Comments on: Why A Home Birth? Here are my 33 reasons…

By: Kendra at New Life On A Homestead

Kendra at New Life On A Homestead — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:40:05 +0000

Lindswing-

I’m glad to hear you had such a wonderful experience! I just want to clear up one myth- home birthing is not (or doesn’t have to be) as messy as you make it sound. I didn’t stain a single sheet or towel, and doubt I’ll ever find “leftover splatters in crevices” of my home It was actually quite easily cleaned up, and quickly, by the midwives.

By: lindswing

lindswing — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 05:18:27 +0000

If you look for hospitals operating under the WHO Baby Friendly Mandate, you can have so many of those things, and not have to worry about staining any of your own bedding, carpet, towels, etc or finding leftover splatters in the crevices of your home! We had a midwife delivery in our local hospital (with valet parking and pre-filled out paperwork), let the umbilical cord finish pulsing on its own, my son laid on my chest undisturbed for over an hour and was helped to latch by an IBCLC before even my husband got to hold him, I had no IV, labored in a tub/shower and on a provided yoga ball and in all sorts of interesting positions (many suggested by the L&D nurses!), ordered off a room service menu full of delicious options (while in labor and afterwards), and was waited on by women who love their job during my entire stay (under 48 hours from check in to check out), including two visits by IBCLCs, just to check on me. Whew, that was quite a sentence. And it’s no ritsy, expensive hospital; I live in a little bit of a hick town. I guess I just want to defend hospital births in the right places. I had an incredible experience, but I know that not all hospitals (not many hospitals!) are as great as ours. But some of them are! And I would have been so worried about getting fluids all over my house and my amazing bed. Plus, it got me out of my house so that my mom could clean it for me while I was being visited by all our friends in a space that didn’t invite people to stay for an hour (unlike my living room, yeesh).

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:27:21 +0000

I’ve never heard of a hospital as Meggan described! That would be wonderful, and maybe I wouldn’t hate them so much if I had had a better experience when I had my first child. I’ve since had 4 homebirths and absolutely loved each one. I know they aren’t for everyone though, and I totally support each couple’s right to decide what is best for their family.

I pray all will go well for you Kendra.

By: Anne Alagna

Anne Alagna — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:32:08 +0000

I support homebirth for those blessed enough to have uncomplicated births. I have done it 4 times and will continue to do so if I am blessed with any more children. I am so excited for you to be blessed with this opportunity! As always, you are in my thoughts.

By: Rachel R

Rachel R — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:28:28 +0000

I’m looking forward to our 3rd homebirth in 8 – 11 weeks, I’ve had 2 at 37 weeks and only Vannan went to 40 weeks.

Kendra was a homebirth that transported – my water broke at 37 weeks, but no labor and my blood pressure was borderline. I was induced, pushed for hours, and ended with a C-Section. I hated that they door was always open and there seemed to be a constant parade of new faces coming to look and oogle at me. I was self-consious, HOT, and they wouldn’t let me off those HORRIBLE machines for a minute. The bed was too high and I didn’t get to use the bathroom like I needed to – plus no food or water. It was my worst nightmare. Then I didn’t get more than a glimps of Kendra before she was whisked away for hours. I couldn’t go get her (they way overdid the dosage on the pain shot and it was nearly 12 hours before I could move much, let alone walk) and Tim had run home to shower and change. I was frantic.

Vannan was a home birth, only 2 days “late” and was great except her umbilicl cord was wrapped around her ankle leaving the cord short and she would jerk the placenta as she crowned causing bleeding. The midwife did an episiotmy to get her out faster – not knowing why I was bleeding, but she was too far out to transport. I was fine after they unwound her ankle. They left her cord alone and just wrapped her up with the placenta to help her maintain her temperature and stablize her due to the mild birth trama.

Joel was going to end up a C-Section because of my blood pressure. But I was able to get it down without medication, and at the last minute – after my water broke at 37 weeks, 4 days – we called the midwife and asked her to take us anyway. She did. It was the perfect birth – not painless – but nothing bad happened. I only regretted that because we chose to do it at the birth center (my house wasn’t ready), the girls were not there for the birth.

Now we are looking at #4. I know it will be different from the others. And I’m ok with that. I only regret that my mom won’t be here for this birth – she died on Mother’s Day. She helped deliver both Vannan and Joel. We named all of our children after their grandparents, and this one is hers.

I would add to the list that my two girls are excited to be able to see/eperience the birth too. We’ll play it by ear with Joel.

You are in our prayers for a great homebirth experience.

By: Abbigail Gutierrez

Abbigail Gutierrez — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:43:50 +0000

I am on my way to my 4th delivery in September and I have chosen a homebirth for the first time. I am so excited. I beleive if you can do it and are not against it, then right on! My friends and family are shocked too but i have many more reasons. My last delivery was only 2 hrs so i dont even think I will make it to the hospital anyways. I was always annoyed with the nurses coming in every 2 hrs to make sure we were fine and waking us both up to check us, telling me not to hold my baby when I slipped into a nap cause I might roll on her( You are gonna wake me up soon anyways I am sure it wont happen anyways). Good luck with it all and I cannot wait to read about it.