Anybody do at-home natural birthing?

Danialle - posted on 05/22/2010

I have had both my kids at home and absolutely loved it! Birth is a natural process and doesnt need medical intervention usless there is something wrong with you or the baby. After doing my home births, I would never go to the hospital unless I absolutely had to!

Kristen - posted on 05/21/2010

Both of my kids were born at home in peaceful easy water births. I did a lot of research before choosing home birth, and found some amazing home birth midwives that left me alone to do what I needed to do to birth my babies :o)
If you'd like more resources and information about choosing home birth, feel free to join this group
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-gave-bir...!/pages/I-gave-birth-at-home-Not-brave-Not-crazy-Just-educated/120258521328437

It's a great community of families that have homebirthed and they share their experiences as well as great information!

Laura - posted on 05/06/2010

I've done both. My 1st baby was born in hospital all went well. Second baby planned homebirth it was fantastic! Any further children will be planned home births no question!

LeAnn - posted on 05/04/2010

Well my birth of my youngest was not a planed at home birth but that is how it went/ I can tell you this much my next birth will be a planed at home birth. Thank god 4 the amr drivers and firemen that came to help me when i called. It was a good exp though i would not trade 4 nothin and now my babygirl is a healthy one year old.

Crystal - posted on 04/28/2010

and about that last comment.. looks like you already watched the documentary.. anyhow.. I wanted to add the best part about having baby at home is the fact that things went exactly the way WE wanted them to, and by the evening we were on the couch safe in our home enjoying our new bundle of joy..

Crystal - posted on 04/28/2010

Yes.. it was the most incredible experience ever! I suggest you watch a documentary called..
"The Business of Being Born".. it will give you great insight and is what helped me make up my mind about homebirth.. Good luck on TTC!

Armindie - posted on 04/09/2010

I had my last baby at home and like many others have already said, IT WAS AMAZING!! We have 3 other kids and it was so easy to not have to worry about finding sitters. They just woke up, and had a new sibling. So many good memories. Can't really say enough about it. I plan on having this one at home as well.

Deborah - posted on 04/07/2010

I had my first baby (now 2 1/2) at home and am 37 weeks with my second planned homebirth. It was the best decision of my life to have my son at home and I look forward to an equally stress-free birth with my second. Don't worry about age. My friend had her first at home when she was 38 and did great. Just stay in close contact with your midwives and be informed.

Melissa - posted on 04/01/2010

Yup, I am from the US and just had a little one birthed at home a little under 3 months ago. He was my first - and both my hubby and I loved it so much that for any future kids, we are going to do home births! I feel so lucky that I found out about my options early on! I highly recommend it!

Jennifer - posted on 01/11/2010

Markita, we were having babies at home thousands of years ago! You can do it! Trust your instincts! In some countries - the Netherlands, I believe - all women have a midwife and only get a doctor if they have high risks. I highly recommend taking a birth class that is geared toward teaching you how to have a natural birth. I took a Bradley Birth class, and they teach you everything that could happen, medications, complications and how to deal with them and not feel pressured if you are in a hospital setting. We felt fully informed. But there are other classes as well, ask your midwife. It just felt good to have the information on things to help with non-medicated birth. Again, something we have been doing for centuries! Also, check out the book "Birthing From Within" kinda hippy, new-age-y, but good.

Jennifer - posted on 01/08/2010

i have and i also had a water birth.it was amazing i am sorry i didnt
have my other 3 kids at home.After a water birth your baby is so relaxed.
thereis no rushing about and u will feel more relaxed and more comfortable at home.
Midwives are great.

Cristie - posted on 01/06/2010

I had my first and only child at home with a midwife. It was everything I hoped it would be and I will do another home birth with my next as long as I am not high risk.

Karen - posted on 10/25/2009

I have 2 so far and both were at home water births. I would never do it any other way.

Stacey - posted on 10/23/2009

Hello Markita
I recently had a home birth with an independent midwife and it was the most fantastic experience of my life. This was my 4th child. The other 3 were born at the hospital and I found it harder and took longer to get over. I also had a wonderful connection with my midwife and found that she imparted much more useful information than anyone I had ever met.
THe experience for my husband was equally as wonderful as well as for my other 3 boys, my eldest (4 years old) got to cut the cord. They all dearly love her and found it an incredible experience as well.
I feel I have given my boys an experience which well effect the way they look at women and childbirth and they will hopefully grow up with an understanding of the naturalness of birth.
Good luck with everything and I hope it give you everything you have been hoping for.
Stacey.

Lucy - posted on 09/24/2009

Definately a midwife and a homebirth. I had my son at home in the UK, where you get two midwives in the final stages of labour, so lots of support! It was the best thing i've ever done.
Good luck with everything xx

Cierra - posted on 09/24/2009

I recommend finding a midwife before you ever get pregnant. It will make the whole pregnancy and birth experience that much better. You could also look for a doula.

Zissi - posted on 09/18/2009

Hi.hope you will have the luck to get preg and enjoy having your littleone at home.i have had all 3 Nina(10.08.05)Christian(04.08.07) and Nora(03.09.09) at home and never wanted anything different from the moment i found out i was preg the first time.my husband was against it and it took a while to get him to acept my wish and he was so over the moon wen we finally had our babys.i had my middwife who i trust and felt verry well.i was able to do as i wanted wen i went into labour and didnt need any medications or wat ever and just did as my body told me to do and to trust mother nature.i didnt even go to the docs anymore when i was preg with nora but trusted God,anna and my self as we nearly lost our son becouse of the docs telling us rubbish.i wish a lot more woemen would enjoy a home birth as its something verry natural and no illness beeing preg so why go to hospital.after telling my friend she too enjoyed a homebirth and the labour dont seem bad wen you feel at home and free to do as you want.im crossing my fingers for you both and good luck and enjoy every moment as it goes by so fast.

Shonda - posted on 09/07/2009

Homebirths are miraculous. I am a child of home birth. My mother had myself and my twin sisters at home with a most awesome midwife. I had my first child at 16 years old. I had started the doctor visits, but by the time the sixth month had rolled around I realized I couldn't afford going to the doctor, out of my pocket or out of my health. So I turned to the only other person I knew could help. My personal midwife. I went through 11.5 hours of hard core labor moving from the living room to the bathroom to the bed. I even hemoraged after having my son, but it did't keep my from having a home birth the second time. My second birthing experience went fast. 5 hours tops. And my last home birth was around 12 hours of labor, all with my midwife by my side. She was the first person I saw when I was brought into this world and I wanted her to be the first person my children saw when they came into the world too. I cried about the fact of going to the hospital. I did not want to go there, even if my life depended on it. In my opinion, homebirthing is the very best way to go if you have a very well trained midwife.

Anna - posted on 09/04/2009

If you want to do it, go for it. It will go better if you are in a situation you are comfortable with. I tried for a homebirth for my first child but transferred to hospital after a long labour with no progress. But I am definitely going to try it again for the second. I absolutely hated being in hospital.

Lucy - posted on 08/09/2009

Markita, I have a channel on youtube that speaks a lot about our home birth journey from TTC, preparing for a home birth, my entire pregnancy up to this point almost 3 months postpartum. I also have a link to our home birth if you'd like to view it...
www.youtube.com/xxxjoelpolexx

and:

Jennifer - posted on 07/09/2009

i had an unassisted home birth November 08 after two horrible hospital births. I am pregnant again and plan on doing another homebirth. I will not go back to the hospital unless i absolutely have to .

DIANNE - posted on 06/13/2009

I HAVE DONE TWO! ONE IN FEBRUARY OF 1981 AND ONE IN JUNE OF 1983. I HAD A MID-WIFE AT BOTH. I WAS IN GOOD BUT NOT OUTRAGOUSLY EXCELLANT HEALTH. AND I WAS MENTALLY STRONG. TOOK THE BIRTHING CLASSES AS RECOMMENDED. DID ALOT OF WALKING WHILE PREGNANT. THAT I BELIEVE HELPED ALOT. MY FIRST BIRTH TOOK ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND AFTERWARD I GOT UP AND TOOK A SHOWER WITH MY HUSBAND IN MY OWN SHOWER WHILE MY MOM GOT TO BOND WITH OUR BABY GIRL. THE SECOND ONE WAS A LITTLE TRICKIER. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALONG MY BACK, SO I SPENT 5 HOURS ON HANDS AND KNEES LETTING GRAVITY TURN HER. ACCORDING TO THE MID-WIFE HAD SHE NOT TURNED ON HER OWN, THE MID-WIFE WOULD HAVE REACHED UP INSIDE ME AND TURNED HER LIKE A HORSE! BOTH BIRTHS WERE WONDERFUL AND I HAD COMPLETE CONTROL OVER WHETHER I WALKED THRU THE GARDEN, SAT AND LISTENED TO THE BIRDS OR LAUGHED WITH THE MANY FRIENDS I HAD THERE TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE!! I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEART BEAT!!

Lindsay - posted on 06/09/2009

I just had my first baby at home one week ago today. I was in labour for 46 1/2 hours form when my waters broke. It was the most fun I have ever had in my entire life! So peaceful and calm. No one was there unless I wanted them to be there. No one talked unless I said it was okay. I was in complete control of everything I did! My midwife was awesome! Mostly just watching and encouraging me to listen to my body and to God, to let Him deliver my baby through the natural process given to my body. It sounds weird to some people to say that it was fun, but it really was. It wasn't "painful" necessarily but very difficult to stay focused on breathing and making sure that I didn't get tense. I had my daughter (SURPRISE) in the birth pool facing my husband (he got to catch the baby) and I pushed for 45 minutes. It was very calm and spiritual feeling. Lots of prayer and blessings were spoken over me. No screaming, just moaning. A very wonderful sexual experience. Very pleasurable! I recommend this to anybody who is considered low-risk or just anyone who believes that God truly did create women to give birth! No matter what the doctors say!

Christina - posted on 06/09/2009

I had my first baby at home with a midwife and two doulas. It was really special...beautiful...I have vivid memories of the way the light came in the living room windows. It was an empowering experience. I learned a lot about my own abilities and limitations. I had no medicine/pain-killers. There were a few challenges...a doctor came at the end for a minor glitch. But, I was still able to have a medicine free birth the next two times. That first baby is now 11 years old and I have had three more...in the hospital with a midwife. I thought each birth was unique and beautiful in its own powerful way. Enjoy every moment of your pregnancy and birth no matter where you decide to have the baby. Birth is amazing and life changing. My fourth child was born in the hospital with an epidural...you could say I've tried everything. As different as that birth was from my homebirth experience, I would not change it. What makes birth amazing and special isn't the method...it is life...a new little person...a small soul in your arms...wow! We have this blessing in vessels made of clay...a spirit in a body made of dust. Incredible.

Markita - posted on 05/28/2009

Thank you! I actually watched "The Business of Being Born". That is what got me interested in a home birth! I will have to check out Birth in America. I was my BFF's birthing partner with her last baby and seeing what she went through prompted me to look for an alternative.

Dani - posted on 05/28/2009

Yes. I did this with my second baby. It was AMAZING. I would trade a thousand epidurals for the experience I got at home the second time. It was less stress, the midwife knows what she's doing, you get to go to bed that night in your own bed, and it's cheaper than going to the hospital! No doctors to tell you what position to birth in, you can be NAKED NAKED NAKED and eat while in labor! No paperwork shoved in your face, your hubby is right there, and no machine that pings!



Watch "The Business of Being Born" and "Birth In America" before making your decision. Seriously, it's an amazing thing.

Mindy - posted on 05/26/2009

I do birth center births (because my home is to far from the hospital for my comfort) same as a home birth but at a different location and I have loved being out of the hospital. Find a good midwife that you trust and feel comfortable and they can talk you through any fears you may have. Do not worry about the 36 thing if you are healthy otherwise and take care of yourself through the pregnancy you should be fine.

Vanessa - posted on 05/24/2009

you can do it. most chances are everything will be fine.
36....no problem. get a good midwfie you are comfortable with.
glad the Ricky l\Lake doco opened your eyes.
ask any questions you need.
go well.....let us know.

Markita - posted on 05/24/2009

Thank you so much for your responses. I recently watched The Business of Being Born and it really pushed me towards a home birth. My biggest concern is that I am over 35 (I'll be 36 June 16th) and it will be my first pregnancy. Though I'm fairly healthy, looking into pregnancy yoga, and a fitness plan, so I'm praying that I can do this!

Vanessa - posted on 05/24/2009

yes, i birthed first baby at home with a midwife. it was great.
i highly reccommend homebirth for healthy women.

Marie - posted on 05/24/2009

Midwife and home birth was fantastic! I started my midwife at 4 months and had support for 6 weeks after the birth then she moved to Brockville.



I gave birth after 9 hours labour at home at the end of my bed. I did most of the labouring on the toilet since during the after-my-water-broke contractions my waters kept dribbling out. After transition I did the pushing on my knees until he crowned then I was on my back at the end of the bed for the last few pushes.



I was comfy, and able to settle right away after the birth. The midwife came to my house for several visits before we were done and did some lactation consulting as well to make sure baby was doing well. She also did all the blood tests.



I have to say that for me it was a fabulous experience. We did the tour at the hospital, we did our research, I had a detailed birth plan that we discussed with the midwife. We were very particular about everything along the way and the midwife did all my check ups and tests.

Helen - posted on 05/24/2009

Hey, yes ive done it with both my kids. Once in the uk and once in Australia 7 weeks ago. I would never want to birth any other way than at home. You feel so much more relaxed in your own home and you get to choose who is there or not. Makes it such a special experience.