Nope. I've had three c/s and two of them were emergencies. Even with immediate medical care, both boys had to be evac'd to other hospitals. If I'd have tried a homebirth with them, they'd be dead or severly brain-damaged. Not worth the risk, imo.

It did get some pressure to go the homebirth route from a neighbor. I'm glad I ignored her and did what I knew was best for my situation.

In Nebraska, it is illegal to give birth without a doctor present. You can have homebirths with a mid wife, but a doctor must be present. You can go to the hospital and have a mid wife, but a doctor must be present. (I'm sure there are occasions where a woman has birth at home because she cannot get to the hospital for some reason and that is taken into account.) I found it kind of silly to have a home birth if I still had to have a doctor, so I went to the hospital.

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton

If I had done a homebirth, DS would not be alive today. He was born a preemie and had lung and kidney issues. I worked in the medical field and had always been told to make sure any hospital I gave birth in had a Good NICU. I had a high risk preg and thank god I listened.

I am not really interested in it. Like many others, I like the security that if something goes wrong we have medical facilities and staff to help. Also, this is probably very immature, but birth is just kind of messy and gooky (is that a word?) and I'm not sure I want all that in my house! A friend of mine didn't make it to the hospital in time and delivered her dd at home. Fortunately there were no complications and she said it was a wonderful experience.

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This law is the law for a lot of states now. I don't think I would be doing it tho I would be to worried that something would happen. I went through a lot when my dd was born.

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I had a homebirth and it was a wonderful experience.

If I had Kaylee born with a doctor, I believe I would have ended up with a c-section. But under the watchful eye of my wonderful midwife, I delivered a healthy 9 lb 10 oz girl into our home. I was very healthy all during the pregnancy. Otherwise, I would have given birth in the hospital with my midwife's backup doctor. I am also very close to 3 different hospitals, so emergency care was avaliable if necessary.

It was a beautiful birth and I'm very thankful I had the opportunity to give birth at home. I could let labor take its course and move freely. I ate and drank to keep my energy up. I had my SILs and my husband for support and we listened to all kinds of music during the labor. I had total trust and confidence in my midwife as she led me down my journey. The postpartum was the best. DH made my favorite baked spaghetti for my post-birth meal. I got to take a healing herbal bath and got to dip baby in it (avoiding the cord) to help with her "torpedo head". My mother stayed and spent some incredible bonding time with the baby throughout the night. She spent the first few hours of life with her as DH and I were too exhausted - I'm glad it got to be with my mother instead of in a nursery. When my mother left, the baby cuddled up with me and DH in bed until we went to the pediatrican.

Although my homebirth was natural and perfect in my mind, there are a couple of things that would have caused intervention if I have been in the hospital.

1. I was 11 days late with a 9 lb baby - they would have induced me in a hospital. My pelvis could accomodate her and I pushed her out with just the help of good old gravity. I was in labor for maybe 7 - 9 hours and she didn't look like an overdue baby at all.

2. Kaylee was posterior and forehead presentation when labor began. However, through working with my body and using different positions, my body was able to move her it to proper birthing position.

3. Kaylee was born asleep. Although my midwife was very concerned, the baby had 9 and 10 apgars and was breathing fine. My husband was also born asleep, so there must be some genetic connection or something. DH was taken from his mother for 24 hours to run tests. My midwife did stay to ensure the baby was okay and we took baby to the ped the next morning - they seem like they could care less she was born asleep.

I hope that my post shows how safe homebirth can be for those who have a low risk pregnancy. I believe it was safer for me and my baby. I am pregnant again and I have every intention of giving birth at home.

I would urge anyone who is curious to watch Ricki Lake's documentry called "The Business of Being Born." (it's avaliable at Netflix and other video rentals) Also, pick up any book by Ina May and be inspired by the birth stories.

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Mom to Kaylee (10/2006)
Waiting on our second bundle of joy to arrive January 2009!