Im 25 weeks 4 days pregnant and I was 172.2lbs this morning which is a gain of about 16 pounds. In the beginning of this pregnancy I knew I would give birth at home, actually before I got pregnant this time I knew if I ever had another child they would be birthed at home. This wasnt a decision I took lightly, but one I regret that I did not make two births sooner. I had my older two children at a hospital and had aweful experiences which still scar me mentally and physically. The old saying ‘Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me’ comes to my mind when I think about why I had hospital births with a doctor attending. I had completly uncomplicated pregnancies and I made choices to keep the interventions to the lowest possible number (no drugs etc) but so many things are ‘routine’ in a hospital and they make you feel like you have no choice. I was even given a drug after my children were born without my knowledge or consent. I didnt know until 4 years later that this happened, when I picked up copies of my medical records. I dont think thats okay. I wasnt in medical distress, there was no need for drugs, but at the hospital I delivered at its ‘routine’. This time my baby will be born at home with the assistance of a midwife, an amazing woman who I feel absolutly confident and comfortable in having in my home and at the birth of my child. Having a homebirth means a drug free and intervention free labour. It varies with the midwife but most believe a baby will come on its own, there is no ‘one hour=one centimeter dialation’ rule, labour takes how long it takes. Women who labour and deliver at home are not confined to being flat on their back in a hospital bed hooked up to monitors and a catheter, they can move into any position that feels best, they also are encouraged to push in any position other than flat on their back. Why push uphill when gravity can do some of the work for you? I never understoon the lithomy position (flat on back, knees cranked up to the ears, nurses screaming at you to PUUUUUSH!!!!) I delivered my two older sons in this fashion and I knew it was all wrong but I wasnt allowed to get into a better position because it would obscure the doctors view of my child being birthed, and it would make an episiotomy more difficult to perform (it would also negate the NEED for an episiotomy)
If you are contemplating delivering at home please contact a few midwives and chat with them! I hope you find one that is a great fit for your needs.

Posted by Shelley in Journal on October 7th, 2007 |