Comments on Want What You Have: Why We Chose Home Birth

I just wanted to leave you an encouraging note on ...

2009-12-10T19:57:13.006-06:00

I just wanted to leave you an encouraging note on your choice to homebirth. My youngest son is now 3 months old and was born at home. He was 11Lbs 12oz and
23 1/2" long. His head measured in at 15. LOL It want easy but was the best thing in the world and I cant wait to do it again someday. We must have orderd from the same place(In his hands)because Isaiah has the same shirt in white and thats what we put him in after he was born. Good luck on your homebirth and the birth of your precious gift from God.
God bless
Renee

Heather - I think it's wonderful you've made this ...

2009-12-06T16:23:54.524-06:00

Heather - I think it's wonderful you've made this decision & will be praying all goes well. I often wish I was more informed about birth before I had Zai - I didn't even know that home birth was an option - although here in Australia they are trying to take away that option & a lot of women have been protesting this.
It sure is expensive giving birth over there. Take care!
Renata :)

You sound like you are in good hands with your CNM...

2009-12-04T08:49:37.707-06:00

You sound like you are in good hands with your CNM.In our state homebirth is not illegal but it is illegal for a CNM to do homebirths.

I've had two homebirths..one being a very smooth & straight foward breech birth
They were both over all positive & safe experiences. Many blessings to you on your upcoming birth.

Heather, I am so excited for your home birth. With...

2009-12-04T08:14:16.098-06:00

Heather,
I am so excited for your home birth. With our first we studied & decided was home birth was the way to go. However, God had other plans.
After 28 hours of laboring at home in which I could keep nothing down~ Not even water, I was so weak that I asked to go to the hospital. The nurse God supplied had two home births, so she basically kept the doctors out of the room while I laboured & he came in just in time to catch the baby. My second was an emergency c-section. I was 6 1/2 weeks early & the baby was transverse. my third was a VBAC so for safety sake I went to the hospital. Used a CNM. He was 10 lbs & only used nubain. they handed him to me & I looked at my husband & said "that was so easy I could do it again right now!" My fourth I again had at the hospital with a CNM & opted for no drugs. The birth went well. 9lbs 12 oz. My birth stories were all good, but I would have loved to have one right at home. So I get so excited when I hear of one. I will be praying for you. God bless.

I had a CNM instead of an OB/GYN with my son. I f...

2009-12-03T20:41:02.838-06:00

I had a CNM instead of an OB/GYN with my son. I felt like I got a lot more attention at my pre-natal visits although I'm not sure my hospital experience would have been any different. I briefly considered homebirth and almost immediately decided I was too chicken to try this without drugs! Plus I ended up with a high-risk pregnancy and birth. But I would really recommend having a midwife if at all possible too.

Very informative post without being overly preachy...

2009-12-03T20:29:28.339-06:00

Very informative post without being overly preachy or forcing your ideas on others. Nicely done as always.

I have looked into becoming a certified Doula. I would love to be present for more miracles coming into this world. Maybe someday I will realize that dream, as well as the dream of becoming and L&D RN.

Thanks for giving such a positive spin on homebirt...

2009-12-03T17:53:43.325-06:00

Thanks for giving such a positive spin on homebirth - I feel people are so uninformed about it. As I become more informed about safe and natural birthing, I feel more and more comfortable refusing what I deem unnecessary interventions. The doctors in my hometown are so quick to induce and do c-sections that their c-section rate at that hospital is 62%!!! I had a friend there that was induced 3 weeks before her due date for a "history of large babies," and wound up only being 34 weeks along.

I think I'm due about 3 weeks after you, and this time around (my first time) I will be delivering in a hospital with a CNM. That way I have access to the epidural and pain medication if I really feel I need it, but none of the pressure of an OB. This is also the most "natural childbirth friendly" hospital in the area, so hopefully that will also help.

Sweet Heather, well done!!! Hard to write a post ...

2009-12-03T17:39:50.865-06:00

Sweet Heather, well done!!! Hard to write a post like this but you have done so beautifully, and intelligently.

I am praying your home birth is everything you are dreaming it will be. Giving birth at home is the greatest experience ever. :) Trust in Him, in your midwife, communicate openly with her about how you are feeling right through your labour and birth - make sure you lead it! I can't wait to read about your birth story!

I am amazed that giving birth is so expensive in America - here in Australia a home birth costs about $2500 Aus dollars compared to it being FREE if you deliver in a public hospital - that's including prenatal care!!! Obviously it's much dearer to go to a private hospital, though the care in public and private are pretty similar - not good!! :( We've never had a free birth though as all our children have been home births. Some people couldn't believe we would put that much money into a personal midwife!! We have been happy to save the money for each one though, as home birth as been so important to us. Can't recommend it highly enough!!

All the best Heather! xo

You are going to LOVE your homebirth - I just know...

2009-12-03T16:26:41.596-06:00

You are going to LOVE your homebirth - I just know it! I had two unmedicated hospital births and then, due to lack of health insurance, I was forced to do a homebirth with #3 for financial reasons. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me! I would have done another homebirth with #4, but now I have insurance through the state and they won't cover homebirths. (Go figure! It would save taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars!)

The best part of the homebirth was how for the first time I felt like my baby was MINE! I held him for about 45 minutes before the midwife RESPECTFULLY asked, "May I hold him now so I can weigh him?" What a difference! In the hospital, the baby was their patient FIRST and FOREMOST. Anyway, I wish you luck and hope you will post the whole story afterward.

Anyway, I do have one tip for you: lay out the clothes you want to change into after the birth BEFORE the midwife gets there. It was kind of awkward to have her going through my drawers because I wasn't yet able to get up. I guess after she's delivered my baby, I shouldn't have felt so weird abuot having her see all my underthings, but I did.

Isn't it funny that giving birth to the baby that ...

2009-12-03T15:40:24.398-06:00

Isn't it funny that giving birth to the baby that grows inside "YOUR" body in "YOUR" home may be illegal in some states?! That just irks me to no end! I saw a show on home births on Discovery Health or something. A couple decided to give birth to their baby at home and then afterward, mama went to the hospital with a high fever or something relatively minor. When the hospital found out that she gave birth at home, they immediately called Child Protective Services. I was just stunned. How unnecessary and insulting.

Like you said, women all over the world give birth every day without a hospital and their mortality rates are sometimes better than ours. Just another example of how the government tries to control every freaking aspect of our lives...Lord help us if they get control of all of our healthcare...we may never have the freedom to give birth at home ever again! Don't even get me started!lol

That brings another question to mind...and don't answer if you don't want to...but I have a feeling you researched the savings of home birth vs. hospital birth. What is the cost difference?

I admire your decision Heather and although I'm a little nervous...I can't wait to hear all the details!

I think it's great that you are having a home birt...

2009-12-03T15:11:48.793-06:00

I think it's great that you are having a home birth - I ended up with an emergency C section with my daughter, and for me, I would rather be at the hospital just in case, but I love the thought of a home birth - what a wonderful experience you'll have.

I watched that documentary too and it totally chan...

2009-12-03T14:10:01.248-06:00

I watched that documentary too and it totally changed my idea about home birth. All of my pregnancies have been high risk with me having induced labors including pitocin. My last delivery with Little Guy was terrible because I got a cranky and tired anesthesiologist doing my epidural. The last thing you need when when you're giving birth is a sleepy cranky man slapping iodine on your back and getting ready to stick a large needle in your back.
If I ever have another baby I will decline all pain meds and pitocin if I can.

Heather, I just had my first little girl this Mar...

2009-12-03T13:56:56.362-06:00

Heather,

I just had my first little girl this March, also with a midwife, and I would not go any other way. Our state does not allow home births, but I am anxious to hear about your experience even though I am sure it will be a wonderful one. I am one of the first of my friends to have children and I am trying my hardest (without being pushy) to encourage a natural child birth and to go with a midwife. I have also heard too many "horror" stories like your birth with Bee. It is really sad that women in our society today do not know of all of their childbirth options and don't realize that most of the "medical interventions" are to benefit our male doctors not to help the laboring woman. This is such a hot and passionate topic for me that I really find myself having to watch what I say around my friends.

Megan

Heather, I am so encouraged by you and your choice...

2009-12-03T13:39:12.001-06:00

Heather, I am so encouraged by you and your choice to do a homebirth.
I had some issues having a hospital birth with my son early this year. I too felt NOTHING when he was ready to be born and I guess for some women that's exactly what they want, but for me, I felt like I missed out on something because they told me when to push and I felt like I had a disconnection with the birth, like i wasn't even there. I did feel pain before they gave me meds. but other then that, nothing. I'm glad that I have a choice and the awareness for next time. Since you posted you were doing a natural birth I have been researching it for the next one (whenever that is). We'll be praying for you guys.

Good post. I've been reading your blog for about ...

2009-12-03T12:27:24.376-06:00

Good post. I've been reading your blog for about a month now, but never posted a comment. I just delivered #3 11 days ago at a free standing birthing center with a midwife. I also had #2 there. #1 was in a hospital...almost exactly the same experience you had with Bee. We sought a midwife the second time around though for budget reasons. Then, fell in love with all the benefits of natural childbirth. We can not have home births in my state, which is why I was at a free standing birthing center...but honestly, I don't think I would have done it at home anyway. My midwife has two beautiful decorated and calming rooms, huge tubs and all kinds of niceties to help with labor. I LOVE using a midwife and always highly highly recommend them.

I would recommend a book call "Chirst Centered Childbirth" by Kelly Townsend. With #2 I was having a hard time trying to figure out how I would "cope" because I didn't like all the hypnobirthing and "use your inner strength" mentality that is in most of the books. Christ Centered Childbirth reminded me that I can meditate on scripture, pray through contractions and rely on the Lord's strength...because I knew I wasn't strong enough to do this alone. It also has some great chapters on what actually happens during childbirth...things I had NO IDEA about with #1. I understand childbirth so much better because of that book, and was able to learn to combat fears and anxieties while in labor, which helped to keep me progressing. A relaxed labor is so important. OK...I could go on and on. Sorry to hog your comments..just wanted to share.

Good for you for doing what you and your husband t...

2009-12-03T12:01:05.514-06:00

Good for you for doing what you and your husband think is best. When my sister-in-law, who is an RN, decided to have a home birth, she took a LOT of flack for it, especially from the medical community in which she worked. She says that it was the most positive, relaxed birth of her five deliveries. Hoping that you find it just as positive, too.

Good for you! Excellent post. There are so many mi...

2009-12-03T11:58:22.834-06:00

Good for you! Excellent post. There are so many misconceptions about home births and natural child birth. Like I said in my comments yesterday, my second child was a waterbirth (in a hospital). It was the most amazing, beautiful experience ever. Nothing complicated and it could have easily taken place at home. I'm glad you have researched the pros and cons and have arrived at a decision you feel confortable with.

I'm excited to hear about it after the baby is here!

Heather, I am so excited for you and nervous too!...

2009-12-03T11:40:32.020-06:00

Heather, I am so excited for you and nervous too! Feelings that are no different if you were delivering in the hospital! I wish you lots of luck and a happy, healthy baby boy! Be sure to let us know how it all goes. I'll be on pins & needles till I hear!