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.
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.
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 !
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.
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.
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.
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 ???
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.
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.
I was introduced to this forum through another homebirther, and by the time I joined, had already had my first homebirth.
I would like to add, though, that compared to the many other homebirth forums that exist, I think BellyBelly is unique in making homebirth a mainstream option. As someone else said, "I am not a raving hippie" - and you don't have to be, to be a part of BellyBelly. BB attracts women from every walk of life, and where some pro-homebirth forums only appeal to homebirth activists (whose antics run the risk, at the end of the day, of actually detracting from homebirth as a valid option with the majority of the population) this forum appeals to everyone. Women here are defined by their interests, and their beliefs, and may have had homebirths - they are not necessarily defined by their homebirth. Once other people see this, they stop seeing homebirth as something other people do, and start seeing it as something they can do.
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.
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