https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:23:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909321 Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:38:58 +0000 SteelerGirl 2909321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: Ha! This made me laugh because it is a very accurate depiction of what it's like! I have to admit, I'm lucky enough to live next to a really nice hospital. Thank you for making me realize that. Not every hospital makes an effort to prioritize expectant mother's comfort as well as health and safety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909318 Thu, 30 Jan 2020 16:55:15 +0000 Becky 2909318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SteelerGirl: I guess my solution is just spending as little time there as possible (going in at last minute and only staying one night). It’s not a particularly homey environment: the triage room seemed like it was from the 70s, and instead of making the labor and postpartum rooms loom homey like they do at birth centers, they’re kind of poorly done modern. I’m going to talk to my new midwives about intermittent fetal monitoring because the monitor was so bothersome last time and wouldn’t even stay on so we got false reads, and about refusing a saline lock. I also want to try to be more outspoken if I don’t like my nurse—I had such a wonderful nurse with my first, and my second was not pleasant at all.</p> <p>A few things I do want to do are labor in my own gown (unless I’m in the tub) and change into my own clothes after, add some touches to the mother/baby room (like maybe some flowers from my parents garden, a diffuser), and bring my own cozy socks (instead of those awful yellow non skid hospital ones). I’m going to talk to my new midwifery practice about what can be done to make nursing checks less intrusive (I remember them repeatedly waking me up and telling me I couldn’t fall asleep while holding the baby in bed, and then when the baby would finally fall asleep in the bassinet they’d come and check my blood pressure and the Velcro from the cuff would be so loud the baby would wake up). We checked out early last time so will definitely do that this time as long as everything goes ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909283 Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:35:52 +0000 SteelerGirl 2909283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with some of the other comments on addressing your hospital discomfort. What about a hospital makes you uncomfortable? Can you fix it?</p> <p>I had my two babies in a hospital about 15 minutes away and that hospital actually holds really powerful happy emotions for me because of it. I recently visited my very sick Grandmother there (she's healthy now) and realized when I walked in I immediately felt happy, despite the circumstances. I associate that hospital with the happiest days of my life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909232 Wed, 29 Jan 2020 07:31:50 +0000 HappyBaker 2909232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909231 Wed, 29 Jan 2020 05:47:12 +0000 Becky 2909231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QBbride: I did read that study and I am absolutely an excellent homebirth candidate. What ended up sticking with me is what you said about if something happens at the hospital I’d be sorry, but if it was at home I’d be thinking “What if I was at the hospital” the rest of my life and I just couldn’t live with it. I may end up with some regrets about not doing it, idk...Something that’s actually really helpful for me is that the hospital is located somewhere I’ve spent a huge amount of time. We used to live around the corner and I ran in the park across the street basically every day, took my lunch breaks to walk there when I worked around the corner, and still bring my kids there a lot to play in the summer. There’s also this great cafe/bookstore a block away. So basically my plan is to camp out there during early labor! It feels kind of homey to me rather than the rush of getting to the hospital on time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909229 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 22:52:21 +0000 QBbride 2909229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: I’m really surprised at all the answers being so negative! I’m a NICU nurse and I considered a home birth (which says a lot because we do see some bad outcomes... BUT I have also seen quite a few bad outcomes of hospital births too). I believe there was a BIG study done quite recently (maybe in Canada though, where I live) which showed that neonatal mortality was no higher for LOW-RISK home births. I think the key is that midwives know when to transfer and transfer before things become emergent. And yes you can’t predict everything, but you actually can’t in hospital either. We are sometimes caught off guard with a sick baby who we weren’t expecting them to be so sick etc. </p> <p>When I thought about a home birth, I watched the documentary “Why Not Home?” Which is about OBs who have chosen home births and the thing that stuck with me the most was that if things go wrong in the hospital, people immediately say they’re sorry... whereas if things go wrong at home, people immediately blame the fact you were at home. </p> <p>Just another perspective! I ended up having to be induced so it was a moot point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909197 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 13:03:08 +0000 Becky 2909197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Mercy, which is part of Catholic and where I delivered last time. My plan is to hang out in the park across the street in early labor then go into the hospital once my water breaks (I go quick once it breaks). </p> <p>Thanks all!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909193 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:43:35 +0000 LCTBQE 2909193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: SUPER glad to hear this. Like @gotkimchi: I know too many people who had unexpected complications and urgently needed a c-section, and I know a handful whose home births went terribly wrong. Are you going to Catholic? It’ll be great :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909187 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:52:21 +0000 Becky 2909187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay so you guys and my SIL pushed me over. I just made an appointment t with the hospital based midwife group. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909183 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:17:29 +0000 Becky 2909183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The absolute risk of neonatal death is my biggest concern obviously. What most people have brought up is the guilt that I could have if something goes wrong. We have a meeting with the midwife group this week, and that’s the big thing I want to talk to them about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909180 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:08:10 +0000 MrsADS 2909180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi hard agree. </p> <p>Every study has found that the risk of death of babies born at home in the U.S. is significantly higher than the rate for those born in a hospital. </p> <p><a href="http://ishomebirthsafe.blogspot.com/p/what-do-studies-say.html" rel="nofollow">http://ishomebirthsafe.blogspot.com/p/what-do-studies-say.html</a></p> <p>I do see the appeal of home birth, but a situation can become dangerous extremely quickly (sudden hemorrhage, baby in arrest) and that 15 minutes from the hospital may be the difference between life and death.</p> <p>Not worth the risk to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909172 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 09:34:44 +0000 gotkimchi 2909172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of my delivered at a birth center and the baby came out not breathing and had to be resuscitated and has life long effects. I not sure if being at a hospital would have changed anything but I know they wonder (having immediate access to high level care) and i personally wouldn’t want to live with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909167 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 09:14:22 +0000 bhbee 2909167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I considered it, but dh wasn’t comfortable. And even though I know the midwives clean up, the idea of the mess throughout kind of horrified me :silly: . Also I didn’t want my other kids around during labor. Silly reasons not medical ones! Is 15 minutes from a hospital considered a short or long way when deciding on home birth? We considered a birth center that was down the street from a hospital - figured we could have a super quick transfer if needed. But ended up with 3 hospital births, two unmedicated and one induction. Any birth centers near you? </p> <p>The statistics are really hard to parse because the absolute numbers are low. We did Bradley prep for our first and they’re pretty pro home birth and stressed that fact. But I had to wonder, if something happens, will you regret it? Statistics don’t mean much to any one person - someone has to be that .000001% (making that number up but you get the idea). So maybe thinking about the worst case scenarios helps? And the best case too, I know many find home birth really empowering, how much would that mean to you? </p> <p>Another good thought process would be, how could you make a hospital birth more comfortable? Would a doula help? It’s likely to be uncomplicated again, in my opinion your provider doesn’t matter that much in that case as long as they listen to you because you’re doing all the work, you can try to go home early if you want, etc. Not saying it’s the right choice necessarily just good to think through, what are the pain points and can they be addressed to some degree? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909160 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 08:52:18 +0000 crazydoglady 2909160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think, for me, a home birth sounds lovely, but it's just not worth the risk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homebirth#post-2909145 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 01:25:02 +0000 Becky 2909145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve recently started considering homebirth. I am a very low risk pregnancy (3rd baby, two previous uncomplicated deliveries), and the practice we would be working with employers Certified Nurse Midwives. I live in NY state, and am 15 minutes from a hospital. </p> <p>I have several reasons for considering homebirth:<br /> 1. Very quick, unmedicated second labor (first was uncomplicated induction)<br /> 2. While I’m confident advocating for myself, I just don’t feel comfortable in a hospital setting.<br /> 3. My current midwife (who delivers at hospital) is leaving my OB practice. There are 3 others, 2 of whom I do not feel are experienced or knowledgeable.<br /> 4. If I deliver at the hospital after 10pm, my midwife wouldn’t be present so I’d have someone I don’t know. </p> <p>We’ve gotten very mixed reactions. We actually found out that several people we know had homebirths so the perspective of women who have delivered in our geographic area is helpful. But then there are others who point to the reality that many studies indicate increased neonatal mortality. The rates cited are low, but as much as 2-3 fold hospital rates. They’re difficult to generalize though as they can’t distinguish all planned, low-risk homebirths from total home births. </p> <p>Any helpful perspectives for or against on here? I know these obviously arent medical opinions, and I’m actually going to talk to my regular midwife next week (if I do a hospital delivery I will likely switch to the practice she is going to). </p>