Home Birth

Home Birth:
Recently Joel and I have been looking into home births. We want to make an educated decision on whats best for us and our baby by comparing the benefits of home birth versus hospital birth. We're going to be doing some serious research by talking to friends who have experienced both, meeting with midwives, and talking to our current OB. I thought I should share our discoveries since this seems to be such a controversial topic and I want our friends and family to understand where we are coming from.

Joel and I obviously have no experience with any sort of birth. For some reason I have an overwhelming sense of peace about having a home birth. I cant explain that peace, it just appeared in me the moment I started researching it. Joel is still a little apprehensive about it.

How It All Started:
When we first found out we were pregnant we were so excited, but this excitement was quickly followed by a bit of disappointment when our insurance told us we had to have the baby on base, no exceptions. Military insurance can be a beautiful thing because it's basically free to us, but it can also be extremely frustrating because, well, you get what you pay for. Because we don't pay for it, we have no control over who our doctor is or what treatment we receive. When most women get pregnant they have the opportunity to interview different OB's, talk about birth plans, and get a sense of whether or not it's a good match. This person is bringing your child into this world, so it's going to be an important relationship. Most women also get a chance to look at different facility's and see which place would be the most comfortable for them, after all, you will most likely be spending over 24 hours there if it's your first! Well, because of our insurance we would not have any of these choices. We would be designated an OB for each appointment, and when we go into labor, whoever happens to be on call will deliver the baby. Basically there would be a complete stranger delivering our child. Not exactly what I dreamed of.

 So, you can imagine that when I found out our insurance covers home birth, I was immediately interested. This would mean that we wouldn't have to have a soldier deliver our baby. We could actually have some control over the situation. We could interview different midwives, talk about birth plans, and then PICK the best one for us. On top of that, I love the idea of being in the comfort of my own home during the anticipated 24 hour labor. Being a yoga instructor, I have learned how to calm my mind and body using different breathing techniques and poses. I would like to incorporate this into my labor, but I would need to be in a peaceful, comfortable environment to do so.

Our Research So Far:
Of course I am also looking into the risks of home birth vs. hospital birth. Here are some of the statistics I've found so far. These are per 1,000 births: 
                                                       HOME    HOSPITAL
Use of Forceps                                  .9%           19.6%
Manually remove Placenta              1.4%           1.4%
Episiotomy                                       9.8%          87.4%
Emergency C-Section                        3%            30%
Birth Injuries                                      0%             3%
Infant Breathing Problems                3.3%          9.3%
Induction                                            2.1%          21%

So far I am really impressed with the statistics and stories I have heard on home births. We still have a long way to go in our research and prayer on the matter. Next week we have an appointment with a home birthing company, I'm meeting one on one with a mother who has had 2 home births, and we have a coffee date set up with 5 or 6 couples who chose home birth and are willing to share their stories. I have so many questions and concerns, so I can't wait to start picking their brains!

Our Concerns and Questions:
Below is a list of questions we intend to discuss with our friends who have been through the process and with the midwives we interview. 

How many births have you attended? Of those, how many needed emergency intervention?
What is your hospital transfer rate?
What is your plan of action in the case of a hospital transfer?
What happens to the fees if I need a hospital transfer?
Have you ever lost a mother or child?
Have you ever had any bad outcomes? Please explain.
What is your role in the birthing process?
How many visits are included in your fee?
Do I need to take a la maz or birthing class or do you coach those things during labor?
Are ultrasounds included in your fees?
Will you be monitoring the baby's heart rate the whole time?
What will you do if the cord is wrapped around the baby's neck?
What will you do if the baby is breech?
What if I have excessive bleeding?
What do you do to prevent tearing?
What if I need an episiotomy? Do you do stitches? Will you use local anesthetic? 
Do you do inductions? How far overdue do you allow a mother to go?
What pharmaceuticals/homeopathics/herbs do you use during a birth?
What equipment will you bring with you? Will you have a birthing pool/stool/ball available for me?
What will you do if I start screaming for an epidural or tell you to bring me to the hospital?
Will you give my baby a full check-up and blood screening right away?
What sort of postnatal check-ups are included for me and my baby?
Will you help me with breastfeeding/latching techniques?

I will continue to share our story and discoveries with you all. I only ask that you, our friends and family, would respect our decisions and trust that we are seeking the Lord throughout this entire process. We do not pass any sort of judgment on our friends and family who have had their children in hospitals, and we only ask that you wouldn't pass judgment on us for exploring other options.