My wife is 10 weeks pregnant. We've decided on a home birth because we think that will give us the highest chance of having a natural birth. We also feel a home birth will be much more spiritual and God focused, which we want to make sure Jesus is as the center of it all.
We have found a team with a certified nurse midwife and others that will assist us throughout the pregnancy. We have a nearby hospital familiar with our situation in case a transfer is needed for any reason.
Has anyone else had a home birth? If so, I am curious what your experience was like.
I have had 5 home births in the 80's. I took the Bradley Method of childbirth with my husband and really felt prepared for birthing. We had our first four in Illinois with a wonderful group of doctors that did home births. They also were our pediatrician and family doctor. I read a lot about birthing but so many years later I don't remember what books.
The doctors always sent the nurse/midwives out first and the midwife was the only one there on 2 out of the 4 in Illinois but the nurse/midwives were extremely competent. I never had an episiotomy (they massaged with oil) or any drugs.
The 1st and 2nd were normal (but hard work). The 3rd was posterior. The 4th had the cord wrapped around but 2nd stage was basically 3 pushes and she popped out. I didn't circumcise or vaccinate any of my children.
The 5th was born in Georgia with only midwives because doctors couldn't do homebirths. Great team of 2 midwives. The baby had a mecomium movement and had to be aspirated immediately but was fine. I drank lots of raspberry tea and took my vitamins and ate well with all. I love that all my kids saw each new birth and I really enjoyed the opportunity to have my babies at home.
The most important thing I think is to make sure you wait for a contraction before delivering the placenta. If you immediately put the baby to the breast it will cause you to deliver the afterbirth without hemorrhaging. This happened to my daughter in a hospital natural birth with a midwife and I was really disappointed in that oversight.
Best to you and God bless your growing family.
The Badley Method worked for us as well. Focused breathing and relaxing when the body wants to react instead.
I second the Bradley method, was great for the wife and I both. VERY good preparation and no worthless "distraction techniques" like Lamaze. She was relaxed, knew exactly what all was happening, no panic whatsoever.