Not sure how many of you read or get the New York Times, but I caught this article a while ago and thought I would pass it on.
As someone who is a doula and has worked with many midwives, this makes perfect sense to me and I think it is the best way to have a baby. I've attended a few home births and they were some of the most memorable births I've ever seen.
There is just something about being in the comfort of your own home, something mentally that calms you down and makes your experience seem more natural, at least at the births I attended.
I'd love to hear any home birth stories, good or bad, and also any opinions on the subject. Also, how many of you saw the movie The Business of Birth? Great film about what has happened to birth in this country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/garden/13birth.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
Enjoy the article and drop me a comment on what you think, will you?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Home Birth
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18 comments:
It wasn't until my children were older that I even knew you could birth children at home. What an amazing experience to eliminate the middle man.
I bet that would be amazing, but I still sort of wish I'd have had my kids back in the days when they knocked you out until it was over and kept in you in the hospital for a week or two.
I think that is amazing for those who can do that. I guess saying I could or couldn't in hindsight is pretty chicken of me, lol, but for my daughter who was very long-LONG labor, face up, stuck-I'd never made it at home. For my son I did most of my labor at home waiting until my mother couldn't take any more (ha), and even though he was a much bigger baby he was out in three pushes. I COULD have done that at home and if I'd known that (of course you don't, hence the chicken part :-D ) I might have tried it, but being fearful his delivery would have been like hers, I wouldn't have risked it.
Though kudos to those who do. I think that would be very relaxing to be HOME and in your own space when it's all over with.
Hi Angie,
It was GREAT getting to actually know you! I'm going to start thinking about that van or bus idea, because it's a good one. When you get a chance, would you mind sending me some of the pictures to use? Because my stupid computer crashed, I'm now unable to use the ones on my phone!! Grrr. I'll give you credit, of course. Thanks, my dear. Have fun with your Monday night 'date.' :-)
I knew it was an option but I chickened out, and with my second, ended up having an unexpected C-section, so I guess it was just as well. A friend of mine had her most recent baby (it's #5 and, knowing her, I can't say with any certainty that it's her last) at home and both she & her DH say it was the most incredible thing ever. Hearing their story makes me wish I had tried it ...
Thanks for the article! I skimmed the first page and hopefully will have the time to read it later.
I have seen The Business Of Being Born, it was a great documentary and it will hopefully spark some interest in others. I think it should be something every pregnant woman should watch :)
That said, my last son was born at home and it was the most amazing, incredible, and it was the most healing thing I have ever done.
It may sound strange to others to hear that, but it was very healing to my soul to have him at home. It was absolutely amazing and I encourage others to open their mind to home birthing.
I have Oliver's birth story posted on my blog, he was born on Labor Day last year, how fun, eh?
I'm a bit of a lurker on your site, but thought I'd take this chance to introduce myself and give you my wonderful stories of my at-home births! I've had all 4 of my children at home...I wouldn't have had it any other way. All of my births were different...the 1st was 18+ hours, 2nd was 6 hours, 3rd was less than 2 hours, as a result unassisted, and the 4th was 12+ hours. Having my children at home was the most natural thing in the world for me. It was hard and rewarding and everything I expected about entering the world as a parent, whether for the first time or the fourth. I had wonderful assistance in both incredible midwives who let my labour happen the way it needed to, and a great doula for my first birth. I believe one of the most important factors in giving birth at home is having a midwife, and doula or assistant available who have been there and walked that path before. I also believe that not being afraid and trusting in your body and human biology plays a huge role in having a successful home birth. My midwife once described how we have to go to the other side of life, get our babies, and bring them into our world..that is our story of labour and delivery. She believed it was an essential part on our path to becoming a parent. I am so happy I choose the path of having my children at home...it has helped me on my path to being a mother. Several of my childrens' birth stories have been chronicled on my blog, on their birthdays.
Mindy
My first birth was a heavily (and unnecessarily) monitored hospital birth. It was difficult and miserable, the only good part was having them hand me my daughter.
We moved to a rural area. When I questioned my doctor about having my daughter in the delivery room with us, he said "You do know you could die, right? Do you want her to see that?" I got up, walked out, called my husband and said "We're having this baby at home". In this rural of an area, it was that doctor or a homebirth. It was a fast, almost unassisted, very easy homebirth and the recovery was amazing. My midwife did the cleanup and drew me an herbal bath. Then I relaxed in our recliner and moved to the bed when I wanted to. Here's a picture from my old blog. http://evolutionuswoman.blogspot.com/2006/09/sarah-holding-new-baby.html
My third child was also a homebirth. His birth was longer and a bit more difficult. It was wonderful and fulfilling and I'm very grateful that I didn't give birth in the hospital where things would have been hurried along and could have caused complications. His birth announcement and pictures are here: http://unprocessedfamily.blogspot.com/2008/03/im-sorry-about-length-between-posts.html
One of the nicest things about both homebirths was how seamlessly birth fit into the childrens' lives and gave them a new sibling.
Angie, darling! Blog neglect! The Matron misses your life :-). But she understands. . .
Saw the movie while I was pregnant. I'm sorry in hindsight I didn't have my baby at home. I had a really easy labor, didn't even have time for an epidural...even if I wanted one...didn't have time.
I think if I was going to have another baby, I would have it at home, definitely. I think the medical association scares women into thinking they can't give birth without their help.
I hope positive stories of home birth make it out into the mass public. Then, perhaps women will feel empowered about the experience of birthing!
Hey Angie! I keep popping in here to check on you. Hope everything is alright, that the clouds are clearing.
I LOVED this movie - you can rent it from netflix or order it from The Business of Being Born website. I gave copies away to a few people and highly recommend it to anyone having a baby. Even if you go to a hospital, it is wise to go in with the facts.
Had my guy in a birth center 5 mins from our home in FL, but the next one will be at home.
I've been thinking about you. Hope you're finding some peace as the year starts anew. I wish I'd had home births. I had 2 c-sections. I'll never know if they were really saving the babies and my life or were just a result of the hospital's fear of my having hit the two week past the due date day - they just weren't ready to com out! My sister will be having a homebirth and I'm so happy for her.
Just saying hello!
Home birth wasn't an option for us, if we wanted insurance to pay for it, but I did have a midwife, which was awesome. I liked the security of being in the hospital, in case something had gone wrong. I would have worried about the neighbors hearing my scream, and making a mess on my sheets or carpet. Those are my immediate thoughts...but I know people who have done it, and said it was their favorite of their births. So I say, Yay, go for it!
Hi Angie...I miss you! Hope you're well...hanging in there...
when will you ever return...i sure hope you do?
Hi Angie: For some reason, I didn't save your email address so I'm here just saying hello and I think of you often! And our organic-urban-guerrilla idea.
Checking up on you again. I miss reading you. Hope you're okay.
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