I'd done my research on our local hospitals years before we even started trying. Our community hospital has a c-section rate of over 35% with an epidural rate approaching 90%. The next nearest hospital isn't much better, and I've actually heard from their nurses that doula's are routinely asked to leave and that they've been given explicit instruction to increase their epidural rate as a revenue generating procedure. yikes!
The County hospital, which deals with a much higher risk population, has much lower intervention rates. However to deliver at the County, you must receive your prenatal care in their OB clinic, which has a large team of doctors. Appointments are will different doctors and you deliver with whoever is on call that day.
The next County over is much more granola than ours, and has so many good birth options. They have a birth center with awesome stats, and a well respected hospital that has impressively low intervention rates. There are practicing midwives in almost every OB practice. It is like night and day from our local options.
I chose my OB, Dr K., many years ago, before we started trying. She practices in the next county over and delivers many babies at the birth center. Skilled in VBAC's and breech deliveries, she believes that childbirth is natural. She has a small practice, just her and a midwife, and delivers all of her babies. It is a bit of a drive, but I feel like I'm in such good hands. I chose her because I really wanted someone who trusted pregnancy and birth as a natural process but also had the skills to handle unexpected risks.
We've had two appointments with Dr K's office, one with her and one with her midwife. I brought a typed list of questions to each appointment and they took plenty of time to answer the questions that I'd asked, as well as many others that I hadn't thought to ask. I feel like they really care about me, and want me to feel cared for.
So, last night ML and I are watching this documentary that included some footage of homebirths. ML says "It looks like homebirth is the way to go." I agreed because I really do believe that for a normal healthy pregnancy homebirth would be an awesome option, then paused as my mind repeated what he'd just said, and asked "Are you saying that seriously? Would you really want to do a homebirth?" He was, and he does. And its all that I've been able to think about since.
18 comments :
I would have loved a home birth, but Hubby not so much...and it really didn't seem to be in the stars...I hope it works out for you!
BOBB is one of my favorite things to watch and I recommend it to just about every woman I know. It's just fascinating to me what I didn't know before, and it seems so many women still don't care that they don't have the info. I know at least 3 friends of mine had to have emergency c-sections, and when they recount their birth story of all the drugs/interventions they were given, I can't believe they are so blind to the correlation.
I'm glad that your DH is on board with a homebirth, and I hope that everything goes smoothly as you plan for it. Can't wait!! :)
Oh forget to mention, I just found out threw their FB page that Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein are releasing 4 new DVDs to go along with the first one, called "More Business of Being Born" I'm excited to see it :)
I REALLY wanted to have a home birth, but I decided on that too late (about 5 months along) and couldn't get into a midwife. DH was on board, but after having Noah in the hospital, home births make him nervous. I think he just saw how much pain I was in and it always made him feel like things were going wrong. So yeah, he's afraid of things going wrong and not being able to get to the hospital on time (we're 25 minutes from the hospital).
I am now afraid of homebirth for the simple reason of the excruciating pain of labour and having zero pain relief. I wanted to go 100% natural, but I had to be induced b/c of high blood pressure, so I am hoping that that was why it was so terrible. Regardless, I ended up with a fentanyl pain pump. It worked for like an hour and after that it was completely useless. I'm ashamed to say that if I had been offered an epidural (my hospital didn't do them at the time), I would have taken it. It was just so much worse than I thought. Induction sucks.
Still, I like low intervention birthing. I'm going to try and get a midwife next time.
I love the idea of this - but R would NEVER go for it. He is determined that we will be in a hospital 'just in case.' Also, part of my insurance is through the VA and they won't cover it, so I am more or less stuck. Good luck!
Good for you. My bff just delivered her little boy at home.
They're both happy and healthy as can be!
Right now I'm researching and planning on having a home birth. The problem I'm finding here is that I can't find an OB that will follow me and back up the midwife if I decide to go that routine. All of them have told me that if I decided to go that route they will release me from their practice. It's very frustrating. I'm waiting for a little bit more information, and am having a high-risk OB reveiw my information and give her input (I'm considered high risk because of my age). I'm hoping to make a decision around 12 weeks.
Best of luck! I look forward to following along with this part of your journey.
My bestie from childhood is a Doula and had a home birth with her 3rd (a 10lb baby). It's defiantly possible and I'm sure you'll do great with it!
Yay granola county! If I'm so lucky to get to give birth again, I will certainly try for a home birth. I live in a small town, with only one midwife and I absolutely love her. Unfortunately the medical community around here isn't on board with the whole idea of lost revenue, er, I mean home births. They tend to be a bit unwelcoming of those that tried for a home birth and end up in the hospital (midwives and doulas aren't welcome either). I'd be tempted to see both OB and midwife, without telling the OB, just for a smooth backup plan, if needed. That way if I were to show up at the hospital in very active labor, there would be no wasted time explaining that deep down I am a hippie - we could just get down to business and get this baby out healthy! Good plan, huh?
I think a home birth would be great for a low risk pregnancy. I would love to have a midwife too but they won't take me where we live because of our mono di twins. I haven't seen the movie but have read Ina May's book and other books about natural childbirth and the whole over use of intervention makes me squeamish. I can't believe that the hospital was actually pushing epidurals to increase revenue! If your hubby is up for it i would strongly consider it.
I wish my husbby woudl be on board with more natural birthing ideas. He still can't believe I'd even consider a natural birth.
I hope things continue to go well!
I love your new web address! It made me smile. I'm so glad you and your hubby are on the same page about having a home birth. Good luck getting all the details lined out!
I am planning a home birth, its a very respectable and responsible decision for low risk woman. I wrote a blog entry about it not too long ago. There were lots of ppl giving me flack, but I'm sticking to my guns. I mention in the blog that I'm in canada where the midwives and OB's work well together, It sounds like you have that same sort of situation...sounds perfect.
http://seaofbabybumps.blogspot.com/2011/01/im-safety-girl.html
Go for it! If I'm ever lucky enough to get pregnant I want to have a homebirth. It's kind of hard for us here though, as it's technically not legal. Not the homebirth part, but the homebirth assisted by a midwife. There are midwives who practice underground, but when you fill out birth certificate paperwork you have to say that it was unattended, otherwise the midwife could face prosecution.
www.brandysheaif.blogspot.com
Isn't that documentary awesome????? I am too much of a wuss to do a home birth (my pain tolerance is near zero) but I think it is an amazing process.
Sounds wonderful. One of my best friends had a home birth a few years ago, it all went well.
I think it's great when someone can have the birth experience they want. I definitely wanted an epidural (pain was TOO much) and I needed the reassurance of a hospital. For me, it was perfect. I hope you get everything the way you want as well. At the end of the day, all that really matters is that you have a healthy baby!
Lots to think and talk about in terms of your birth plan. Hope that you both come to the option you most feel comfortable with, and that when the time comes, that all will unfold as you wish.
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