Re: Homebirth was re: Wise Traditions - GAPS

[Guest guest]

If you go the hospital route, you should first investigate if they

are a certified " baby-friendly " hospital. Google for more info.

Also, if you go the hospital route, you are treated much differently

if you have a doula for labor support. My husband was so thankful we

had one - many are certified through DONA so that might be a good

place to start looking.

-jennifer

On Jan 27, 2008, at 6:00 PM, Lana Gibbons wrote:

> I also have concerns about my directions regarding cord cutting (I

> want something much like what you got at your homebirth), immediate

> breastfeeding, no supplemental feedings (for some reason, I expect

> this one to be a big issue), vaccinations and rooming-in. It really

> sounds like a homebirth would be much more likely to meet my

> specifications - I'm afraid if I do give birth at the hospital that I

> won't have the energy to keep the hospital folks in line!

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think a lot has to do with the hospital. My last child was born in a

wonderful hospital. I was able to nurse within minutes of her birth, she roomed

with me (the hospital let the mother decide) no formula ws ever given to her,

anyone I wanted in the room was allowed. My doctor respected my wishes. I

think you have to found out well before hand what your doctor and the hospitol

does and if he or she is flexible. Hospitals can be a great place or a horrible

place. I was a vaginal delivery after C-section and I had had complications

before so a home birth was not an option. I had doctors who didn't want to see

me because of my history I doubt a midwife would have touched me. I have had 3

children and last was the best experience the 2ND the worst and the 1st the

scariest that was an emergency c-section, my daughter was breech and her foot

fell through she actually kicked the doctor when she checked me. I also known

of people who have had home births and loved them

but sometimes it truly is not an option. I guess I am just saying hospitols

can be alright just check around and see.

Lana Gibbons <lana.m.gibbons@...> wrote: ,

Thank you so much for sharing your story - it was absolutely wonderful

to read about your homebirth!

I have been thinking of homebirth, as I have a few major concerns

about the hospital: the two main ones are the pathogens and the

unfamiliarity of the place causing undue stress on me. I hate

hospitals, fluorescent lights, cold rooms, etc. Just about everything

I will have to endure in the hospital! No wonder some women clam up

and can't deliver...

I also have concerns about my directions regarding cord cutting (I

want something much like what you got at your homebirth), immediate

breastfeeding, no supplemental feedings (for some reason, I expect

this one to be a big issue), vaccinations and rooming-in. It really

sounds like a homebirth would be much more likely to meet my

specifications - I'm afraid if I do give birth at the hospital that I

won't have the energy to keep the hospital folks in line!

Thanks again for sharing, I really appreciate hearing about how well

it went for you. I'm going to check into the details of it (insurance

wise, mainly).

-Lana

> All of that to share wit hyou or anyone interested in thought of a

> homebirth or midwife, please do not deprive yourself of knowing how

> it really is for most all homebirthers. i have not met one yet that

> wishes they had went to the hopsital. They all say i wish i would

> have homebirthed from the beginning.

>

>

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

I agree that home births are wonderful -- but not always an option and not

for everyone.

I had a very similar wonderful experience in a hospital. I nursed right

away. They never took the baby away. Even though I had a c-section. Her

father held her until she was ready to nurse (about 15 mins after the

birth). She stayed with us the rest of the time.

My doctor and everyone on the staff was amazing. The attending nurse hugged

me and spoke softly to me while I had my epidural. When I felt a little

pressure in my chest during the operation, the anesthesiologist talked me

through a guided visualization -- me walking on the beach holding my baby.

We had a lactation specialist come in to check on us every day to help with

the nursing. The nurses were all trained in lactation as well so I had 24/7

support with breastfeeding. The nurses were sooo helpful and kind. They did

not give us any formula and they have a rule that they will not feed a baby

unless they are asked.

All the babies there room in unless there is a medical reason they have to

go to NICU or you request a break for a nap or shower. Plus they had an

extra bed in the room -- so my husband was able to stay with us. My

mother-in-law stayed one night too.

For anyone in LA, I highly recommend UCLA Santa Birthplace.

Ann Marie

On Jan 28, 2008 1:52 PM, Rebekah Hankins <r55arrow@...> wrote:

> I think a lot has to do with the hospital. My last child was born in a

> wonderful hospital. I was able to nurse within minutes

[Guest guest]

I had 3 deliveries: one in 50s-throwback hospital, one in a birthing

cabin, and one in a wonderful hospital. The wonderful hospital was by

far the best. Partly because I had a great midwife with hospital

privileges. I think that might be even more key than the venue - that

the helper is a midwife if the pregnancy is low enough risk.

The birthing cabin was an unfortunate short-lived experiment that

turned out to be a combination of the least fun aspects of home birth

and hospital. It had all the work on the parents of making the plans,

planning for basically a weekend away so bring all you need, making

food there and for the first days at home, finding helpers for older

kids, without the comforts of a real home. Oh well!

Connie

> I agree that home births are wonderful -- but not always an option

and not

> for everyone.

[Guest guest]

The hospital you used sounded like mine. After I got over the scare of the

c-section and relaxed I did fine. My only complaint was the food (which

will be a problem anywhere but home) and the nurses waking me up to take

temperatures etc but in their defense they were just peeking in the room but

I'm a VERY light sleeper and that's all it takes.

I was also really anemic and had other issues post surgery they were worried

about.

Dawn

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Rebekah Hankins

Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 3:53 PM

Subject: Re: Homebirth was re: Wise Traditions - GAPS

I think a lot has to do with the hospital. My last child was born in a

wonderful hospital. I was able to nurse within minutes of her birth, she

roomed with me (the hospital let the mother decide) no formula ws ever given

to her, anyone I wanted in the room was allowed. My doctor respected my

wishes. I think you have to found out well before hand what your doctor and

the hospitol does and if he or she is flexible. Hospitals can be a great

place or a horrible place. I was a vaginal delivery after C-section and I

had had complications before so a home birth was not an option. I had

doctors who didn't want to see me because of my history I doubt a midwife

would have touched me. I have had 3 children and last was the best

experience the 2ND the worst and the 1st the scariest that was an emergency

c-section, my daughter was breech and her foot fell through she actually

kicked the doctor when she checked me. I also known of people who have had

home births and loved them

but sometimes it truly is not an option. I guess I am just saying hospitols

can be alright just check around and see.

Lana Gibbons <lana.m.gibbons@... <mailto:lana.m.gibbons%40gmail.com> >

wrote: ,

Thank you so much for sharing your story - it was absolutely wonderful

to read about your homebirth!

I have been thinking of homebirth, as I have a few major concerns

about the hospital: the two main ones are the pathogens and the

unfamiliarity of the place causing undue stress on me. I hate

hospitals, fluorescent lights, cold rooms, etc. Just about everything

I will have to endure in the hospital! No wonder some women clam up

and can't deliver...

I also have concerns about my directions regarding cord cutting (I

want something much like what you got at your homebirth), immediate

breastfeeding, no supplemental feedings (for some reason, I expect

this one to be a big issue), vaccinations and rooming-in. It really

sounds like a homebirth would be much more likely to meet my

specifications - I'm afraid if I do give birth at the hospital that I

won't have the energy to keep the hospital folks in line!

Thanks again for sharing, I really appreciate hearing about how well

it went for you. I'm going to check into the details of it (insurance

wise, mainly).

-Lana

> All of that to share wit hyou or anyone interested in thought of a

> homebirth or midwife, please do not deprive yourself of knowing how

> it really is for most all homebirthers. i have not met one yet that

> wishes they had went to the hopsital. They all say i wish i would

> have homebirthed from the beginning.

>

>

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

I wanted a homebirth so badly. I tried to find a midwife that I could

afford and asked around, did research on the net and wasn't able to. I was

on Medicaid though I put it off for a long time because I was paranoid about

being subjected to government regulations.

I found a good OB who respected my no drugs and wanting a natural birth. He

did mention inducing once as an option because of the size of the baby but I

refused that.

I do wonder if I would have been able to deliver if I wasn't in the hospital

because I was very self-conscious, very scared, was paranoid that as soon as

my baby was out they'd vaccinate him up!! I made Doug promise me probably a

hundred times that he'd never let the baby out of his sight.

I am high strung and easily stressed so it very well could have gone

different at home but with my weight issue and autoimmune disorder I was

very worried about it. I still would have managed somehow if I had a good

midwife to trust but I admit I am totally clueless on how to find one and

the pregnancy was a surprise so I didn't have any money saved up to pay for

one. I also was told by Medicaid that they wouldn't cover one which I guess

may be lie??

I've had people like that lie before like with rabies vaccines. A low cost

spay/neuter clinic here outright lied to me about what the minimum required

age for rabies vaccination is and when I called them on it and showed proof

they backed out and said they'd get fined if they didn't do it at 3 months.

How can you get fined when you didn't break the law?

However as far as hospitals go most of my fears were for nothing. No one

hassled me about the Hep B shot. I signed a paper stating I did NOT want

any vaccinations done on child or me. Doug watched him to make sure they

didn't do it behind our back (which I've heard horror stories about). My

biggest issue was not having anything I could eat and being stuck at the

hospital because of the C-section for 4 days. My family couldn't be asked

to find me some semi-decent restaurant food (that I'd pay for!!!) much less

make me some NT food. I didn't want Doug to leave because I couldn't get up

to protect our baby. =)

I think my OB would be ok with me having a midwife but he'd of course not

understand me wanting a homebirth except he has seen first hand how worked

up I get about things. I'd like to have him at least consulting.

When you did homebirth did the midwife come and check up on you and the baby

during your pregnancy? Towards the end I had to go in and see him every

week. Not fun, exposes me to lots of germs and sitting in those

uncomfortable chairs for 3 hours waiting to be seen.

I plan to have another child, hopefully in 2 or 3 years after is

older and I get my health better and some more of this weight off. But I'd

like to start working on finding a midwife and alternatives now. I do not

want another c-section and my OB is talking about that being my fate from

now on or so he suspects.

Dawn

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Lana Gibbons

Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 5:01 PM

Subject: Homebirth was re: Wise Traditions - GAPS

,

Thank you so much for sharing your story - it was absolutely wonderful

to read about your homebirth!

I have been thinking of homebirth, as I have a few major concerns

about the hospital: the two main ones are the pathogens and the

unfamiliarity of the place causing undue stress on me. I hate

hospitals, fluorescent lights, cold rooms, etc. Just about everything

I will have to endure in the hospital! No wonder some women clam up

and can't deliver...

I also have concerns about my directions regarding cord cutting (I

want something much like what you got at your homebirth), immediate

breastfeeding, no supplemental feedings (for some reason, I expect

this one to be a big issue), vaccinations and rooming-in. It really

sounds like a homebirth would be much more likely to meet my

specifications - I'm afraid if I do give birth at the hospital that I

won't have the energy to keep the hospital folks in line!

Thanks again for sharing, I really appreciate hearing about how well

it went for you. I'm going to check into the details of it (insurance

wise, mainly).

-Lana

> All of that to share wit hyou or anyone interested in thought of a

> homebirth or midwife, please do not deprive yourself of knowing how

> it really is for most all homebirthers. i have not met one yet that

> wishes they had went to the hopsital. They all say i wish i would

> have homebirthed from the beginning.

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I wanted a homebirth so badly.

>I'm afraid if I do give birth at the hospital that I

> won't have the energy to keep the hospital folks in line!

You know the best thing you could do for your self is to get all that

anxiety under control, whether you birth at the home or at the

hospital.

I found that I had incredible strength to tell them at the time

exactly what I wanted. My hospital births were empowering, because

DH wasn't going to speak up for me so it was one of those times where

you just have to advocate for yourself and your baby.

I had a C-sec for my first birth and after that they offered it to me

3 times for each birth and I had to sign that I was refusing. I had

good births (VBACs) mainly because I self educated and self

advocated. Oh, and I didn't go to the hospital until the baby was

almost there, that way you give them less time to worry that you

aren't progressing.

I wish I could have had home births but DH simply would not go along

with it. So I just had to have the best possible experience I

could. Fortunately, my hospital had rooming in for the baby and room

for my husband and kids to stay and they respected my wishes in

everything I expressed, they send the LCs by every day too. I was

not yet aware of NT so I was glad to lay around and have my meals

brought in, heaven knows no one at home was going to feed me. ;O)

Dora

[Guest guest]

> I do wonder if I would have been able to deliver if I wasn't in the

> hospital

> because I was very self-conscious, very scared, was paranoid that as soon

> as

> my baby was out they'd vaccinate him up!! I made Doug promise me probably

> a

> hundred times that he'd never let the baby out of his sight.

Yes, being scared and paranoid will prevent delivery. You raise cats- ever

bug or make a mama cat paranoid during delivery? Her labor will stop. It's

basic birth physiology, whether it be animal or human. She'll stop

dilating, even if her contractions continue.

I personally shut down my own labor during early labor with the birth of my

daughter. I said " Nope! Not having this baby right now! Not with that

birth attendant!! " and I stopped my labor cold. Once I felt safe and a good

birth attendant came on call, I re-started my own labor. In 20 minutes from

the shift change, I was back in labor, and going strong.

> I am high strung and easily stressed so it very well could have gone

> different at home but with my weight issue and autoimmune disorder I was

> very worried about it. I still would have managed somehow if I had a good

> midwife to trust but I admit I am totally clueless on how to find one and

> the pregnancy was a surprise so I didn't have any money saved up to pay

> for

> one. I also was told by Medicaid that they wouldn't cover one which I

> guess

> may be lie??

Medicaid will cover midwives, and does routinely. Being overweight and

having an auto-immune disorder does not prevent homebirth, otherwise I would

have never had a homebirth!

Being at home and feeling as though you are the one in control and having a

midwife whom you trust and will respect your wishes will remove all that

stress and anxiety and will allow you to focus on the task at hand. You'll

still have some stress and anxiety, of course, over the actual birthing

process, but you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much stress it relives.

All your focus will go into birthing the baby efficiently.

> However as far as hospitals go most of my fears were for nothing. No one

> hassled me about the Hep B shot. I signed a paper stating I did NOT want

> any vaccinations done on child or me. Doug watched him to make sure they

> didn't do it behind our back (which I've heard horror stories about). My

You are INCREDIBLY lucky. You don't know how lucky you are.

If you'll contact me off-list about your location, I can help you locate a

good midwife.

KerryAnn

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