Would YOU ever have a homebirth?

[klone]

Sorry if this topic has been done to death. I've been working since June in OB, focusing mainly on L&D. I have two children of my own, the first one was a fast and uneventful hospital birth, the second was a homebirth (acynclitic and OP, so labor was VERY long and difficult - if I had been in a hospital, I'm pretty sure I would have been sectioned, but all turned out well in the end).

I'm facing the prospect of perhaps having one more in a couple years. I had previously thought that any other children would also be born at home. But now that I've been working in L&D and getting a glimpse of all the potential emergencies and behind-the-scenes things that could go wrong, I'm seriously questioning the safety of homebirth. I guess you could say I'm having a crisis of faith that birth is a natural process that doesn't HAVE to be managed in order to have a good outcome.

Anyway, I was just wondering if other L&D nurses, knowing what they know, would ever opt for a homebirth for their own.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

I am not L&D yet...but I would not have my baby anywhere but home, unless of course there was real serious complications.

I recomend you read Ina Mays Guide to Child Birth. Its really good.

[Super_RN, BSN, RN]

There is no way you know that such a baby will not fit through your pelvis. I have seen very tiny women (under 5 feet) deliver 10 pounders without a tear.

You're right, I don't know, but I cannot IMAGINE it happening. As I said before, I am far from a L&D nurse, even further from a mother. I don't know about these things and I have no experience with childbirth. However, just the thought of a 10# baby makes me think there's no way. Obviously that's not true, as many women have uneventful deliveries. I am just stating my feelings and pray for 6# babies when I decide to have them. Thanks for you input though.

Jaime

[ljds]

You're right, I don't know, but I cannot IMAGINE it happening. As I said before, I am far from a L&D nurse, even further from a mother. I don't know about these things and I have no experience with childbirth. However, just the thought of a 10# baby makes me think there's no way. Obviously that's not true, as many women have uneventful deliveries. I am just stating my feelings and pray for 6# babies when I decide to have them. Thanks for you input though.

Jaime

Well, honestly, I KNOW I could give birth to a 10#+, but who in their right mind wants to think about it!?!?!?! :rotfl: I think birth is awesome; but really, if you aren't in the moment, the thought of pushing anything out my yoni doesn't sound very appealing!

Lori

[Super_RN, BSN, RN]

Well, honestly, I KNOW I could give birth to a 10#+, but who in their right mind wants to think about it!?!?!?! :rotfl: I think birth is awesome; but really, if you aren't in the moment, the thought of pushing anything out my yoni doesn't sound very appealing!

Lori

Heehee! My point exactly and I hope my moment is years away! It will be, with precautions! Jaime

[Mommy TeleRN, RN]

Wow eight pages and it's all been civil...how refreshing!!!

This is a topic near to my heart. My first birth I was very uneducated. The OB I used was AWFUL....he pretty much induced everyone! My entire last month he kept bringing up induction. I hated his office and my BP would go up, so he'd send me to the hospital to be monitored and it would be fine! Anyway, I kept telling him I didn't want pitocin and I wanted to go natural .. his exact quote "Trust ME you do NOT want to go natural" umm like he's given birth! :angryfire Anyway, when I was 3 days past due I gave in to his pressure. I tried to tell him what I did and did not want, and he was just like "tell the nurses", this included NOT getting an internal monitor.

Well I go in for induction, he reaches up there I presumed to examine me. He leaves and next thing I know nurse is strapping something to my leg...an internal monitor which tethered me basically to the bed. I also had external monitoring and major pitocin!!! Those unnatural ctx were AWFUL! Finally I gave into IV drugs but those made me sooo sleepy that I kept falling asleep..I would wake to ctx so that they seemed back to back. the whole thing was just awful. Finally I said "get the epidural!" the CRNA came in, gave it to me (I honestly do NOT remember actually getting it, didn't feel it at ALL!) Right after the nurse checks me and says "oh..that is the problem... you are fully dilated" I said "don't you need to get the doc?" and she said "no hon..your first baby it'll be awhile" Well she crowned after maybe 10 minutes. they call the dr who is down the road at his office. They kept wanting me to hold her in, and I was like "I CAN'T!" They called in another nurse to deliver and right then the doc bursts thru and snaps a glove on as I shoot her out! It was NOT controlled but was forceful because I needed her OUT lol... well I had pelvic floor damage and a rectocele as a result

fast forward a year later..find out #2 is on the way. I started calling midwives to find out about birthing centers, I really wanted a midwife but homebirth had not even entered my mind. Well one midwife was a CPM and she brought up homebirth. She came over to meet my DH and I, brought the Gentle Birth Choices (? Barbara harper's stuff..I think that's the name) I was SOLD! She answered all of our questions. My DH at first was opposed strictly because he pictured blood all over the house! LOL The midwife explained that she and her assistant would make sure everything was left clean.

Well the whole prenatal experience was wonderful. She was sooo supportive and we would have 1 hr prenatal visits, not the rush I was given at the OB.

I went 10 days past due, and I really doubted my ability to go into labor on my own. Sure enough tho, I lost my plug and then that night started having ctx. The midwife reminded me to rest and see how things progressed. The next morning she set up the birthing tub in my home. We had a nice breakfast and made the final preparations. Things progressed quickly and my daughter was born at lunchtime. During the birth, as I bouyed in the water, I turned my attention inward and really was able to focus during the ctx. At one point I busted out crying because I thought "I am DOING THIS...MY BODY IS DOING THIS" My midwife thought I was freaking out LOL.... she said "is there something we need to discuss?" and I said it was just the emotion of it all. She told my DH "this is good...this means hormones are running wild and she is in transition" Sure enough, she was right. SHe and her assistant (a midwife in training) were so loving and motherly. My older daughter was present for the birth of her sister and they are extremely close.

One of the most noticable things in my mind: with my first daughter I didn't get to spend time with her for two hours because there was a shift change. When they did bring her she was very sleepy from the meds. I couldn't wake her to nurse...we just had all kinds of probs. Come to find out from a WONDERFUL IBCLC about 10 days later, she had a bottle style suck because of a deep roof palate. With a deep palate it's really important to nurse very soon after birth. By the time we caught it my milk was almost completely dry and she was not gaining any weight. The dang OB would NOT prescribe me Reglan! Anyway, with the help of the IBCLC I was able to work thru it and nurse for 9 months, but we did have to supplement because my supply didn't recover.

Fast forward to my 2nd daughter: She was alert after birth and we nursed right away. She nursed until age 3 (another can of worms LOL) It was just a WORLD of difference.

If you have read this far, bless you, this topic is just dear to me LOL. But bottom line is home water birthing was a very positive experience for me! I know I could NOT work L&D because I would stress over all the interventions LOL. My DH says I should go on to become a CNM...IBCLC interests me as well...only time will tell on all that.

as far as baby size.. I know one woman who homebirthed a 12lb baby. It took a little while, but her midwives were wonderful and they worked with different positions etc. They stretched her perineum and she had no tears. Waterbirth is great for that too....

One last comment (sorry I've been up like 30 hrs with no sleep so I'm rambling LOL) My homebirth wasn't messy at all! Thank goodness no poop haha... I birthed the placenta out of the water with a chux pad. I have no recollection of birthing my placenta at my hospital birth oddly enough!

If I ever have another child we will very very likely pursue another homebirth as long as the pregnancy continued to be low risk.

[Super_RN, BSN, RN]

Wow eight pages and it's all been civil...how refreshing!!!

This is a topic near to my heart. My first birth I was very uneducated. The OB I used was AWFUL....he pretty much induced everyone! My entire last month he kept bringing up induction. I hated his office and my BP would go up, so he'd send me to the hospital to be monitored and it would be fine! Anyway, I kept telling him I didn't want pitocin and I wanted to go natural .. his exact quote "Trust ME you do NOT want to go natural" umm like he's given birth! :angryfire Anyway, when I was 3 days past due I gave in to his pressure. I tried to tell him what I did and did not want, and he was just like "tell the nurses", this included NOT getting an internal monitor.

Well I go in for induction, he reaches up there I presumed to examine me. He leaves and next thing I know nurse is strapping something to my leg...an internal monitor which tethered me basically to the bed. I also had external monitoring and major pitocin!!! Those unnatural ctx were AWFUL! Finally I gave into IV drugs but those made me sooo sleepy that I kept falling asleep..I would wake to ctx so that they seemed back to back. the whole thing was just awful. Finally I said "get the epidural!" the CRNA came in, gave it to me (I honestly do NOT remember actually getting it, didn't feel it at ALL!) Right after the nurse checks me and says "oh..that is the problem... you are fully dilated" I said "don't you need to get the doc?" and she said "no hon..your first baby it'll be awhile" Well she crowned after maybe 10 minutes. they call the dr who is down the road at his office. They kept wanting me to hold her in, and I was like "I CAN'T!" They called in another nurse to deliver and right then the doc bursts thru and snaps a glove on as I shoot her out! It was NOT controlled but was forceful because I needed her OUT lol... well I had pelvic floor damage and a rectocele as a result

fast forward a year later..find out #2 is on the way. I started calling midwives to find out about birthing centers, I really wanted a midwife but homebirth had not even entered my mind. Well one midwife was a CPM and she brought up homebirth. She came over to meet my DH and I, brought the Gentle Birth Choices (? Barbara harper's stuff..I think that's the name) I was SOLD! She answered all of our questions. My DH at first was opposed strictly because he pictured blood all over the house! LOL The midwife explained that she and her assistant would make sure everything was left clean.

Well the whole prenatal experience was wonderful. She was sooo supportive and we would have 1 hr prenatal visits, not the rush I was given at the OB.

I went 10 days past due, and I really doubted my ability to go into labor on my own. Sure enough tho, I lost my plug and then that night started having ctx. The midwife reminded me to rest and see how things progressed. The next morning she set up the birthing tub in my home. We had a nice breakfast and made the final preparations. Things progressed quickly and my daughter was born at lunchtime. During the birth, as I bouyed in the water, I turned my attention inward and really was able to focus during the ctx. At one point I busted out crying because I thought "I am DOING THIS...MY BODY IS DOING THIS" My midwife thought I was freaking out LOL.... she said "is there something we need to discuss?" and I said it was just the emotion of it all. She told my DH "this is good...this means hormones are running wild and she is in transition" Sure enough, she was right. SHe and her assistant (a midwife in training) were so loving and motherly. My older daughter was present for the birth of her sister and they are extremely close.

One of the most noticable things in my mind: with my first daughter I didn't get to spend time with her for two hours because there was a shift change. When they did bring her she was very sleepy from the meds. I couldn't wake her to nurse...we just had all kinds of probs. Come to find out from a WONDERFUL IBCLC about 10 days later, she had a bottle style suck because of a deep roof palate. With a deep palate it's really important to nurse very soon after birth. By the time we caught it my milk was almost completely dry and she was not gaining any weight. The dang OB would NOT prescribe me Reglan! Anyway, with the help of the IBCLC I was able to work thru it and nurse for 9 months, but we did have to supplement because my supply didn't recover.

Fast forward to my 2nd daughter: She was alert after birth and we nursed right away. She nursed until age 3 (another can of worms LOL) It was just a WORLD of difference.

If you have read this far, bless you, this topic is just dear to me LOL. But bottom line is home water birthing was a very positive experience for me! I know I could NOT work L&D because I would stress over all the interventions LOL. My DH says I should go on to become a CNM...IBCLC interests me as well...only time will tell on all that.

as far as baby size.. I know one woman who homebirthed a 12lb baby. It took a little while, but her midwives were wonderful and they worked with different positions etc. They stretched her perineum and she had no tears. Waterbirth is great for that too....

One last comment (sorry I've been up like 30 hrs with no sleep so I'm rambling LOL) My homebirth wasn't messy at all! Thank goodness no poop haha... I birthed the placenta out of the water with a chux pad. I have no recollection of birthing my placenta at my hospital birth oddly enough!

If I ever have another child we will very very likely pursue another homebirth as long as the pregnancy continued to be low risk.

I am so sorry that your first experience was so horrendous. Your 2nd daughter's birth is definitely an inspiration! Congratulations!

:) Jaime

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

Thankfully, I'm too old to have to make the decision. Well, I take that back, they are helping 60-somethings to get pregnant these days But I would never consider a home birth, having seen perfect, no-risk labors go to pot in front of my very eyes. I guess if a person wants to put themselves at risk that's okay, but to put the babe at risk, too? Not for me.

And I wouldn't EVER have an epidural or spinal either. The thought of having a needle stuck in my spine makes my skin crawl---and my sister is a CRNA! My first L & D position was in Northern CA in the late 70's-early 80's. We did only generals for c/sections then and our docs were so fast.. Never did I see a baby have trouble with it.

Thank goodness we do have choices, but all too often I think women are pressured into doing what someone else thinks it best for them. And too often, we cave in rather than stand up for what WE want.

[TweetiePieRN]

I would only deliver in a hospital with a level III NICU. I don't chastise those that do/want a homebirth, but personally I know s#*t happens. It doesn't happen often, but it does.

Hey, good point! I wouldn't want a home birth and I wasn't even thinking about the well-being of the baby, but was only considering myself. Again, good point!!

[Rohan]

There is no way you know that such a baby will not fit through your pelvis. I have seen very tiny women (under 5 feet) deliver 10 pounders without a tear.

I'm 5 ft. 5 inches. My first baby was 7 lbs 6 oz and when I asked how many stitches I needed, because I really tore and needed vacuum assistance, I was patted on the head. Second baby 8 lbs 13 oz, tore badly again, bleeding everywhere, needed vacuum again. My surro baby was 6 pounds 13 oz and I still tore a bit. Every lady parts/pelvis handles babies differently. I'm also a fan of the epidural. I'm madly in love with my last anesthesiologist and will be requesting him for my next baby.

[Super_RN, BSN, RN]

I'm 5 ft. 5 inches. My first baby was 7 lbs 6 oz and when I asked how many stitches I needed, because I really tore and needed vacuum assistance, I was patted on the head. Second baby 8 lbs 13 oz, tore badly again, bleeding everywhere, needed vacuum again. My surro baby was 6 pounds 13 oz and I still tore a bit. Every lady parts/pelvis handles babies differently. I'm also a fan of the epidural. I'm madly in love with my last anesthesiologist and will be requesting him for my next baby.

Well, thank you, it's comforting! It may sound stupid for me to say this, but when I do have children I want to have them lady partslly. Knowing that women smaller than me can push out 10# babies would make me feel somewhat of a failure if I couldn't do the same. Does that make sense?!

:balloons:

[Rohan]

You can't compare your own experience giving birth to anyone else. :) Everyone has their own pain tolerances and their own limitations. My ex-mother in law weighed 13 pounds when she was born and her mother was only 5 feet 1 inches. There is NO WAY that would fit out of me LOL

[Super_RN, BSN, RN]

You can't compare your own experience giving birth to anyone else. :) Everyone has their own pain tolerances and their own limitations. My ex-mother in law weighed 13 pounds when she was born and her mother was only 5 feet 1 inches. There is NO WAY that would fit out of me LOL

The only word that comes to mind is "OOOOOWWWWWW"!!!!! :imbar