When most people hear me say I've had a home water birth they look at me like I have three heads and the last thing I care about is the health of my baby. This couldn't be farther from the truth and every once in a while I come across a really great article in support of home birth that assures me that I'm not indeed a whacked-out crazy kinda gal. I'm a firm supporter of natural child birth, home birth and water birth for various reasons and I support them unapologetically. I believe natural is always best-hands down. And natural can be achieved in a hospital setting but for the most part health care providers are (IMHO) only interested in the end result and very rarely the process it takes to get there, when it's the process that ensures the healthy outcome-both emotional and physical. Keep in mind here this is a very large generalization on my part and I realize there are precious few in the mainstream birthing practice that actually care about and support a mom-to-be's leading of the heart and are not just working toward another tally on the baby birthing record, know what I mean? With that said, home birth is NOT for everyone. I don't advocate it for everyone nor do I suggest it for anyone. But I am a firm believer that if a mom is sure in her heart that this is what she wants to do then by all means she should have the rights and ability in the land of the free to pursue the healthy birth that she desires, whether that's in a hospital or at home, in the water or on a bed, squatting or on all fours, etc. Throughout the latter half of my pregnancy with Elijah, while seeing my midwives, learning child birth from a different perspective than what I was previously taught, and actually experiencing the beauty of a home/water birth, I discovered a part of myself that I never thought existed. Courage I thought I could never muster, strength in the face of opposition, dignity, and most of all, a new found and greater respect for my body and for my God in creating it. So even though I can't have a home birth for financial reasons this time around, I am looking forward to the birth of my daughter because I am looking forward to experiencing a natural birth in a hospital setting, (and this is all providing baby and mama are healthy yada yada...you get my drift). There will be no shots (except for me...Rh- AND/OR no unnecessary blood draws for baby/injections that I am not informed upon and have given my consent to), no whisking of the baby away unless she needs immediate medical attention and quite frankly if I had it my way-no doc...but that's not gonna happen!! I birthed my own baby and caught my own baby and I can do it all over again, SANS doc (a remarkable amount of you just audibly gasped I'm sure). And it might sound like I'm mighty proud of myself and you know what?? I am! I rarely talk about home birth and didn't hardly at all on my blog before having Elijah just because of the wide range of reactions I was receiving, mostly negative...from ill-informed people, but I am proud of my body and for the opportunity I had to see what she could do. Many people were worried about me and the baby, a lot thought I was crazy (and told me so to my face), my own doctors disowned me and shunned me from the medical community in my area (it's true...I'm not allowed to see certain docs in my area because they found out I had a home birth) and really the only support I received was from my husband, midwives (who were 100% certified and recognized as able to perform legal home births) and immediate family. To this day no one really asks me about it and no one really talks about it. But I remember and I will never forget the awesome feat my body performed that night. It's my special memory that I still smile about when I'm all alone and reminiscing on the birth of my second child. And looking ahead to the birth of my last child, I pray that it is a healthy, wholesome experience for the both of us and I am excited to have another different birth experience under my birthing belt :) With all that said, I realize there are many that are not able to have a birth without medical intervention and that is ok too! Who knows...I could find myself at the end of this pregnancy strapped onto an operating table as my baby is pulled from the incision into my uterus. Sometimes medical intervention is needed. Technology is a beautiful thing and it has saved many a baby and baby mama...so I am very thankful for it and am glad to know it is there if I need it. So to you moms who might be feeling left out on a post like this, or feeling badly because you weren't able to have the birth you dreamed of, don't. Every birth story is unique and special all in its own right and no one birth story is "better" than another! So birth on mama's and may the end result be a healthy and happy baby and mom.
:::Mary Kay:::
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~5/30/2003~
::Big Bro::
::Lil Bro::
11 comments:
Wow, you are brave! I am impressed. I actually didn't even know that home birthing was an option. You've given me the motivation to do more research. Oh, so many options. :)
Are you not able to have a midwife in the birthing room with you while still at the hospital?
While our delivery was needed to be at the hospital (sudden surprise preemie) we were able to do so with only our midwife, no Dr.
I loved it!!!
Maybe you could do a water birth with you midwife at the hospital?????
Not exactly the same as your home birth. But sorta combining the two options....
I don't even have a midwife this time around :(((( I am so bummed about that. All I have is a doc who likes to induce during the superbowl (yikes) and said doc will ONLY deliver at one hospital and they do not allow water births if your water breaks. So...fingers crossed that my water doesn't break like it did with Mr. Elijah =) Even then my midwives let me birth in the water tho...Still. Hopsital policy...bah. I def want to do the water birth if I can tho. The pain was so much more manageable and the ease of switching positions was a definite plus :)
oh Jess I'm sorry so many people have given you such a hard time about your birth choices! I so wish a home birth had been an option for us! I had to be augmented (pit and an epi) with Eli because I was a VBAC and was on the clock, but it was still a wonderful experience and my Drs were amazing! There were at least three times they could have cited medical necessity for a repeat c/s, but they didn't!
It is possible to have a wonderful, beautiful hospital birth. Eli went from my womb to my chest and stayed there for 10 mins or so, and they asked me before they took him to be weighed and wiped down (in the same room). The whole time we were in the hospital he was never out of my sight and he slept in bed beside me, just like he does at home. Make sure people know what you want, and know that YOU know your rights! Your child, your choice! If you don't want to be poked and prodded and they can't give you a good reason for doing it, then you CAN refuse and they can't do anything about it.
Can you get a doula for your birth? Sometimes students will give a discounted rate, or even do it for free, so they can finish their certification. I know having my doula made a big difference! I would have ended up medicated MUCH sooner were it not for her support and encouragement.
What was I?! CHOPPED LIVER?!?! Did you forget about MY support???
*Silly girl*
Water birth is very interesting to me. But because of everything this body of mine has been through I think it was wise to go to the hospital but the worship pastor's wife here has had water birth and I thinking of a home birth. But I thought this was interesting post!
I nearly cried! We have been through the same thing, and I feel the same way you do. There are so many times I think "if I can birth two babies with no pain meds, I can do anything". Our first was a water birth in the hospital, the second at home, and Elliott caught her. The doc was only there for the last five min. I hope to do all future births at home, and hope I never have to birth on dry land. I echo your aknowledgement of the saving grace of technology, but hope I never need it. It makes me sad you can not have the birth you want and loved this time around, but, like you said, it can still be beautiful in the hospital. It is what you make it.
Have you read "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" by Susan McCutchon? It is wonderful, and has a whole section on how to avoid unneccessary interventions if you don't want them, including the routine IV. I have to say that I have become so inspired by my body and the lack of true understanding and education out there, that as soon as I get the chance I am going to become a certified midwife. And before that I hope to be a Bradley instructor. Our bodies are amazing! Even if they don't understand, no one can take your miraculous birthing experiences away from you! You just go on being empowered!
Aw!! I LOVE my online friends =)))
I own "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way"...couldn't have survived without it!! I think it was you Dena that even suggested it to me as a must-read when I was pregnant with Elijah :)I have it on my bedside table as I type and I am def planning on parusing through it before baby comes for a refresher course. I don't remember the part about avoiding unnecessary interventions-so I'm really excited about that. I need all the help I can get in asserting myself-especially with doctors :)
Well said. I think you are courageous to do it at home. I'm a BIG chicken. But, then again I've never had the desire to give birth anywhere else than a hospital. My sister-in-law gave birth to my niece in the car as my brother was driving them to the hospital, so she did the delivering herself.
I hope you are able to have the dream birth that you desire.
I'm a bit nervous about mine since it could be a c-section. We won't know until the time gets closer.
I thought you were nuts too! And then I researched and became nuts like you!!! Although it didn't quite work out for me and Evie, one day I would love to have my home water birth! We'll see.
Are you close enough to Dayton to try Family Beginnings? Are there any birthing centers close to you? You might want to check it out. I know at Family Beginnings you can have a water birth (the only hosp in OH where it is legal). You can call me (or e-mail) if you want more info. It might be worth the drive. It was for me!
I had three natural births, all using the Bradley method (which I used to teach). The first was in a hospital, and the other two were home births. I absolutely loved having my babies at home! Unfortunately, my fourth child was an emergency cesarean due to him being a footling breech (technically, a kneeling breech, but only one knee was down). I wish I could have avoided the cesarean, but I'm glad he was born in the hospital. He spent about 10 days in the NICU, due to significant birth defects that would have endangered his life had he been born at home.
I was never able to have another natural birth after that, but I was able to limit the interventions for most of my subsequent babies. I will say that certain areas of the country are much more backward than others, and I'm glad that my last two births were as perfect as possible under the circumstances.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
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