| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| NudeFoodFarm |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 08:37:51 AM
I wanted to start up a conversation about Homebirthing.
Here is Washington State it is still legal (although it seems like we have to continually fight for the right). I was fortunate enough to have both my daughters at home. Which was no comfort to my mom since we live out in the sticks and it takes over a half hour to get to the Hospital. My midwife said I was healthy enough and she kept her car full of gas so if she had to rush out she wouldn't run out of gas.
It was GREAT! So great I am writing this to urge expecting mommas to research the option. I needed no intervention what so ever, no poking, no monitors, no oxygen, no stiches, NOTHING. Just me, the daddy, midwife and eventually baby. I don't thnk I have ever been more proud of anything I have ever done. I realize that Homebirths aren't for everyone but if it is the epideral that your afraid of going without, don't. Trust your body, it is a miracle how it works for us.
I am not saying it was easy (my first child I was in labor for 36 hours and while I was pushing I could here the midwife talk about transferring me to the hospital if I couldn't get that baby out. That was the motivation I needed because the next push she was out). My second came in a little over 2 hours. I thought I knew what I was doing so I was in no hurry to get the midwife out here (I knew she was a very busy lady). I told my husband we would call her when my water broke but my baby was born in the cull! Luckily when my husband saw how intense it was getting he called the midwife and she sped here and made it just in time. The sad news was that I wanted a water birth and when she checked me and said it was time, my husband started the bath but the baby came faster! I had a nice bath after she was born.
Our midwife only does homebirths (for over 30 years; 1000's of babies) but it isn't all that popular around here. Most people say to us that we were so brave but I believe having your baby in the hospital is being brave. You get bullied into their policies. When you are home you get to do so much the way you want it, like eat, walk, move and maybe even yell.
So enough on my soap box. If you have a birth story I would love to hear it. Or a questions, feel free.
"Midwives help people out"
Heide
Nude Food Farm
~Grown so good,
Dressing is Optional. |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| NudeFoodFarm |
Posted - Apr 06 2009 : 09:16:57 AM
Yes, this is what freaks me out too. That doctors give women the option of a C-sect, like it is "safer". Birth is so misunderstood and our culture has taught so much fear around it. A lot of the women I have talked too say it is irresponsible to have your baby at home. Seriously the US has one of the top infant fatality rates and those are hospital statistics. If you look at midwifery you will find completely different numbers. Women should only have their baby in the hospital if there is already health complications. Like Eliazbeth said, so many of the "complications" are created in the hospital for lack of privacy and patience.
My body takes a little push to start labor. I went 42 weeks and a day with both babies. My first I naturally induced with acupuncture and she was so great, she came back through out my labor and did pain relieving. My baby was facing the wrong way, not breech but "sunny side up" and she did acupuncture to help turn the baby and the baby turned. I only wish someone would of told me to lean forward as much as I could at the end so the baby would be positioned for birth.
My second baby, I used black and blue cohosh tincture drops (under my midwives supervison) for 2 weeks and I think it did slowly induce me. That baby was positioned right and came in less than 2 hours of hard labor.
My hope is that more farm girls research homebirth for their own families and consider it as extremely valuable information. I also hope more of us go into the Midwifery/Doula trade because the more of us who know how to do it safely, the more of our sisters will trust us and the process.
"midwives help people out",
h
Nude Food Farm
~Grown so good,
Dressing is Optional. |
| babysmama |
Posted - Apr 06 2009 : 08:50:35 AM
Birth is such a natural process! What makes me angry is how doctors and hospitals have made it such a medical issue when the majority of births can be very natural and safe. There are too many unnessicary inductions and c-sections in this county and most are because it is just more convient for the doctor. I have a friend who is on her thrid pregnancy and keeps mentioning how her body never goes into labor and how an induction is just so much easier. She has never let her body go into labor on it's own... a few days past due she gets induced. A normal woman's pregnancy is 38-42 weeks but so many people think they need to pop that baby out by week 40! Inductions are not easier and do lead to more c-sections. Doctors should not push inductions so early!
I was SO MAD when I watched the show "The Dr.s" which I think (and hope!) is no longer on when a first time mother was trying to choose between a c-section or natural birth. The doctors made it seem like there are complications with both (which there is, but c-sections should be done when only medically nesiccary) and made it seem like either is fine and one is not safer than the other. She decided for a c-section.
-Elizabeth |
| NikkiBeaumont |
Posted - Apr 04 2009 : 03:56:18 AM
A young couple I know from Colorado planned a homebirth for their first child. The midwife was on her way when the mother went to the bathroom, felt the head crowning and then the dad had to catch the baby like a football before it feel out. Can you believe it? Man, they made it seem so easy.
Love reading birth stories. Every one of them seems to be a miracle to me. I get teary-eyed every time I see someone give birth on TLC's Baby Story. It is just so precious.
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
| lacisne88 |
Posted - Apr 01 2009 : 7:39:19 PM
Wow! This is one of my favorite threads in a while! I attend the U of WA and last quarter I took a Psychology class called Child Development. In the class we literally talked about everything from birth, to child growth and cognitive development. I watched a documentary called "The Business of Being Born." It was made by Ricky Lake and details home and natural births with midwives. After watching the movie I have been obsessed with the topic and I fully want to use the support and knowledge of a midwife when I become pregnant.
I am so interested in the whole package. Midwives provide prenatal care, pregnancy advice, birthing, as well as post-natal care (at least the ones in Seattle that I have researched do). It seems like such a powerful and empowering thing to do and I'm sure it will be the most powerful moment (or moments) of my life. I hope that my pregnancies are healthy because I want to do a home birth so bad.
This thread is AMAZING and I am so happy it was started. I live in a sorority on campus and I've been talking to my sorority sisters about midwives and homebirthing ever since I watched the film. They probably think I'm weird, but I think it's important to let other women know that there are multiple potions out there for them. Many women think that hospitals are the only way we can birth, when in fact, it used to be that midwives were the only way we birthed.
:)
Chelsey
Farmgirl Sister #283
http://farmgirlpleasures.blogspot.com/
http://aminiatureworld.blogspot.com/ |
| kmbrown |
Posted - Apr 01 2009 : 12:37:46 PM
Well I've had 3 babies at home with the midwife I trained with. I myself have assisted with some deliveries and I may continue once my babies get bigger. My sister is also a midwife and she was with me with my 3rd. My first was 45 hours of labor and a 4 hour push out. It was horrible, but he was worth it all! My second was 8 hours of labor but he was posterior (sunny side up) and so push out was a nightmare! My third was a water birth and was 8 hour labor and like a 30 second push out!! I was thrilled!! I have really enjoyed the home births and felt completely safe with them. Now for my 4rth and last baby I am going to the hospital! Oh well. Our insurance does not recognize direct entry midwives and in PA a CNM cannot deliver at home. So, I am going to have this baby in the hospital for financial reasons really but I think I'll be ok!! |
| knittingmom |
Posted - Apr 01 2009 : 09:17:38 AM
I have read Ina May's books when I was preparing for the birth of my children. I am a big supporter of midwives for birth assistance. Homebirths have also been shown to be better for both mom and baby (less stress), also a midwife is able to sit with an expectant mom for more than 10 minutes. I don't see any reason why an OB/GYN would have to assist or oversee a healthy pregnancy. They are specialists so their time should be spent on those who really need to have a more medical backup.
In Canada only a few Provinces covered midwives under their healthcare coverage, now more are coming on board and covering the cost which is really good, it gives all women options.
I've also known a few women who became Doulas first and then went on with thier more formal midwifery training.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
| NudeFoodFarm |
Posted - Apr 01 2009 : 08:51:42 AM
I have been thinking a lot about this and wanted to share an amazing resource for having babies and helping women have babies
Her name is Ina May Gaskin. I am sure some of you have heard of her. She is resides in Tennessee with a huge group of people dedicated to homebirth for the last 30 years. They have birthed 1000's of babies at thier farm and have wrote 2 essential books.
Here is their link.
http://inamay.com/archive/index.php
They offer classes etc.
May we all have the courage to do what is best for us.
H
Nude Food Farm
~Grown so good,
Dressing is Optional. |
| NudeFoodFarm |
Posted - Mar 26 2009 : 2:13:11 PM
As sensitive of a subject as this is it is so important.
When I started the posting, I felt like a freak and wondered if anyone would have anything to add. Now there is a thread of women with so many different experiences connected. I agree we need to be tender with one another and that is why I want to promote homebirthing.
This is the most wonderful thing about this forum. Most of us are farmers living rural lives. I personally, live in an extremely religious community that my husband and I aren't of that particular religion and we feel very excluded. Like I said previoulsy, no one around here homebirths. But where we moved from, Olympia WA, almost everyone did. So this forum for me reminds me I am not alone out here.
Thanks for your birth stories; from home or hospital each birth experience is unique and holy.
h
Nude Food Farm
~Grown so good,
Dressing is Optional. |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Mar 26 2009 : 2:01:29 PM
IMO learning to be a Midwife is best done by self study and through apprenticeship. perhaps because I got burned badly by the "school" I paid thousands of dollars to, but this is my opinion.
Depending on your state, though, too, you'll want to find out the laws before you decide on a school if you go that route.
It's also not birth that you ahve to love. That is where a lot of "birth junkies" make the mistake. They all want to be there to catch the babies so they fail to learn anything about the time before the baby comes out. They also fail to learn about the problems that can occur when the baby is coming out. So please if any of you are interested in birth work, make sure you have the interest for the right reasons, instead of purely because you've been enthused by helping deliver babies once or twice. :)
stepping off of the pulpit....
I have four birth stories I'll copy and paste to share. I have shared them here before...well 2 of them anyhow. One is a hospital birth one is an unassisted miscarriage and the other 2 are live births, UC, here at home. I have to go back to resting for the moment though. I am sick. yuck.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Farmgirl Sister #88
Blogs:
http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
Etsy:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
"Joyful chaos, working in tune with the seasons, telling itme by the sun, variety, change and self-direction; all this wwas replaced with a brutal, standardized work culture, the effects of which we are still suffering from today." - Tom Hodgkinson in 'How To Be Idle' |
| Lizabeth |
Posted - Mar 26 2009 : 1:49:11 PM
This is a topic that has come up before, and has been thoroughly discussed. there are many of us on the forum with many different values, opinions and birth experiences.
Let's remember as this topic is considered again, to be sensitive and kind to each other :)
|
| 5 acre Farmgirl |
Posted - Mar 26 2009 : 1:43:39 PM
OH!!!!!!!!!! I love this topic,,,I have helped deliver 2 babies and am just wanting to start Doula training, birth absolutely fascinates me.... always wanted to be a Midwife....no $ or time, when all 6 children were at home, DH says maybe now...I am ecstatic...Anyone know of a good school that doesnt cost my arm and both legs(giggle ).I love to hear Homebirth stories,,,fascinates me again and again....
Farmgirl Sister #368
"It is most common for man to value most what has least worth."
My Farm and Garden blog....
http://blogonthefarmandgarden.blogspot.com
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| NudeFoodFarm |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 08:22:23 AM
YES! Freebirthing is the term I had heard.
When I was 10 I spent the night at my friends house and her mother was pregnate with her 4th child. We were upstairs watching tv and when we came down there was a baby! She had delivered it all by herself without any aid exactly how she wanted it. Truely amazing yet so natural!
Best,
Heide
Nude Food Farm
~Grown so good,
Dressing is Optional. |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 08:18:53 AM
Unassisted homebirth is also called Freebirthing
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Farmgirl Sister #88
Blogs:
http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
Etsy:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
"Joyful chaos, working in tune with the seasons, telling itme by the sun, variety, change and self-direction; all this wwas replaced with a brutal, standardized work culture, the effects of which we are still suffering from today." - Tom Hodgkinson in 'How To Be Idle' |
| Alee |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 07:01:22 AM
I agree- I think homebirthing is beautiful!
I decided to have Nora in the Hospital because all three of my sisters had horrible complications with their pregnancies. Two of my sisters almost died with high blood pressure issues, and my oldest nephew almost died in labor because it turned out his umbilical cord was too short, it wouldn't have made it through the birth and a C-Section was needed to save his life.
Luckily, in the hospital, I did not need interventions like my sisters did. My blood pressure never spiked. I made the decision to use oxytocin to induce labor (ouch by the way) because my body agreeing with itself. One half of my body decided to break the water because my kidneys were in distress due to the pregnancy but the other half wasn't getting that meant labor should there for follow!
The doctors were willing to let me to induce if I wanted to, but I followed my gut instinct. I had an intuition that we needed to move things along. I am really glad we did, but next time I am hoping that my body communicates with itself a bit more and no internventions will be necessary.
I also had a really great hospital that wasn't weird about birthing. You could get up and move around whenever you needed to, the rooms were very private and no one ever got upset at me when I screamed! LOL
However, all that being said, if my family history wasn't was it is, I would definitly consider homebirth. For thousands and thousands of generations that is how our foremothers brought their children into the world. I am thinking for my next baby I might have a midwife deliver him/her at the hospital so I can have the best of both worlds. The hospital there just in case, but the love and care of the midwife and or doula.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| babysmama |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 06:31:35 AM
The term of having a baby at home with no midwife is called unassisted home birth. I've read many articles on it and it all sounds so beautiful!
-Elizabeth |
| NudeFoodFarm |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 5:51:28 PM
Tasha,
I had heard there was a name for when a woman has the baby unattended. I can't think of it now, but I am sure HARD CORE is in the definition. Congrats to you and your husband! I really think that is so Awesome.
You are absolutely right that Homebirthing can never become illegal but it is a shame that it is so feared and uninsured. We know of a couple out of Portland OR who is insured but they wont cover the homebirth so they have to pay out of pocket! It just seems so backwards. . .
Well thanks for everyones feedback. Every birth is so unique and I find it so interesting.
Cheers!
Heide
Nude Food Farm
~Grown so good,
Dressing is Optional. |
| idsweetie72 |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 4:42:09 PM
I am a wimp- I must admit- I have the utmost respect and humility for women who have their lil darlin's at home.
But because of my childhood I was left with a severly scarred utuerus, and the doctors told me I would never be able to have kids. I was heartbroken but determined- 3 miscarries later I had a beautiful boy,(though difficult pregnancy/labor)ad the 2 miscarries after him I had a beautiful baby girl- and if she had been born first there would have been no more babies for me! So my angels have watched over me for sure! My youngest baby was the easiest to deliver- I just had to drive to Jackpot Nevada, pic up my youngest sis, who handed me her 5 day old baby girl and said, "here- she's yours"
Mazy Day Farm |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 12:20:47 PM
PS the dr screamed, because I wasn't even in a birthing bed yet! I was in labor and delivery at the hospital, but still on a gurney! The dr came in to do a check.......I had just gotten there, and I went as soon as I broke water (I feel no labor, so water breaking is the only way I know I'm in labor), and he literally flew out, flew about 2 feet! From me-uterus, to the end of the bed! The Dr had just pulled back the blanket wasn't even down there for the exam yet! Boy did he scream! lol hahaha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 12:17:18 PM
Yeah what's up with no eating. I told my husband to get me food, I didn't care what they said! lol
I have not had a home birth but want one.
However, I'm like the other poster, VERY fast labor. Both mine was less then 2 hours, from start to finish! lol Pushed five times with my first, and that was it. Um.....I hate saying this cause people will hate me too, but I didn't push at all with the second, he flew out! And I wasn't even expecting it.....either was dr or nurse, the dr went to check and out he flew, the doctor screamed! lol haha I also have no pain..so epidurals are not a issue for me too, and even if I did, I can't have one any way because I have had back surgeries and the screws/rods are in the way.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| babysmama |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 11:33:28 AM
I had my first baby at the hospital with a doctor and it was horrible...stuck in bed and all that. I had wanted to go all nautral but since I couldn't walk and was confined to a bed I couldn't stand it anymore and asked for some demoral.
WIth my second I decided to go with a nurse midwife who delivers at a different hospital. It was like night and day how different it can be. I got to the hospital about 10:30 at night with my second and had him at 12:53am so only a little over two hours of labor. I labored in the water and it was as great as labor can be!
With my third I had the same nurse midwife and the contractions were so different, coming only every five to ten minutes even during active labor. The pushing was difficult because of that but I had him in the birthing tub as well and it was all nautral. I love the idea of homebirth but because of family history I feel safer in a hospital, but only with a midwife who is willing to and even encourages things more naturally.
-Elizabeth |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 11:15:37 AM
welllllll......2 of my 3 are homebirth babies. They came unassisted, though, as planned and our nearest hospital is 40 minutes from us. I am a midwife and my husband is the best midwife I have ever had!
Homebirth cannot be made illegal. It's not going to happen, it's just a matter of the legal status of midwives for those choosing to use a midwife at home. In some states it's outright illegal to be a non-nurse midwife. In MN we are legal (CPM).
I wont share my birth stories, as most people here know them, plus people who have long hard labor hate me for my short painless labors. ;)
blessings....
Tasha
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Farmgirl Sister #88
Blogs:
http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
Etsy:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
"Joyful chaos, working in tune with the seasons, telling itme by the sun, variety, change and self-direction; all this wwas replaced with a brutal, standardized work culture, the effects of which we are still suffering from today." - Tom Hodgkinson in 'How To Be Idle' |
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