homebirth vs. hospital with midwife

betho- Glad that you are happoy with your decisions and not second-guessing the way things turned out. You are choosing the route that is best for you..and that's what it's all about.
BR- yes, you have time. Glad you are going to speak with the midwife. Be sure to ask HER what HER backup plan is should she be sick/on vacation when you are having your baby.

One problem with counting on a home birth is that, if the expert you were planning on to be there and help you through it has car trouble, you might end up in the middle of a midwife crisis.

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Less barking! More wagging!

Don't forget a doula! (I'm one!) I would LOVE to have a homebirth myself but we haven't done that yet, I seem to have rather rapid/hard labors and never the right kind of support! I HIGHLY recommend Hypnobabies program no matter WHERE you deliver. If I can help answer any questions please PM me. Our bodies were designed to birth naturally, if you read up a lot you will learn SO much that will encourage you and give you confidence in your own body. We are amazingly and beautifully made! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

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A closed mouth gathers no foot.

You have to do whatever you feel comfortable with. Personally when I interviewed midwives, I didn't want a homebirth at all costs midwife, I wanted a transfer or refer out as needed midwife. I have friends though that feel that my midwife is too cautious for them and went with someone else, so just like people, there are different kinds of midwives (or OB/GYN's for that matter), so make sure you get what you looking for.

That said I had #1 in the hospital with an OB, had complications, induced early, ended in emergency c-section. #2 was back when they did VBAC's and I did a "natural" VBAC in the hospital with a midwife, honestly wasn't that much different from the OB though, not really, they are there longer though. #3 I had at home with a direct entry midwife, I labored in the tub but ended up getting out right before I pushed. Personally, I would only do a hospital birth again if there was a medical need for it, just giving birth isn't a medical need, I'm not against the hospital and would go if I needed it but would avoid it if I could. I've done it all ways, home wins hands down, by a long shot.

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Idleness is leisure gone to seed

Congratulations!

I've had six babies; 4 at home. I wouldn't dream of a hospital birth unless it was absolutely necessitated. There is just no comparison between hospital birth and home birth. It's like the difference between a hot house tomato and a garden-grown tomato. Sure, they're both tomatoes and sometimes you just have to settle for a store-bought one but once you've had the latter you just don't want to settle for the former again!

By the way many, many, many complications are created by hospital and/or OB practices - and then they tell you, "oh..thank goodness you were in a hospital!" If you haven't seen it "The Business of Being Born" is very informational. And I *love* this article on taking charge of your birth - whether in a hospital or at home.: http://mothering.com/pregnancy-birth/off-her-back

Good luck and God bless you and your baby!

Just had to chime in here--4 kids, last 3 were homebirth. Actually, 1st one was a birthing center in Topeka, and that was very close to a homebirth, also (just not our home).

My midwives were AMAZING--actually saved me from 2 c-sections (doc confirmed that). One would have been from 'failure to progress' and the other would be from a cord entaglement. By God's grace, all kids are fine and I would do homebirth again in an instant. LOVED IT!!!

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Common sense is not so common.

Let me preface this by telling you all that I am male.

How hard can it be to deliver a baby, basicly they come out whether you like or not, all we have to do is be there to catch them and then make sure the mother baby are safe. Sounds simple, maybe if I ever have kids, I will deliver them myself.

If I had to chose though, I would prefere to have the kids at home with a respectful and kind midwife rather at some cold hospital where they force the kids out with drugs and treat patients like mechanics treat cars.

Am I the only one thinking I don't WANT to have my kids at home?
I don't want to deal with the mess, I don't want to deal with my other kid(s), I don't want to have to worry about the laundry that has taken over the couch...

I liked being in the hospital (complete with kind, respectful midwife). It's like being in a really expensive hotel.
With room service. (and a funky bed that comes apart!)

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

Erin, you have a point.

Ideally though, you would have family to help out, to wash the clothes, to clean the mess, to watch the other kids, to make you meals and pamper you.
That is what home and family is for, to love you.

But, you have a point the hospital has it's good side also.
maybe the mother should decide, because she is the one going through the situation.

My midwife and assistants did the laundry, changed my sheets, warmed up oil and a poultice. The hubby and kids all helped and were a part of the birth. My sister made me tea and toast after the birth. My midwife did all prenatal's at our home so by the time you actually give birth they are practically family, she knows your husband, kids, house. I don't know about other peoples midwives but mine was there for the entire birth and hours afterwords and then came I think 3 times that first week (starting the very next day) and then every week for 6 weeks. You just can't compare home and hospital, I like the tomato analogy, it's just an entire other experience.

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Idleness is leisure gone to seed

Congratulations! I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do. Personally, I am with Erin on the "mini vacation" idea. It was nice to be able to relax. I know myself, and if I had my children at home, I would be up and moving instead of resting and enjoying the peaceful one-on-one uninterrupted time with my new baby.

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Chick with a gun.

I'm with you. I am also thankful that I got to the hospital to have my first that were born at 24 weeks. Had they been born at home, I know they would have died. All the others were overdue. Our hospital is great. I did not feel pushed to do anything I didn't want to do. All were born natural, no epidurals (except the first when I had no choice), & spent every minute with me in my room.

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I can't believe I deleted it!

That's another thing! I did want a natural birth but I loved being in the hospital. With a few exceptions, the staff for both my kids has been helpful, attentive, and it's kinda nice having room service I also had my first 2 kids in hospitals that put the focus on keeping the kid in the room with mom at all times, etc. Even when I had a c-section, while I couldn't go with my babies during my recovery, my husband was with the babies every step along the way. I suppose it does depend on the hospital, though.

Especially with my first, since I didn't have family around to help me. I briefly thought about a homebirth but we lived in a tiny cramped apartment and there was NO WAY I wanted to have a homebirth there - I wanted very much to have the baby in a nicer more luxurious environment. I even convinced them to let me stay an extra day because I didn't want to go home. This next time around my mom will be here like she was with my second, and it's a HUGE help at home, but still not the peaceful environment I had at the hospital.

The hospital that I'll have my third is a brand new one with a nice new "family birth center" that has big bathtubs, oversized sleeper chairs, and a nicely furnished suite with windows overlooking the mountains. Now I just need to find good OB

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Uncle Dutch Farms
Blogging from working city mom to homesteading housewife.
Rural Living Today
Encouragement for the Urban-to-Rural Transition
My review of the Piteba oil expeller

I'm with Erin- I liked the vacation. I see a homebirth like I see a staycation (you know, where you don't go off anywhere for vacation)- you're THERE, so whether you want to think about the work and stuff pilin' up, you DO.

But honestly, I think too much emphasis is put on how a mother feels when she is laboring and while her baby is being born- the point is to get the kid here, SAFELY- the method used to do so doesn't make a difference to me.

From the moment that child is concieved, it's all about the baby- it ceases to be about you.

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" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."

Chris Ledoux

FWIW, I had a very nice, uncomplicated, natural hospital birth. There was one witchy nurse when I first checked in, who got all ----y because I didn't want to wear a hospital gown (and didn't!). Other than that, all the nurses were kind, understanding, and pretty much left me alone. I found out later that my midwife has certain nurses that are accustomed to working with her and will request her "patients". Those nurses understand that there are people who are trying to avoid interventions and want to have an un-hospital-like experience. I was prepared for an awful hospital stay during which psycho nurses would try to force things on me and my child, but I was pleasantly surprised. I also wrote up a birth plan, just in case, explaining what I did not want (offers of an epidural, episiotomy, hospital gowns, etc). I highly recommend that, if you decide to go with a hospital birth. It's nice to just hand them a paper so you don't have to try to explain yourself while you're busy having a baby.

I also had a doula. I'm not sure that she made a huge difference, since my hospital was already pretty comfortable working with my midwife, but it was nice to have someone ready to advocate for me if the need arose.

I'm with the others, in that I think I prefer a hospital birth, or at least a birth center. But next time, I want to go home ASAP. There's no way I'm staying 48 hrs. I have a hard time sleeping away from home, and it didn't help that they kept wanting to check my baby's vitals and blood sugar. If I hadn't lost so much blood (minor hemorrhage), I'd have been GONE.

Good luck to you and your unborn baby. I hope you're able to find the experience you're looking for, whatever that ends up being!

Unfortunately, I do not have children and am well past the age of making home deliveries, but I do have over 4 years experience as an OB nurse and am going to tap in on that in what I say.

Obstetrics have come a long way since the late 70s when I worked OB. Back then, it was pretty sterile and impersonal. But that has changed. Most hospitals have birthing units now that are more like hotel suites than hospital rooms. They offer water birth, midwife assisted births, you name it.

I have to think of the practical here. Like Erin said, for many women this is the last break they will have before then return home to full time mother hood or resume mother hood to not only the new baby but to 2 or three kids that are eagerly awaiting the return of momma and the new brother or sister. They relish those meals they do not have to cook, the house they do not have to clean and the good nights sleep they are allowed to get before they go home. Not every one is lucky enough to have an extended family to help them.

Yes in most instances, giving birth is as natural as breathing. A womans body was made to give birth, but emergencies do happen. I have seen hemorrhages that would have meant the death of the mother if modern hospital facilities were not in play. I have seen babies that at the last minutes of labor went bad and were alive only because they could be transported to an intensive neonatal unit immediately upon birth. And yes, there has even been the maternal death from amniotic embolisms, and strokes from eclamptic strokes.

Yes, everyone has the right to make the decision of where and how to have their babies. The birth of a child is one of the most beautiful experiences in life. How much risk are you willing to take with your life and the life of your child. Ask yourself that question and keep an open mind. If you decide on a midwife. Make sure she is well qualified and experienced. If you want to deliver at home, what are the contingency plans if things go sour. How close is the nearest emergency facility? What sort of communication does the midwife have with an OB/GYN? Finally, scope out some OB units that offer alternate forms of delivery such as birthing rooms, and water delivery. They are out there.

Remember, the United States has one of the lowest instances of maternal deaths due to pregnancy in the world.

Most of all, be happy, have a healthy baby and an uneventful delivery, not to mention pregnancy.

I helped deliver 348 babies in my career as an OB nurse, two of them with my own hands and the hands of another nurse when the doctor didn't show up in time to play catch. Each one is a miracle and I am sure that most of them went on to have babies of their own.

The circle of life is a beautiful thing.

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I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here!

But of the industrialized countries, the US has the worst maternal death rate by far. Of 1600 maternal deaths in all industrialized countries in 2008, 1000 were in the US. See WHO stats:http://www.childinfo.org/maternal_mo...ountrydata.php See also Amnesty International's concern for US pregnant women:http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-u...ate-2010-03-12

Unfortunately most hospitals take a medicalized approach and the natural birth gets subverted in well-meaning interventions intended to prevent the worst possible outcomes.

I have been present at 7 hospital births (5 different hospitals, 6 different medical teams, 2 GP's, 3 OB births, 2 midwife plus hospital staff) and 6 home births. Without exception, in the hospitals, there was a chain of interventions leading to distress for the mothers. 3 of them were threatened with C-sections that fortunately didn't happen. Hospital staff are trained to help in danger situations. They often don't recognize that their helpfulness causes many of these situations to happen.

In one home birth, there was a required transfer to hospital of the baby after birth. This was smoothly accomplished with no danger to the baby.

If you and your midwife know the hospital will allow delivery without any monitoring other than the midwife's, then consider that. Otherwise, if there are no outside reasons, go for a home birth with midwives.

Studies I have read lists the US at 40 or 41st with one maternal death reported for every 4,800 pregnancies. That may seem high but look at the third world countries. I wasn't talking about just industrialized countries, I was talking about worldwide death rates.

There are countries whose stats on such things are so under reported that you would probably be shocked by the percentage.

With that thought in mind, whether it be one in 5 or 1 in 4,800, no woman wants to be that one who dies giving birth. Yes, the maternal death rate in the US is up. One of the leading causes of maternal death is due to cesarean procedures but maternal obesity and hemorrhage also figures in.

What would I do if I was a younger woman and pregnant? I wouldn't have a choice. I have a history of rheumatic heart disease and would be a high risk pregnancy under any circumstances. I would want the best possible care for myself and our unborn child and that child's best chances of survival along with my own.

I would have to go the hospital route, but if I was young, healthy and enjoy an uncomplicated pregnancy, I would use a midwife, but probably NOT at home.

I'm like ERIN, I want that short vacation to recover my strength before the regime of reality hits me in the face.

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I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here!

I had my youngest at home. I found it much nicer. It's quiet, relaxing, no machines with alarms going off (I have very low blood pressure naturally, I make the blood pressure monitors freak out), no IV's to freak me out. My midwife was aware of my medical history and also was willing to listen to what I was saying about the baby. I don't have textbook births--I go from seven cm to pushing in about 2 contractions, and it's very hard to get the medical professionals to believe that.
The doc who delivered my first two was great, the nurses so-so. The doc who didn't deliver my third was, well, not there. The nurses did catch the baby but didn't want to believe he was coming. They panicked very efficiently when my husband convinced them he was, but dumped two useless liters of saline into me--that was how long it took us to convince them to actually read my records they had right there. My normal blood pressure is around 88/42--we joke that I don't have blood pressure.
My youngest did have to be transported to the hospital for transitive tachipnia (which I probably misspelled) and spent twelve hours on oxygen. But since I wasn't a patient the hospital didn't feel it necessary to wake me up every two hours and I could stay with him in the NICU--since he was admitted they fed me and let me sleep in 'his' room.
That said, with your potential health issues, I doubt my midwife would have delivered your baby at home. She doesn't deliver high risk pregnancies as she doesn't have hospital privileges. I'd talk to your midwife first about what she wants to do. Do you have the option of a freestanding birth center? That might be a nice middle ground in your situation.
I wanted to have a water birth, but wasn't able to get the tub transported and set up--it was at another gal's house and she was late and I was early, had she delivered on time or me on time I would've had the water. So there's still no guarantee that you'll get that at home.