I have chosen to birth my 3 children at home, and I am currently getting ready to birth my fourth at home as well! Preparing for a homebirth is not an entirely typical experience as a relatively small number of women give birth at home in the US. Although that number is on the rise! Here is an article about the 20% rise in recent years.
Choosing the place of birth and type of caregiver is one of the most important decisions you make. For more information on choosing your birth location or caregiver visit Childbirth Connection.
For more information on the safety of homebirth read my blogpost Homebirth is Safe.
I have monthly prenatals with my homebirth midwife. A homebirth midwife is a skilled attendant that has been trained and has experience with birth. She is highly skilled in dealing with most obstetrical emergencies except those requiring surgery or medication. Many homebirth midwives have clients who have had previous cesareans. They also attend breech and twin births as well in some cases. Midwives as a whole in this country are more educated and have more experience in dealing with breech births then OBs. Many are well trained in how to deal with shoulder dystocia and other complications of pregnancy and birth.
Our prenatals with our midwife are longer and more thorough then the average OB appointment. I love this video that gives a quick summary of some of the differences. Read my blogpost about why I love my midwife.
The difference I appreciate the most is that my midwife treats me like a person, and takes care of me as a whole. Her concern extends beyond my weight, urine output,blood pressure and fundal measurement. She often spends time to inquire about my mental and emotional health as well. She makes sure all of my questions are answered and encourages me to ask more. She helps my husband and I to educate and arm ourselves with information about the changes going on in my body, and what will happen during birth and after. We typically spend an hour in her office ( with no wait time!)
Even as a young parent pregnant for my first child at 20 years old, this information and genuine care my midwife provided filled me with confidence and trust in my body and the process of birth and the safety of homebirth. I went into labor without fear. Pain is easier to deal with in the absence of fear.
Emotionally I prepare for this birth by being aware that there is already a whole being, a person in my womb that is already having her own experience. Everything I am going through and experiencing this baby is experiencing as well. I try to make taking care of myself a priority. Taking care of my family is easier to do if I have taken care of myself. I do this by paying attention to my diet, staying active, forgiving myself when I’m not ;). I take the time to spend time doing things I enjoy, getting alone time and spending time with God. These things are just as important as my physical health.
We prepare our children by including them in our prenatals, telling them about the changes to baby and moma as they happen. We have been discussing keeping the children close for this birth, so we have already started talking to them about birth, what happens, what it might be like and answer any questions they have along the way.
Today I shopped online for a birth pool and my homebirth kit. We have a list of supplies that my midwife would like to have on hand for the birth, usually we provide things of a disposable nature. Such as gloves, pads, gauze and the like. With my first three we simply went to the store with a list. But this time I look forward to buying a kit and having everything together and sent to the house. I am most looking forward to the organic birth tea from Radiant Belly. You pour the tea onto your pads and freeze them for those afterbirth discomforts. It’s a simple blend that you could easily make yourself at your local health food store.
I have given birth to 2 of my children in the water and I highly recommend it! It helps with pain management and baby’s transistion into this world is calmer and less traumatic. I bought a pool for the first but its time for a new one as that was 9 years ago!
For more information on waterbirth, visit these links:
Waterbirth International
Waterbirth Solutions
I make a postpartum plan as opposed to a birth plan. A birth plan has not been as neccesary in our homebirth situation because my midwife provides a continuity of care. She has spent time getting to know me and my birth preferences and she will be my care provider ( unless theres a dire emergency or a simultaneous birth!) I do not get whoever is on call. So my birth preferences are known and do not neccesarily have to be put on paper for a provider that does not know me, or nurses that have never met me before.
A postpartum plan allows me to prepare for my rooming in the week following birth and make sure meals and chores and the other children will be cared for. I often get statements like” Well, I don’t to clean up the mess,” or “ I like pushing a button for water and ordering food!” Family and friends surround us as a family after birth and attend to our every need. So I can stay in bed with baby. Here is an example of a postpartum plan from Doulas of North America.
I also get questions about having a warmer, this makes me giggle. Mom and Dad’s bare chest is better then any high tech warmer out there. Mothers actually have the capability to read the baby’s body temperature and adjust their bodies heat with a fatty pad in the sternum area. Fathers bodies also respond in a similar fashion, although mothers can heat and cool baby, and Daddy is just a terrific heater.
I can't wait for this baby's birth-day to get here! I look forward to having my fourth homebirth and I encourage all women to read more about it and consider it as an option! To follow my pregnancy and homebirth journey read my blog: Bellabirthing
