First it was the cloth diaper thing. Church friends and some family members looked at us a little weird when we said we wanted to do cloth diapers. Not only do we use cloth diapers, but we use the "old fashioned" no frills prefold kind!
But home birthing is a little more extreme than cloth diapering in most people's mind, including ours, and we are certainly not set on it yet. But as I discussed our situation and our options with a local midwife last night it became a more and more viable option for us. Daniel is supportive of a homebirth, but is a little concerned about our neighbors (we live in a 4-plex currently) who we can hear cough through thin walls sometimes! Might strain the neighbor-relations a bit, doncha know?:)
Anyway, these are things we are mulling through in our minds. If you think we are being really weird or really dumb, please do a little research first before you tell me so, k? There are a lot of things that are taken into consideration when candidacy for a homebirth (doing a vbac) are considered, such as proximity to a hospital if an emergency C-section is needed. So...thinking it all through.
Do you know people who've done a homebirth or have you had one? I would love to hear more specifics if you'd like to share in more detail at our blog email: beansnrice@live.com
On an unrelated note, those of you who know us in real life know that our daughter has a hemangioma on her head, which is obvious in our pictures. Yesterday in her walking (which usually turns into a jog when she gets near her destination), she collided headfirst with the fridge corner. She now has a real "owie" on her forehead in addition to the hemangioma:) Above is a picture of M attacking her mom, pre-goose-egg.
Posts
12 comments:
Wow, I didn't realize that there was that much opposition to vbac. I did and my recovery was so much faster. Of course, I don't regret having the c-section first, because it made my daughter's delivery safer. However, I was very thankful not to have a second one! I was able to be up and around taking care of both of my kids very quickly. Praying that your pregnancy and delivery goes well!
We were hoping for a homebirth this time, but it may or may not happen. I'm all for it! Good luck!
Best,
Sarah
PS - Yes, definitely feel free to use your starter for the focaccia! Just feed it with flour and water the day before you are going to bake and leave it out overnight. This will allow all of the dormant yeasties to get going again! I had not used the starter I baked mine with for probably two months, hadn't fed it for at least three weeks, if not longer, and it worked out great! Let me know how it goes!
Hello. I noticed you live in the Northwest. If it is the Seattle area, there are Birthing Centers you can go to. They will let you use a midwife. No drugs. Maybe you could consider that.
Just a note, Rachael, about what I've been told in my looking. I would try to find a midwife or doctor that will do a VBAC in a hospital setting. Mainly because if on that small chance that things so south with a uterine tear, baby doesn't have much of a chance if you're not at a hospital...
What does your midwife say about this possible situation?
I do know of someone who might be able to help you out with info. She is the one who went to Spokane first, and she found her info/names online. I will try to get some sites and details from her.
:-) naye
I think it is wonderful that you are considering a home birth. I considered one as well but my husband was just too scared to and I respected that. I have known and spoken with many women who have had home births and they make it sound so wonderful and natural.
I did have a 100% natural birth (and pregnancy) and didn't scream a bit during delivery. It was very intense, words cannot describe it, but I would not worry one bit about bothering the neighbors. Hey, you're delivering a baby for goodness sake!!
Anyway, cant wait to hear more, good luck!
Hi Erin, I wandered my way over here by way of another blog (heart in progress). Are you here in WEnatchee? I wasn't aware there were any homebirth midwives who could take a VBAC client (I called in FEB 2008 I believe, crying lol, practically begging for a homebirth).
After further research, I don't know I would be comfortable with a homebirth. Its true, the chances of anything happening are so rare...but then when things DO happen, you probably want an OR right down the hallway. I really believe its between you, your husband, and God to figure this all out. Its not easy, its hard stuff!
One thing that kind of veared me away from homebirth was the fact (and its totally dumb that the world works like this) that people would blame us if anything happened to the baby while we had a homebirth, but if something something happened at the hospital and the baby died, they wouldn't blame us. Its a double standard, and not based on any facts, but its just the way people are.
I could go on and on about this subject lol. I also find it funny that we have similar stories. I didn't start out to become any kind of crunchy-mom...and here I am with 2 drug-free births, cloth diapering (mix of all different kinds lol, I like variety!), and wearing my babies. :) Weird how God works, isn't it? ;)
Oh, and PS regarding the post that mentioned Birth Centers: They are not legally allowed to take VBAC clients, but a lot of the midwives that run them (including on in Spokane) will attend VBAC homebiths.
Something I would reccommend to other moms who are looking into vbac that was helpful to me yesterday was attending a local ICAN meeting (internation caesarean awareness network I believe). I was able to talk about so many options and hear other's experiences. Very helpful. We are still mulling it all over, trying to figure out what might work in our situation...which is even more confusing since we might move to do mission training. All in God's hands and timing:)
Oh and thankyou for the input, one of the things I cannot do is give birth in a birthing center in WA. Vbacs are not allowed. And the proximity to a hospital is VERY important in our decision if we chose a homebirth...we are 14 minutes away driving in normal traffic going the speed limit, so if need be we'd be within 10 minutes by ambulance (hopefully that would not be necessary!)
May God bless you and guide you in these decisions. I had a homebirth with my third blessing, and it was a wonderful experience.Blessings to you!
Hi Rachel,
My name is Jennifer and I love your blog!
I'm a labor and delivery nurse in Washington state and I'd really like you to reconsider your thought of having a homebirth. at my hospital we do VBAC's and VTOL's (which is actually what you'd be doing... a Vaginal Trial of Labor) you're a VBAC after you deliver vaginally.
Anyway 99% of the time there's no big issue, everything goes as planned. But that other 1% of the time, it hits the fan. If you're a patient, here in the hospital, and have your IV, we can do an emergency C-Section in less than 10 minutes and have your baby out. But if you're not in the hospital that time would at least double to 20 minutes from the time you get to the hospital. Then you have to add in your travel time, which sounds like 10 minutes at best. so that's 30 minutes. where I work minutes are brain cells...minutes can mean the difference between life and death, for you and your baby. I'm not trying to scare you...well, actually I am.
I hear mom's say that their "birth experience" is the most important thing... well it's really not. The safety of you and your baby is the most important thing! You also have to consider the reason that you had your first C-section? did your baby's heart rate drop? was she breech? did you "fail to progress" meaning stopped dilating? did you push for a long time and she didn't fit? These are all things to take into consideration.
If you didn't labor at all with your first, you'd basically be a "prime" vaginally, which means hat you're length of labor and pushing would be more like that of a woman who had her first baby, rather than having her second (takes longer).
C-Sections are over used. but they are also a blessing from God. They save lives of mom's and babies all the time. I've seen the bad outcomes too. I bet those mom's (looking back) would have made a different choice. Ask yourself if it's really worth the risk...
I'd love to continue talking with you about this. Anytime. Please don't be offended by my response. It's out of concern! My passion is bringing babies into this world. Vaginally/ C-Section/ with an epidural/ with no drugs at all, whatever. Good luck, I'll be praying for you and wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy.
Jennifer, L&D RN
Hi Rachel,
My name is Jennifer and I love your blog!
I'm a labor and delivery nurse in Washington state and I'd really like you to reconsider your thought of having a homebirth. at my hospital we do VBAC's and VTOL's (which is actually what you'd be doing... a Vaginal Trial of Labor) you're a VBAC after you deliver vaginally.
Anyway 99% of the time there's no big issue, everything goes as planned. But that other 1% of the time, it hits the fan. If you're a patient, here in the hospital, and have your IV, we can do an emergency C-Section in less than 10 minutes and have your baby out. But if you're not in the hospital that time would at least double to 20 minutes from the time you get to the hospital. Then you have to add in your travel time, which sounds like 10 minutes at best. so that's 30 minutes. where I work minutes are brain cells...minutes can mean the difference between life and death, for you and your baby. I'm not trying to scare you...well, actually I am.
I hear mom's say that their "birth experience" is the most important thing... well it's really not. The safety of you and your baby is the most important thing! You also have to consider the reason that you had your first C-section? did your baby's heart rate drop? was she breech? did you "fail to progress" meaning stopped dilating? did you push for a long time and she didn't fit? These are all things to take into consideration.
If you didn't labor at all with your first, you'd basically be a "prime" vaginally, which means hat you're length of labor and pushing would be more like that of a woman who had her first baby, rather than having her second (takes longer).
C-Sections are over used. but they are also a blessing from God. They save lives of mom's and babies all the time. I've seen the bad outcomes too. I bet those mom's (looking back) would have made a different choice. Ask yourself if it's really worth the risk...
I'd love to continue talking with you about this. Anytime. Please don't be offended by my response. It's out of concern! My passion is bringing babies into this world. Vaginally/ C-Section/ with an epidural/ with no drugs at all, whatever. Good luck, I'll be praying for you and wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy.
Jennifer, L&D RN
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I had a VBAC with my second child. I did great and I am grateful for not having a repeat c-section (it was planned but I went early and they let me try VBAC). I would NEVER recommend a VBAC at home. I am a former L&D nurse and the risk of uterine rupture would not allow me to ever try home birth. It is somewhat rare, but think of your husband and daughter--they would likely be left alone if you had a uterine rupture at home. It is a true emergency even in the hospital setting. The delay in treatment with you being at home would likely cost you and your baby's life.
I don't understand why people think cloth diapers are so strange? It was quite normal only 30 years ago and they were even available to order through the Sears catalogue.
Post a Comment