like going to the birthing center because as long as everything goes well, I get to go home within 2 hours of delivery. Love that part! =) Maybe down the road we will get brave and try it at home...but for now, as long as my midwife is around, I will conitune to use her birthing room. It's a home-like feeling, and very relaxing.

[Juana824]

Best of luck to snowdancermeg and sphllips with your decision on home birthing, but I too will be going to the hospital for the same reasons as Michele and Latrice.

snowdancermeg, I don't think the ladies were trying to be "intimidating" I think they were merely stating there reasons for not having a home birth...I have seen the same programs as LAtrice and th

I am praying that God blesses us ALL with healthy, pink babies with no complications!

[snowdancermeg]

Cheers Juana824!  I am with you!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Sorry sphillips...My 2nd comment was to the OP and not you.  Sorry about that.

[wanttobeamumagain]

Hospital for me. I could not live with myself if something went wrong. But good luck and each to there own.

[sphillips]

I'm not intimidated...or whatever...at all. I'm pretty excited for this experience. I'm confident in my body, husband's abilty to coach me, and my birth team. I thought seriously about staying at the birthing center but my home is actually 10 minutes closer to the hospital. So, I feel it will be 'safer' to be at home. Plus I'm afraid of being in hard labor and having to get in to a tiny car.   :)    Is there anything you are doing to prepare? I'm currently taking Bradley classes.
P.S.   you ladies are great. All of you. I've been told much worse things from my in laws.
  ;-)   I don't think any of you said anything bad.

Here's to the happy healthy labor and birth experience of our dreams!

[YvetteY]

Out of curiousity...how in the world would you clean up after a home birth...seems things would be a bit messy.   I know this was the norm 100 years ago so this isn't so unusual of a concept.   But I would like to know more details about it if you don't mind sharing?   How are you going to clear out that pool after you have the baby?   I saw someone on TV do this too.  Won't this be hard with no back support?  

[luvmy2girls]

I have had completely natural births.....just not at home.  I wish I could at home but insurance doesn't pay that way.   I think the more relaxed and confident you are in you surroundings the better your labor will be.   Good luck!

[sphillips]

Yvette, I'm not sure how the clean up happens. Luckily for my DH and I we don't have to do any of it. We set up the pool and they take care of the rest. They bring tarps for the floor and sheets for the furnature so that part is taken care of. I told my midwife I'd pay whatever it took to not deal with it, she said it was all included! They also do a few loads of laundry for you before they leave too!

[YvetteY]

That is very good to know!!   I saw something on Discovery chanel and the woman had the baby in her living room and in a little pool too.  I didn't see tarps and what not, so that is good to know you don't have to worry about the clean up.   Could you imagine if you're DH would have to clean that up!  I don't think mine could. I"m still worried mine won't make it in the c-section room without passing out or something.  

Good luck with your home birth and I do hope all goes well!!