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by pixie11479 on October 20th, 2011
My second child was born at home last month. The difference between his birth and my first child's birth in the hospital was like night and day.
The home birth was much more peaceful and joyful. The labor went more quickly and was much less painful, due to a lot of factors. Physically I recovered much more quickly after the home birth. The other conveniences of home could not be matched in the hospital.
Overall, if you're considered low-risk, healthy, you can find a midwife who is very experienced with easy access to emergency medical care, and you don't live too far away from the hospital just in case, I'd strongly encourage home birth.
Don't listen to people who say you could never handle it...when you learn the correct methods for laboring (which obstetricians and hospital -based birth classes do not tell you) you can indeed do it. Do your research, you will be shocked what you learn about maternity care in the U.S. versus other developed nations!
by quack is whack on September 16th, 2009
I think I'm going to be terrified no matter where I give birth.
by MasterS on September 16th, 2009
Well you need to know what your doing thats for sure, but i don't think birth is scary, its amazing.
by MarkOlson on September 16th, 2009
Any time that much lumber and metal come out of someone, it's a scary thing. But a little baby home is so cute, isn't it?
by nice jugs on September 16th, 2009
No it's a wonderful experience,,,not to be missed,,,!! i have watched three of my brothers and sisters being born,,,,
by Been cheated on September 16th, 2009
i supose if you were on your own yes, but one the whole i think you may be more relaxed because you are in a familiar suroundings, and if you have a good midwife and in case of any complication you are sure you can get to the hospital quickly, then it should not be scary.
by kool on September 16th, 2009
No. In China, India and other parts of Asia home birth is very common.
by true love conquers all on September 16th, 2009
only if you don't know what ur doing otherwise it's pretty safe.
by Thriftymaid on September 16th, 2009
No. My first one was almost born at home, only because I was sooooo afraid of the hospital. Most people have a midwife for home births. I don't see it as scary.
by strange1 still in pb on September 16th, 2009
i countries where medical resources are rare and expensive its a norm ,not to say if they had the choice, the hosptal option would more than likely be chosen, its what the civilized world has made a norm, which is why a home birth would be more scary for most and more risky in fact, the time required for many birth comlpications to be resolved would mean brain damage or death to some unfortunate home birth babies who couldnt make it to the hospital on time
by Waqar Hussain Laghari on September 16th, 2009
No, Because i also born at my home. So, I can't think it is scary but being in hospital is better then home.
by dailygrind on April 14th, 2011
Any birth is scary...regardless of where it happens.
by Mountain Momma on September 16th, 2009
I suppose that it would be in some ways, but some women find the hospital even worse. +5
Which is better a midwife of the hospital?.
by Charnai on September 22nd, 2008
| 4 people like this
Should i have a home birth?
by libby on August 29th, 2008
| 2 people like this
I will be 9 months next tuesday... Is having a baby natural really as painful as everyone puts it out to be?
by maemae on December 3rd, 2008
| 1 person likes this
What is a water birth?
by Blackfire on June 19th, 2008
| 1 person likes this
ME AND MY BOYFRIEND HAS BEEN HAVING SEX FOR THREE YEARS AND I SEX WITH SOMEONE ELSE THE CODOM BURST SO WHO IS THE FATHER
by cherries18 on January 12th, 2009
| 1 person likes this
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Comments
Have any suggestions as far as where to get more information about home birth and maternity care in the U.S.? Books or websites?
by tango18 on October 22nd, 2011
Sure. You could start by going to the World Health Organization's web site and looking at the U.S. rates for maternal & infant mortality compared to other developed nations, and the percentage of inductions and cesareans compared to what WHO recommends.
Books:
Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care - Jennifer Block, 2008
Silent Knife: Cesarean Prevention and Vaginal Birth after Cesarean - Nancy Wainer Cohen & Lois J. Estner, 1983
Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First- Marsden Wagner, 2008
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth- Ina May Gaskin, 2003
Video/Documentary:
The Business of Being Born (2008)
More Business of Being Born (2011)
*The second one isn't out until next month, but here's a trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJTN88Zv0_M
Web Sites:
Mothers Naturally-http://www.mothersnaturally.org/birthAtHome/index.php?gclid=CJXEsovs_6sCFUJrKgodWygvlQ
The Big Push For Midwives-
http://pushformidwives.org/
The Unnecesarean:
http://www.theunnecesarean.com/
by pixie11479 on October 23rd, 2011
Wow thanks. Would you mind if I asked you some questions about your experience?
by tango18 on October 23rd, 2011
Sure, just send a message to my inbox. :)
by pixie11479 on October 23rd, 2011
So did you actually end up with a c-section with your first one in the hospital?
by cardiganrule10 on October 26th, 2011
No I very, VERY narrowly missed getting an unnecessary c-section. I was going to be labeled "failure to progress" which is a Dr.'s B.S. way of saying "You didn't give birth during the neat little timetable that I gave you, you're not fitting into my busy schedule, my shift is over and I'm going home, so I'm gutting you." By sheer luck they didn't have an O.R. available right at that moment, so as soon as she left the room, I straightened up in the bed (even though I was numb waist down) and shoved the kid out of me....the nurse was freaking out telling me to stop, whatever...luckily she wasn't near enough for me to kick in the face (which I'm sure I could have done even though I was numb, due to the huge surge of panic adrenaline I had). Result of an induction that I didn't want but got pressured and bullied into because I was naive at the time. It makes me sad that the only bright spot of that day was finally meeting and holding my daughter...the rest was a huge fight to be left alone.
by pixie11479 on October 26th, 2011
Are you anti-cesarean then?
by tango18 on October 28th, 2011
No, in some cases they are medically justified and life-saving. It has just gotten so common (#1 most performed surgery in the U.S.) that people seem to think it's no big deal. It's major surgery with real risks...it's scientifically proven that a woman that undergoes a cesarean is 3 times more likely to die from complications than one that gives birth vaginally. 1 in every 3 women has a cesarean in the U.S. and the rate is still climbing....that is just ludicrous and insane.
It's highly unethical for a Dr. to force a c-section that is not medically justified or a true emergency. If a woman decides to have an elective c-section, she should be fully informed of all the risks (including risks to future pregnancies, which no one considers) and she should have to pay for it herself.
(BTW, inductions automatically increase a woman's chances of cesarean by 50%. Those too should only be done when medically necessary.)
by pixie11479 on October 28th, 2011
Here's another good one:
http://birthwithoutfearblog.com/2011/10/31/why-women-are-leaving-their-doctors-and-birthing-at-home/
by pixie11479 on October 31st, 2011