Just out of interest...

[BellyBelly]

I have often wondered this and so I am going to ask...

After having been on BellyBelly and knowing what you know now, would you now consider or definitely have a homebirth? I know when BB started, there weren't many, probably any couples on here considering it (myself included) which was before my journey becoming a birth attendant. But now, three years after my training, I know i will DEFINITELY have one, and I have so much confidence and of course research backing my choices.

Who else has a similar story who wouldnt otherwise have considered or chosen it? Interested in hearing your stories in how BB has helped shape your birth choices.

[Trillian]

We you know how much it's shaped my perspective . But I couldn't have a homebirth even if I wanted to simply because there are no IM's out here and also the sheer distance to travel to a hospital if you needed to transfer makes it an unattainable goal for many women, which is very sad that the choice to HB isn't there to start with kwim. There has been the odd unplanned HB though, but they turned out OK - usually always involving women that just have very fast births.

[briggsy's girl]

this is something that we are constantly discussing - looking at the pro's and con's for us in our circs when the time comes - and i definitely wouldn't have considered it before BB (hell, i wouldn't have even thought twice about the hospital choice before BB!!). i'm a little like Trillian in that i feel somewhat isolated out here if something did happen where i needed transfer - and due to "ordinary" response times from the ambulance service out here in the past, DH is reluctant at this point. i think if we were closer to town where hospital was nearby, DH would relax. i just feel this is an experience that both of us have to be comfortable with, and i don't think labour would progress properly for me if i was spending all my time worrying about keeping him calm!!

i think if we were to have a trouble free first birth (and he's agreed to a Doula already, so that's gotta help!), he'd be more accepting of a HB for a second child...

[boomba]

After joining BB i have definately changed my prospective on birth and homebirthing! i would love to be brave enough to have a homebirth, but i dont think i am, so my next choice is going to be a water birth in a birthing centre with a doula, if all goes to plan next pg.

[Girly Girl]

After having two very easy labours and being sent home 4 and a half hours after my second was born, knowing now that my body can do the prosses without any intervention or drugs, i would definatly have a home birth when i have another one

but i have to say i would only do it now because i know what my body can do. b4 i wouldn't have had the guts not to be surrounded by a building full of medical profecionals regardless of what i had read i was a bundle of nerves.

[Kitt3n]

BB has definately helped me to learn and has provided so much insight into the REAL WORLD of babies.

BB has given me the confidence to know that I want and CAN DO a natural birth, without drugs - so many empowering women out there!

BB has also helped to change my perspective RE the kind of care that I would like - hence why i have ditched my OB.

Having said that, my preferred method to give birth is defiantely in a birthing suite, not at home. Peronally, I want to be "in another world" during my labour and I will be much more comfortable in a birthing suite. Hoping like mad that I can get into the Birthing centre at RPA and not have to use the labour ward.

My reasoning behind this is shaped by the following:

1.Our family and friends simply will not give a damn about our privacy and I would expect that the whole herd will coem to visit, basically as soon as the baby is born. I will stay in hospital for probably two nights - solely becuase of the visiting hours and knowing that they will have to leave us alone at some stage.

2.I want to have a bit of time away from home with the new baby, just the two of us, when the visitng hours are not allowed. With DD I was told I was fine to go home the day after she was born, but i chose to stay so that baby and I could have some rest together.

Having said that, if we lived away from all the relo's I would probably look into home birth. As it is, they will just stress us out and ruin teh whole experience, so birthing suite it is.

[visitor1]

Id love one....but im to scared to and as much as hospital births get bagged out....im safe there and have all medical needs on hand, dont need to call an ambo if something went wrong at home..

[Beach Mama]

As much as I have learnt while being on here, about not only labour and birth, but being a mum etc... I probably STILL don't trust myself enough to know that I could do it. If I was going for vaginal birth no#2, who knows, that could be different, because in my head all I could see early on in this pregnancy was a pool in my lounge room, me birthing in it and going to my own bed for a rest with my beautiful baby. I would definately say that ! would not be attempting a VBAC if it wasn't for BB though.

ETA: Love the new pic Kel! Very nice!

[Trish]

Not sure if I am valid to answer this one given I've already had my homebirths ?

I was already pregnant with Tehya and planning my homebirth when I joined. There was only 1 other member (that I recall) that had had a HB and that was by accident. I was the "freak" who actually was planning it.

I love watching members gain so much confidence in their own bodies and their ability to birth their babies naturally and safely at home. I love seeing girls empowered by fellow members birth stories and their montages etc. And I especially love it when girls post to me saying that I have helped them to realise that they want a homebirth

Being on BB has opened my eyes moreso to girls who are given a rough time in the medical system. This is one of my main reasons to start my own training as a birth attendant too.

One day hopefully I will be on the other end of a homebirth.

[SamiH]

For me - no.

I have two kids at home and would not want to distress them - they are still little. Also, just in case something did happen - I feel more comfortable being somewhere we can get help straight away.

However, I am havign a doula this time and was only able to convince DH after he read some threads on here so surely that has to count too !

[Tobily]

For sure I will be having a homebirth next time

In part that's been due to BB, and it's also come from my own experiences birthing in hospital, training and working as a doula, and seeing other women birth in hospital.

I'm actually not really a raving hippie or anything else that homebirthers are often pegged as being - I just know that for the sake of my family, my emotional health and my physical health I have to do everything I can to make my next birth as safe and untraumatic as possible. I've had one good birth and one awful birth in hospital. I have no intention of entering the hospital lottery again. Because that's what it is for most women - a lottery. Some get lucky and walk away unscathed, and alot don't.

Some of the things I witness women and babies being subjected in hospital births are just appalling. And knowing the motivations behind it, and that it can more often than not be avoided is enough to deter me from ever birthing in hospital again, while ever I am healthy and have a choice.

[Antheia]

Definatly yes. I am planning one right now!

And it is because of BB. When i was first pregnant with DD i didn't even know there was such thing as a homebirth to be honest. I have gained so much knowledge and a lot of confidence in myself. I know it is going to be a bumpy ride to get there (hell, i have already had to change care providers at only 14 weeks!) but i know i will get there. If it were not for the support and information here i definatly wouldn't even give it a second thought.

[MantaRay]

I seriously doubt I'd convince my DH, and we aren't having any more babies, but yes, I would love a hb. And this is not something I would ever have considered without the wealth of knowledge that I have gotten from BB and also from reading books that I heard about on BB.

[*charmalea*]

i would totally love to deliver a baby in the comfort and silence of my own home , hospitals make me tense and doctors are patronising and dont listen and all the extra "just in case " precautions annony me .....

but i also think/feel going somewhere to have a baby , like a birth centre is a great idea ... kinda makes it feel like more of a special event if you go somewhere to have baby , kinda like a holiday ... kwim ???

[Celsie]

As much a I love the idea of a HB, I know my DH would never agree to it; and after all, it's his birth too. But, since reading more and more, I'll definately try for a natural delivery (no drugs) this time, possibly in water in the birthing suite. That way, if something does go wrong, DH will be happy knowing that doctors are close by. I would have never considered that if it wasn't for the wonderfull BB members and all their knowledge and birthing stories.

[Astrid]

If all had gone well first time then I would have seriously considered a home birth for the second. Unfortunately that did not happen for me, I get so jealous of those mums that get to have one.

[Snacks]

DH and I are just now thinking about TTC our second. I am torn. Probably if my financial situation was different, I would seriously consider a HB. (And our financial situation may be different by the time I get pg next... Who knows?)
I am trying to research already (before even trying for another baby, LOL!) birth centres in our area, as I'd like to not be in the hospital itself, but utilise public MW's.
I will always be grateful to BB and my SIL who introduced me to this place for a beautiful birth last time round. Interestingly, though it was glorious, I am already thinking of how I want the next one to be different (no AROM, no synto jab, possibly see if I can go without the 'uterine massage' which was probably one of the most painful events of my labour), so essentially how next time could have less intervention, even though last time was pretty close to perfect
That's all thanks to BB.

[Lucy]

Kel, I will offer a slightly different perspective.....

Knowing all I do now, yes I COULD homebirth.

Do I have the confidence to give birth at home? Yes

Through BB, do I have the support and knowledge to home birth? YES

Has BB changed my view on homebirth? YES

BUT, for me personally, I would still chose not to have a homebirth. I love the being away from home to give birth. I love my babymoon away from home. I love not having to even think about laundry/the kitchen floor/the next meal whilst in hospital. (I fear if I was at home I would be fretting too much over it.......)

Hope that makes sense?