Homebirth with a midwife?

[mum2hba]

Originally Posted by JGMOMMY I just think that if you could prevent something horrible from happening to you or your baby. why wouldn't you? I know that you could get into a car accident but you wear your seatbelt right? For me I would want all help and odds on my side. Its not worth taking a chances when you are dealing with your life and childs life.

Good point. That is why a homebirthing mother has a qualified midwife and good prenatal care, it's her "seat belt" for sake of illustration. We can't predict the future. I also believe that things happen in our lives not by chance, but for a reason. You needed to be in the hospital for a very good reason-it saved your life. Others don't need be in the hospital because of what happened to you, but because of them.
You can't base your plans for birth on terrible stories or wonderful stories.

I had extremely easy pregnancies and deliveries doesn't mean everyone will. When I had my second child, I went from 6 centimeters to baby in my arms in 23 minutes. I hope no one looks at that story when they are having their second child and base their birth plans on that. With my 3rd I was induced because I was 10 days late. I was in labor for 2 1/2 hrs with a pitocin drip, doesn't mean I expect someone having their third child to be induced with pitocin and only be in labor for a short amount of time. Every birth is different.

I am of the firm believer that a woman should weigh all her options and choose the birth plan that is right for her. Not based on fear, but on knowledge.

[Alisa]

Thank you all for your comments. I have heard so many great things about home births and women who wouldn't trade it for the world. I've never heard anyone say " I am never doing that again." If my widwife said this is not a good idea for you, I would listen. I have problem with treating a pregnancy like it is a disease.

With my first pregnancy, my doctor didn't really listen to me. They were going to induce me by a certain day, because my doctor was on call that day. I prayed that if I was supposed to deliver on that day that it would happen naturally. Well, the day before I was to be induced I started having really mild lower back pain/squeezes. I had my last doctor checkup that afternoon, and the whole time I was having regular squeezes in my back. I told my doctor and my nurse, I think I may be in early labor, cause it was different and I just knew, but expected it to be more intense. But, they blew me off. Well, my doctor decided to send me to the hospital that afternoon, not because she thought I was contracting, but so they could "monitor" me and get a petocin drip started in the wee hours of the morning so that she could deliver an induced baby the next day.

Long story short, no one believed I was in labor because my contractions were so mild, until they gave me a sleeping pill so I could rest up for the next day. Well, that made me relax enough to start really contracting, my water broke at midnight and my daughter was born at 5am that morning. Without any petocin! Also after my water broke and I was dilated to 8cm they told me I could have my epidural, I wasn't even sure I needed it and had not thought to ask for it, but I had already paid for it so I took it!

Anyway the point is I didn't like not being listened to, and the feeling of being on their schedule. I'm glad she came on her own, but not glad that the doctor I had spent all this time with wasn't even there to deliver her. I just feel like there has to be a better way that suits me and my family.

[CoffeeMom]

We used a midwife for prenatal care and she attended the birth of our son, but because we "turned" high risk toward the end of the pregnancy I was induced and he was born in a hospital with an OB and team of pediatricians present. I had such a great experience with the CNM, I would HIGHLY reccommend using one if you're interested!

Everyone I've talked to either in person or on mom's forums whose had a home birth has spoken very highly of it. Never came accross anyone who had anything negative to say about it! Whatever you decide, good luck and I really hope your birth is exactly how you want it to be

[lovinmylife]

The most important thing to remember is educate yourself! Don't let anyone push you into something that doesn't feel right. Do your research and trust your body. Birth is different for everyone, what is right for one person may not be right for another.

Now my experience...

With my first, I had a very bad pregnancy ending with 17 hours of pit, epidural, and then a c-section. I had a long recovery. Born 38 weeks 7lbs 12oz

Second child we tried a woman that was a Midwife and Naturopathic Doctor, the pg was much easier because she helped me with my diet and education on pregnancy and child birth. I had a wonderful home birth, labor was long and empowering. I had a mild hemorrhage but the midwife handled it well with out having to go to the hospital. I fully recovered within 4 days. Born 39weeks 6 days 7lbs 15oz

Third child, we had a lay midwife (very little medical training). We educated ourselves on hemorrhage and planned to not have much help from the MW. Easy pregnancy but I got impatient because she was 17 days past her ESTIMATED due date. A 9 hour hard labor, and she was born with the cord around her neck 5 times and once arround her arm. This was a great home birth but I was glad to have a midwife. Recovery was harder because I now had 3 children and I hemorrhaged again. Born 42weeks 3 days 9lbs 14oz

After reviewing the videos (lots) we noticed that the hemorrhage was most likely due to cord traction and caused by the midwifes. At this point we felt more safe birthing without a MW but close to a hospital.

We had our 4th child 3 months ago without a midwife. We did all our prenatal care as a MW would do, I kept detailed records. It was a very easy pregnancy and we live 1/2 mile from a hospital. I want to say that both DH and I feel SAFER at home by ourselves than with an attendant, but this is our personal decision and not one that I would recommend without lots of education and prayer. Labor was great and birth was peaceful and calm. This was by far the best pregnancy and birth! I did not hemorrhage and recovery was quick. Born on her EDD 7lbs 13oz

Trust your instincts!