Hellobee Boards

@waiting4you: You aren't crazy. It is a huge decision, but you aren't locked in if you realize you hate the place. I live 3 miles from a Women's and Children's hospital but instead drive across the river into IN because I want a midwife-assisted birth and the fancy hospital doesn't offer that. I delivered my last baby there (in IN) and loved it. You do whatever feels right.

@FaithFertility: Oh, no! Sorry you had to join the spotting brigade. I had MORE spotting yesterday and am walking around on eggshells. It's so traumatic, even though I've been assured it can be totally normal. *hugs*

@jaguar: I'm sorry for you too! It is so minimal, but scary! I called she said normal unless heavier and with bad cramping, I go in Friday for a u/s so she wasn't worried!

@waiting4you: I'm totally having the same conversations in my head. I'm so glad you spoke up about this. I feel like it's so early to think about my birthing hopes and dreams (you know, with IVF / IF we are so prepared for the bottom to fall out at any moment so it seems ludicrous to prepare for birth at only 7 or 8 weeks?!?!). But I agree, it's such an important decision and I know the RE will ask me on Monday who to forward my records to...

Here's what I'm thinking (and @avivoca: and others who have experience, please chime in!). I definitely don't have any answers yet....I live in a smaller city with basically three (and only three) options:

1.) A hospital birth with a great reputation yet with all of the IVs and pressure to induce and epidurals (especially at "my age" and an IVF baby). No midwives at all and I would be seen at a large practice. All of the OBs are super reputable and I really like mine, but I know he or another OB would only be there to catch the baby or do the, gulp, cs if necessary. I only want a medicalized birth if it's necessary.

2.) Midwives at a birthing center. This place has mostly great reviews but the few bad ones are REALLY bad. It is twice as far as the hospital but still reasonable at 20 minutes from home. They don't take my insurance so it would be all out of pocket, but the cost is only a little more than our crappy insurance for a hospital birth. They will call me soon and pre-screen me over the phone, so I'll get a sense of them and know if I'm low-risk, in their eyes.

3.)Home birth with a very reputable CNM. I'm waffling about even meeting with her because I know that it will take major convincing for DH to go this route. Part of me wants to meet her just to be an informed consumer. Part of me doesn't want to waste anyone's time. I'm also worried about getting a preachy homebirth earful... that's just tiring.

DH will probably not attend the birth. He is Italian. They just "don't normally do that" and I knew it before we even got married. He may surprise me but frankly it's not a big deal for me, although I'm sure some of you are going to freak to read that. I will have a doula, in any case. Excited about picking her out! So there, I'm totally obsessing way early but I think with the few options I feel like I have, I'd love to know some of your thoughts!

@KrzyRiver: Aw yay!! Congratulations! What a sweet little bean

@avivoca: Great questions for me to follow-up on. I know the CNM has a back-up OB but I need to better understand her hospital privileges. I think she is required to have them but the info on her website says that she doesn't go into the hospital if I would need to be admitted. The midwife/birth center says they do have hospital privileges (at that crappy hospital, not my preferred) but the bad reviews say they don't actually stay with you and might just pop in the next day to see how it all ended for you.

I guess I should just meet with the CNM and ask these questions...

ETA: Also I did schedule an intake OB appointment so I can check on policies and those things. (I actually scheduled, canceled, then rescheduled. So on-the-fence!) They might say I have to take a tour of the maternity center to get more clarification, but I'll see what I can find out.

@Amorini: Glad someone else is considering all this madness along with me! You have very valid points and @avivoca: definitely had some great questions to ask. It's amazing how many options there are and how early we have to make these decisions. I keep telling myself...trust your gut and this person doesn't need to be your best friend. We weren't particularly fond of our IVF dr because he has pretty terrible bedside manner but he "got the job done". We didn't need to be BFF, just needed to be on the same page which we were. While it seems like you can't change the plan along the way, I'm positive that unless you are actually giving birth our plans can be changed with a lot of extra effort (but still possible!) As for the appointment with the CNM, I say go for it. What can it hurt?! You may learn something you love/hate about that path and make it that much easier to pick another.

Oddly enough, It's my husband that's more particular about this situation. He's a firefighter/paramedic and insists on choosing a dr. who is pretty much against C-sections and inductions unless absolutely necessary. We live in/near an area that is somewhat affluent and it's all too common for dr's here to "schedule" delivery days for their pt's. Not going to fly with my hubby and I! My requirements were pretty easy...hospital birth, at the place across the street, by a female dr, who has a nice clean office and isn't too pushy. Haven't decided if I'll go the epidural route or not, but we have time for that.

T is sick and I woke up this morning feeling super nauseous. I'm pretty sure a puke is in my near future. I don't know if it's morning sickness or if I'm catching his bug.

It's been a rough night.

@FaithFertility: It's hard to deal with while also being pregnant!

Feeling better after eating. T seems like himself but is hanging on to a fever. We're both exhausted from lack of sleep and I feel like I'm on the verge of tears. I'm not sure why. Other than being incredibly tired I'm fine. Just hormones making me want to cry for no reason. Haha

@artsyfartsy: are we twins
My anxiety /lack of sleep are making me a mess I want to cry daily!

I'm so excited for tomorrow I think seeing this little bean will make me feel more connected and stop worrying! Sitting didn't help yesterday at all!

I am very cautiously joining this board....I've had 5 early losses, but two healthy little boys. Nervous this one won't stick....but hopefully I'll be here for the long haul!

Location: Maine

EDD: 10/31, though I delivered both my boys 2 weeks early (the first naturally, the second induced because of IUGR)

How far along: 4.5 weeks

First child? #3. T is almost 4 and R is 14 months.

First doctor appointment: I've already had two HCG draws, which were good. I got back next week for another draw, then will schedule an ultrasound at 7 weeks (w/o March 14).

Any symptoms so far? A little extra hungry, bad taste in my mouth.

Who have you told? My husband and HB. We won't tell anyone for awhile given my history.

Ugh. Morning sickness kicked in full gear this morning. I don't know if it's cause I slept in?? So I didn't eat until about 10:30. But I've been more nauseous than ever, nothing's helping, and I even ralphed for the first time. Thank goodness it's a snow day (for both me and my son lol) so I get to be lazy all day. How's everyone else feeling?

@KrzyRiver: Yuck. I'm waiting on it any day. I feel more nauseous this morning but I don't feel like I've gotten the full extent yet.

I feel awful. I took a 3 hour nap today and woke up feeling worse. Sore throat, body aches, and DH says I feel warm. Idk what to do. I worry about the baby

@winniebee: yeah!!! So happy to see you on here!

@winniebee:

@artsyfartsy: I went into labor on my due date and delivered without an epidural. I loved my birth and would love to have a similar experience this time.

Still pregnant! We saw and heard the heartbeat today, 133bpm, up from 94bpm last week.

Baby is measuring 2days behind my EDD (which OB said is perfectly fine) and is now 8.3mm.. growing! (It was 2mm last week.)

One day at a time - but GROWTH! It also appears that I am having a baby tadpole.

@jaguar: Yay!!!!

@jaguar: Aaaahhh! Popping in on this thread bc I've been checking for your update all day. So glad baby is doing so well. xo

@jaguar: Beautiful babe!

@Miss Ariel: Same! I forget I'm PG a lot, but when I look at G and think another sweet babe is growing I get so excited!