How much does it cost? What are the risk factors? Why would a mama choose home birth over a hospital? Bethany and Elisha tell Lyndsey everything she wanted to know (and then some) about having a baby in the comfort of your own home.
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Always a lot of fun listening to other people’s birth stories.
As a warning to Bethany: my first was a labor of 27 hours. My second was 9 hours. My third was 45 minutes – I was literally still wearing my pantyhose. (all natural for all three; not even a tylenol)
By #4 I had it all figured out and I was confident I could give birth in the back of a field. It was the one thing I knew I could do.
#4’s labor lasted 16 hours – the doc was confused and I knew something was wrong.
An emergency C-section later; son #3 was delivered hanging onto his umbilical cord. And he was huge – the only thing I remember saying to my husband was “I knew this was your fault”. And no, there were no warnings. The only warning was that son #3 was smarter than everyone, and knew there was no way out.
My point is you can have a natural birth in a hospital – I did three it times. Thank God I was in a hospital for #4 – had I not been there, one of us would not be here.
Gladder than hell and grateful I was born in the first world. And grateful I have #4.
ps Am I the only person here with stories of grannies and aunties who died in childbirth? Am ever so grateful those days are gone.
Is it hilarious that Bethany doesn’t want to listen to other people’s pregnancy questions – yet has recorded a podcast with interminable details of her own?
Ladies … ladies … ladies… every single person that you have seen in this world? Guess what?? Someone gave birth to them.
It is wonderful and special. And wonderfully common.
Bethany’s story about the hospital bills where she had to pay for the emergency room visit should be delivered to Congress about how ridiculous medical billing structures are.
Loved the podcast as my daughter-in-law gave birth at home (not planned). I have not asked them about the emergency room charge but no doubt just the ambulance ride cost the insurance company more than the real amount of a home birth. Son, of course, thinks he should be paid the ob/gyn fee. Did Seth get anything? Maybe all those false starts that Bethany had before the 40 minute birth were trying to tell her and the medical staff something. D-I-L also does not like the hospital situation and may go with a birthing center and then home visits. All the best for all the mothers and babies – and the dads too. @annefy I actually don’t have a family story about a relative dying in childbirth but I’m sure it happened.
Mother of 5 kids, here and 4/5 required pitocin to get things started and maintained. 3 were induced post-EDC. Weights ranged from 8lbs, 9 oz to 10 lbs, 6 oz. I am so, So, SO thankful for modern medicine. Several were pretty hairy deliveries even though none required C-section. I had just about every dreaded “intervention” imaginable from forceps to vacuum to episiotomy. Two of the kids required immediate intubation upon delivery and a “code” was called for my second (turns out I was dealing with a rip-roaring case of chorioamnionitis which can lead to some terrible outcomes for both mother and baby). Here I am at age 52 and we all survived relatively unscathed. All I would say in any conversation about birthing philosophy is to not judge other people’s choices. We all do the best we can in the situation in which we are placed. NONE of my births represented anything close to ideal, but I gave up the birth plan idea when reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
@nerina: beautifully said
I experienced no problems in my first three pregnancies and deliveries. Meanwhile my sister was suffering unbelievably with constant barfing and a few hospitalizations. While sympathetic, there was a part of me that just wanted to tell her to walk it off.
I am convinced God sent me #4 because I was just a little too confident in my pregnancy, delivery and mommying skills.
@annefy, thank you. My husband and I are convinced that #5 was God’s way of administering a big fat dose of humility! After his arrival, all the rest of my kids seem like “mulligan rounds.”
FYI: An ultrasound does not give off radiation. It uses sound waves. However, not overdoing it is sound advice (sorry, couldn’t resist).
My mom told me to exhibit patience in this (on both sides) because it is a majority-universal womanly experience and connects us.
I was irritated that people kept sharing birthing stories before I popped #1.