[shellbw]

I've been curious to see what other moms are doing. If you have children, where did you give birth? If you are planning to have children or are pregnant, where would you like to?

I had two babies at home in my living room. Labored in the birthing pool and birthed on the couch with the first. Labored and birthed in the birthing pool for the second. For me, that was the best choice and wonderful experiences!

[CRS]

I gave birth at a birthing center at our closest hospital. They were wonderful there, both times. I had two completely different deliveries and they were so supportive. I even changed doctors to stay there.

I love hearing about other women's experiences and watching A Baby Story on TLC.

[MaryJo]

Well my baby was born in 1995. I do have an interesting and encouraging story to tell.. My first 4 children were all born via C-sections. There was about 4 yrs between the first 4 and then the last 2.
When I became pregnant for my 5 th child, I wanted to see if I could try to have a vaginal birth. Now, back in the late 80's and early 90's, no one would ever think of a V-back after 4 sections. My Ob, told me " just go home and have the baby, the way I always have and not rock the boat". Well, that made me mad, because all I wanted to do was "try". And he wouldn't even allow a trial.
Well I found a Dr here , who cam highly referred and me and DH went to see him, he had all my records and reports, and we talked for over an hour, and he agreed to a trial, but only if He said he had to do a C-section that we wouldn't argue. Easy enough.
Well when I went into labor for Kate, remember now ,I never had labor and I didn't know what to expect, I thought I had gas !!! Well, it wasn't and we went up to the hospital and only 1 nurse there would take care of me, the rest were afraid.
Well, 9 hours later, with absolutely NO intervention, no pain killers, and no help from the Dr., Well he helped me push while the Midwife delivered. Kathryn Grace Bailey was born her weight was 9lbs, 14ozs.
she was perfect in every way and I was fine too ! My last daughter was the same way. She was a bit harder though and more painful, but after 10 hrs of labor Alexis Marie was brought into this world with nothing but lots of love !
So, to all you Mom's to be out there, remember one thing, just because a Dr. tells you that You CAN'T, it doesn't mean you can't. It's always okay to seek another opinion from a competent and skilled OB !
I hope you find this encouraging and maybe helpful to someone !!!

[jennk]

I had all my babies at Northside Hopsital in Atlanta, GA. Northside is known to be one of the busiest maternity wards in the country. They were featured on Good Morning America about a year ago. Although each of my birth experiences were very different I felt well cared for there. I was able to tell my care takers what I wanted and needed. Being the daughter of an OB there is no way I would have considered anything other than giving birth in a hospital. I guess I have just heard too many horror stories. I do enjoy watching A Baby Story and seeing all of the other alternatives to giving birth in a hospital. I guess I am just too much of a "nervous Nellie" and hold too many "what if" thoughts to consider birthing anywhere other than where medical attention can be immediately given if needed.

Baby number four is due in September and I will be delivering at a small town hospital. I am a little nervous about it. I knew the routine in Atlanta. Have no clue what to expect here. Luckily, my dad is just a few hours away and you had better bet he will be the first call once I know I am in labor. I love knowing that he can be my advocate if I need it!

[MaryJo]

jennk, on Apr 12 2008, 08:46 PM, said:

I had all my babies at Northside Hopsital in Atlanta, GA. Northside is known to be one of the busiest maternity wards in the country. They were featured on Good Morning America about a year ago. Although each of my birth experiences were very different I felt well cared for there. I was able to tell my care takers what I wanted and needed. Being the daughter of an OB there is no way I would have considered anything other than giving birth in a hospital. I guess I have just heard too many horror stories. I do enjoy watching A Baby Story and seeing all of the other alternatives to giving birth in a hospital. I guess I am just too much of a "nervous Nellie" and hold too many "what if" thoughts to consider birthing anywhere other than where medical attention can be immediately given if needed.

Baby number four is due in September and I will be delivering at a small town hospital. I am a little nervous about it. I knew the routine in Atlanta. Have no clue what to expect here. Luckily, my dad is just a few hours away and you had better bet he will be the first call once I know I am in labor. I love knowing that he can be my advocate if I need it!

No Jenn I don't think you're a nervous Nellie ! I think like you its a personal choice, and being in the medical field, I tend to be more conservative in my choices too. But, I have alot of friends who have given birth at home with no problems at all. My OB's wife gave birth at home with him and his mid wife there, so it all depends on the individual !
I didn't have a choice in my delivieries, but my experiences were all great. Just being able to give birth was a big deal for me, it looked like we weren't going to be able to have any children, so no matter how they came into the world did'nt matter to me, just as long as they got there !
September is right around the corner, hopefully the summer won't be too rough on you ! Where in NC are you located?

[jennk]

MaryJo, on Apr 12 2008, 08:56 PM, said:

jennk, on Apr 12 2008, 08:46 PM, said:

I had all my babies at Northside Hopsital in Atlanta, GA. Northside is known to be one of the busiest maternity wards in the country. They were featured on Good Morning America about a year ago. Although each of my birth experiences were very different I felt well cared for there. I was able to tell my care takers what I wanted and needed. Being the daughter of an OB there is no way I would have considered anything other than giving birth in a hospital. I guess I have just heard too many horror stories. I do enjoy watching A Baby Story and seeing all of the other alternatives to giving birth in a hospital. I guess I am just too much of a "nervous Nellie" and hold too many "what if" thoughts to consider birthing anywhere other than where medical attention can be immediately given if needed.

Baby number four is due in September and I will be delivering at a small town hospital. I am a little nervous about it. I knew the routine in Atlanta. Have no clue what to expect here. Luckily, my dad is just a few hours away and you had better bet he will be the first call once I know I am in labor. I love knowing that he can be my advocate if I need it!

No Jenn I don't think you're a nervous Nellie ! I think like you its a personal choice, and being in the medical field, I tend to be more conservative in my choices too. But, I have alot of friends who have given birth at home with no problems at all. My OB's wife gave birth at home with him and his mid wife there, so it all depends on the individual !
I didn't have a choice in my delivieries, but my experiences were all great. Just being able to give birth was a big deal for me, it looked like we weren't going to be able to have any children, so no matter how they came into the world did'nt matter to me, just as long as they got there !
September is right around the corner, hopefully the summer won't be too rough on you ! Where in NC are you located?

I was like you Mary J0! Thinking we might not be able to have children. I too just wanted them to get here safely. I am on the coast of NC so my summer is sure to be hot and humid! I plan to stay in the pool or in the air conditioning!! :-) When I get to feeling overwhelmed with the idea of the fourth baby you will be my inspiration with 5 kids!! You go!

[shellbw]

Mary Jo, I'm glad that you stood your ground and had the VBAC. Way to go! And with no interventions or painkillers is great.

This poll is going how I thought it would. Here's an interesting tidbit, from what I've learned when researching to have a home birth. It is actually safer to birth at home when the mother plans to, has a healthy pregnancy, and a trained attendant is present.

[shellbw]

jennk, on Apr 12 2008, 08:46 PM, said:

I had all my babies at Northside Hopsital in Atlanta, GA. Northside is known to be one of the busiest maternity wards in the country. They were featured on Good Morning America about a year ago. Although each of my birth experiences were very different I felt well cared for there. I was able to tell my care takers what I wanted and needed. Being the daughter of an OB there is no way I would have considered anything other than giving birth in a hospital. I guess I have just heard too many horror stories. I do enjoy watching A Baby Story and seeing all of the other alternatives to giving birth in a hospital. I guess I am just too much of a "nervous Nellie" and hold too many "what if" thoughts to consider birthing anywhere other than where medical attention can be immediately given if needed.

Baby number four is due in September and I will be delivering at a small town hospital. I am a little nervous about it. I knew the routine in Atlanta. Have no clue what to expect here. Luckily, my dad is just a few hours away and you had better bet he will be the first call once I know I am in labor. I love knowing that he can be my advocate if I need it!

It's good that you felt well cared for and could tell the care takers what you wanted and needed. Congratulations on baby number four!

[KellyChron]

For some reason, I think I just "knew" that I would have to have a c-section. I think, in my mind anyway, I was always prepared for it, should it happen. Everything was progressing nicely with the labor of my DS and I had a wonderful epidural put in (gold stars to those of you who did it with out one not for me) and then my water broke. I have to say that was one of the nastiest things ever. It was full of meconium (sp?) and the baby's heart beat almost went down to zero, then he started having major decelerations with each contraction, so off we went to the OR. My DH was petrified, but like I said before I think I always knew that was the way it was going to be, so I was prepared for that... crazy I know.

With the second one, I had a scheduled c-section planned, but she decided to come a week early. This TOTALLY threw off all of my plans! I had a play date scheduled with my cousin and her twins, she is the one who was adamant that I call the doctor, just to get checked out... well, I was in LABOR! I couldn't believe it! I didn't have anyone lined up to watch our DS, everyone who we would normally call was at work already... our church secretary came to the rescue! Everything turned out fine and little Margot was born tiny, but healthy later that afternoon.

[Betsy]

My first was a traditional hospital birth and all that entails (ie, induced, premature rupture of membranes, fetal monitoring, stuck on my back in the bed, etc.). Although, practically everyone I know hears my DD's birth story and tells me it was the most natural birth they'd ever heard of - I guess because it was no epidural and no c-section?

Anyway, for my next (someday, future, hopefully) baby, I'd like to be in a birth center with a midwife. I hated the hospital, and I hated the OBGYNs treating PG like a disease I needed to be carefully monitored and treated for.

[sheriL]

All 4 of mine were born at the hospital - I would have love to have my last one at a birthing center with a midwife, but that just wasn't an option where I'm at. My last one was a hypno birth, which was a really good experience. All 4 were drug free. I'm lucky to live near a hospital that doesn't push the drugs, so no one was questioning that decision.
My oldest dd was born with help from the vacuum extractor (I really don't know if that's what it's called), after her heart rate cratered as soon as I started to push, so I guess I would just be a little nervous about doing the whole thing at home. I try to stay at home as long as possible, but the actual deliveries have happened at the hospital (all though I did have a few scary moments with #3 when I thought I'd waited too long, and we were going to have a car delivery instead of a hospital one).
I really like the idea of working with a midwife, though, because they do seem so much more open to different options (although I used hypno with my last, I think it would have been even more effective if my dr was in on it. I didn't want to see the eye-rolling I figured would happen, so I just didn't tell him. When he and the nurses where commenting on how calm and relaxed I was, I guess I should have taken the opportunity to put in a plug for alternative, natural birthing options!)

[Rose Ann]

I had a high risk pregnancy because of my age, so I went with the safest choice in case I had serious problems with the delivery. I had a pleasant experience at the hospital I chose.

[lgsouthfla]

I was in the hospital. I only have one child so I was way too scared to stay home for my first.