I have deliberately chosen to post in this thread because I generally think I know the views of many of the women who are regulars in here. And I am at work now so I haven't got time to go into great detail about my views but those of you who care too feel free to check and you will see I am VERY pro choice for women when it comes to birth (and think midwives rock )
My question - even for those of you who are birth activists and possibly even anti-OB or anti hospital - is if you could GUARANTEE that you would not be pushed into ANY unwarranted medical intervention (and I am talking even unwarranted internal exams, not just unwarranted inductions) would you have a problem with having a baby in a birth centre-type environment with an OB and hospital on standby? That is, are your concerns with having a baby in a hospital or near one (in an otherwise "home like" atmosphere) due to the fact that hospitals are, at the moment, not pro-natural birth at all? And if they were different, and OBs and surgery was ONLY used if REALLY needed, would you be ok with birthing there? Or is the desire for a homebirth, for arguments sake, driven by something other?
The reason I ask is that I personally had a fantastic experience at the Mercy FBC and would happily repeat it (I was supported, not hassled) but it is the looming threat that I am only a few doors from surgery and an OB that makes me think that I just might want a HB if I was pregnant again.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this........
If I have another one, my leaning towards a homebirth is half because of the intervention/constant monitoring (I'd be VBACing) and half because of the environment, I hated my hospital stay post-birth, and everything about it - the conflicting advice, the shocking food, the lonely days/nights if I had no visitors. So I'd much rather recoup at home, be comfortable in my surroundings, choose to sit in the lounge room, or in bed, or outside, choose when I eat etc.
So my wanting a homebirth is half because of the birth itself, but also half because of the time afterwards.
If a birth centre offered that exact same environment, I'd still want to stay home, because then the only difference is that I'd have to go to the birth centre while in labour, whereas a home birth I'd just stay home...
Hope thats the kind of answer you were looking for and I didn't go completely off topic!
I had two hospital births that were just fine, really. Of course, in my case, everything went quickly and smoothly - there was no need to ask for more time to labour or push or anything like that. And my doctor was a woman GP who was very calm and common-sense in her approach to labour and birth. I liked her a lot. The nurses in L+D encouraged me to stay active and keep moving around. I couldn't use the bath, but I was free to shower as long as I liked. Monitoring was done only occasionally, and I had a VE on admittance and when they broke my water (at my request). I was encouraged to breastfeed immediately, and DH, baby, and I were left alone in the delivery suite to nurse, and cuddle and bond. Epidurals are not available in my hospital, unless there is an emergency, and I did not require an episiotomy or induction.
So, all in all, a good birthing experience.
But, I prefer my home because I feel like the trip to the hospital is an unnecessary hassle. Why rush out the door in hard labour to go to the hospital when I could just stay home? I can walk around my own living room, or up my own street. Rest in my own bed, in my own PJ's or naked if I want. Use my own shower or bath, when and how long I want to. Call the midwife to come to me. And, the midwife would be the woman I have had nearly all my prenatal visits with - who knows me and who I am comfortable with. Or, if by some chance she is unavailable, be attended by my secondary midwife, whom I have had several visits with, and know as well. Not who ever happens to be on call at the hospital, which might change half-way though if it's shift change time. I want to give birth in the position I choose. Have a drug-free labour and birth. ('cause I know I'd take the drugs if they were there! I did that twice. And then discovered with my third - at home - that I could do without!) I want to snuggle up with my DH and my baby in my own bed after birth. Use my own bathroom, instead of a shared one 100 meters down the hall.
Hmmm.... there's probably more reasons, but that's what's coming to mind right now. You should give birth where you are most comfortable. For some people, that is the hospital or birth centre. For me, right now, it's my home. I don't need the hospital as long as everything is going well, so I don't want to go there if I don't have to. I have nothing against the hospital - it's just not a nice as my home.
Thanks girls, that's exactly the sort of answer I was after (in that you didn't go off topic, Leasha )
I guess where I am coming from is that IF hospitals were better places to birth, would we women with a birth activist leaning have a problem with birthing there per se.
Cricket you make a good point about why even leaving home to birth - I know with my first birth I was 8cm dialated when I got to hospital (my OB told me "not to wait so long next time" LOL!) and the day after my son's birth I actually said to my DH I didn't really feel like I "needed" to have gone to hospital, so I do know what you mean there.
Well, I can't answer for all "birth activists" but personally, I want women to be educated about birth choices. I want them to know that home is just as safe as hospital, and with much less risk of intervention. I want them to give birth in the place where they feel safest, and to know what is necessary and not necessary as part of labour and birth. (ie - induction because your OB is going on vacation is NOT necessary!)
If the research showed that the hospital was the best place, or that the birth centre was, or whatever, I'd be all for it, I think. But since research currently supports healthy women giving birth with minimal intervention, which is most likely to happen at home, I support and encourage home births.
Wow Rory - 8cm by the time you got to the hospital! That must have been quite the car ride! For me, it was more about the going home - I left the hospital about 7 hours after birth with DD2, and thought this is a pain in the butt! Had to pack everything all up again, get that poor tiny bean into a car seat, and drive home with her in the back where I couldn't see her, then take her back a day later for testing... With midwifery care here in Ontario, the midwife visits you at home as often as you need it for the first two weeks, and all your testing etc, is done at home too. Then at 4 or 6 weeks you go for your first office appointment. Much easier to manage!
This is a difficult question for me.
I completely agree with the hassle factor of having to go to the hospital. TBH, the trip to the hospital was the least enjoyable part of my labour with DD.
I had DD in a fabulous birth centre. I had NO vaginal exams (not a single one), had the same MW all through my prgnancy and labour (although I did get to meet my secondary MW once). Actually, I have the same MW with this prgnancy, too. I was not hassled, all my MW did was encourage me to do what I felt I needed to do and helped me get comfortable, fill the bath, etc. When the baby was crowning, she asked whether I wanted to catch or whether I wanted her to do it. I was calling the shots with everything. I left the hospital within 4 hours and spent the night in my own bed. The MW visited me every day for a week and then weekly for 5 more weeks.
By the way, it is a case-load model, so your chances of getting YOUR MW are pretty good. They do work in groups of 3, so you have a secondary and a tertiary MW and don't have to just birth with whoever is on shift.
It was so easy and straight forward that I did seriously think about having a home birth for any subsequent deliveries.
This is what made me decide on another birt centre birth:
I could have the same MW whom I love.
I don't have to pay for it (I know, this seems like a cop-out)
They have a beautiful birth pool and I have a bath tub that is only big enough for 3 year olds
I do have the backup if something does go wrong (but i also know that I can trust my MW and that she wouldn't push me into unnecessary intervention)
My family, although they would support me if I wanted a HB, are more at ease with a BC birth (I know, it is about me, but I also want the baby's father to feel comfortable in our birth choices.
If, for some reason, the BC was not available to me with my second baby, I am pretty sure I would choose a HB. It's just that I feel that in this BC, I don't really have many of the negative aspects of the birth, but it is a much easier choice than a HB.
Please don't slam me for my reasons. I've been trying to be very honest.
Sasa
xoxo
Last edited by sunshine_sieben; June 12th, 2009 at 12:50 PM.
It if were pro-natural, midwifery led model in a hospy, then I'd prefer it because you have the added bonus of knowing that the help is right there if you actually do need it.
And it would be nice if they offered up more comfortable beds in the PN wards. Your body is already going through re-adjusting to it just being yours again, those horrible beds do nothing for a new mums back... and don't even get me started on the food!!!
So basically I hate going there because I hate the pressure I feel like I am under the minute I walk in - and I hate staying there because the food is plastic and not even close to filling, and the beds are just not good for sleep.
a question about choices
)
Reply With Quote
With midwifery care here in Ontario, the midwife visits you at home as often as you need it for the first two weeks, and all your testing etc, is done at home too. Then at 4 or 6 weeks you go for your first office appointment. Much easier to manage!
Bookmarks