My wife and I decided that finding a midwife and having a home birth was the right path for us. We're a month out and all systems are a go.<br><br>Anyone else have a home birth? We're shooting for the birthing tub as well. Thoughts? Birth stories?

My wife was all about natural childbirth. Our oldest was disobedient and came 8 weeks early by emergency c-section. We did get a natural childbirth with our middle girl -- midwife was amazing. We did a more conventional birth with our youngest that was pretty disappointing. I am a huge midwife fan. Home birth? I've had a preemie, so I do have some gratitude/faith in those hospital folks when problems arise.<br><br>There are rumors that a DadLabs guy has a home birth coming up, but I'll let him speak for himself.

Thanks, Daddy Clay. I do appreciate your comments. Our midwife is great as well, but we have a backup plan with an OB just in case we need to head to the hospital.

6 of our 9 birth were home births. Obviously, we love this option. My wife likes the tub, help relieve some pressure.<br>If you are interested, I will allow my wife to touch my laptop & relay any stories or advise directly..... If you want first hand information.

Wow. And we were never going to have one. I am interested in hearing a birth story (or six) along with any advice. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

If you want to read about some home birth experiences you may want to check out the forums at www.ovusoft.com. It's a fertility message board, but I know there are a lot of mom's there who have chosen the home birth option and who have written about their experiences (good and bad). There's a section of the forum dedicated to birth stories. I'm sure you'll be able to read as many home birth stories as you like there!

Thanks, Amy. We're meeting with our midwife tonight. Less than 4 weeks to go!

My father used to bear hunt with a guide in Canada who had a fair amount of children, all home births. How many did he have? ........19 Yes, that's right and I kid you not. As an EMT, there are some things that can and do go wrong while giving birth, but millions of people that deliver at home can't be wrong. I'm with Clay on this one, in regards to the hospital thing. I'm all in favor of a home birth and/or the utilization of a qualified midwife, but in all cases I would suggest at least a plan B in case the unforeseen happens. There are tubs in some hospitals now for waterbirths, which looks pretty cool but her conditions on my end wouldn't allow. Delivering at home is all well and good in my eyes, but is no substitute for good prenatal care from a qualified professional, along with guided nutrition and medical support. As long as the end game is the same, a happy healthy bouncing baby and mom, go for it. There are those who are for and against this, i'm right in the middle. Everything i've seen has always went fine, but there are stories out there. I mean seriously, what happens if a baby presents breech? Time for plan B.<br><br>Bri-

Yes, we do have a plan B. No worries there. And you can have great prenatal care with a midwife instead of an OB - and we did both. We're also in a community (Santa Cruz, CA) that embraces midwifery including the medical profession. A qualified midwife can identify breech well before early labor even starts and if they can't adjust the little bugger, plan B starts early.<br><br>What disheartens me, though, is the fact that the most common response we receive from folks is Oh my God, my niece had a home birth and ripped a hole in the space-time continuum, along with tearing her perineum, and the amount of blood and inter-dimensional beings was horrific...<br><br>Really?

My wife wanted to do the same thing, natural childbirth, home in a birthing tub and a midwife. Everything was fine until we found out our daughter was breech and had to have an emergency c-section. Our daughters fine but my wife swears the next one we're doing a home birth. Our experiences preparing with a midwife were amazing and very familiar. It was nice for her to have the same person check her out everytime. Hopefully our next try will work out.

Well, I'll let you all know how ours goes very soon...

I can't wait to hear your birth story! Whether plan A or plan B I'm sure it will be wonderful!

I'm sorry, but the rise of home births in this country is clear evidence of how selfish our culture has become.<br><br>It always seemed to me that the main objective of childbirth was to get the kid out as quickly and as safely as possible in order to ensure that child lived a long and healthy life with no brain damage from oxygen starvation. But that is no longer enough. Now we must also be concerned about the how the parents feel about the birthing process, and we want to make sure that the emotional needs of the parents are fully met.<br><br>I can't think of anything more selfish than putting my own emotional needs above the health of my child.<br><br>Daddy Clay, you mentioned that the third childbirth was disappointing? For who? Your child or you??

I know the above sounds blunt and harsh, and maybe even nasty, but I should probably also mention that our child would probably have been dead before birth if we had followed the home birth route.<br><br>We had an emergency C-Section after 8 hours of labor, followed by 4 days in neo-natal intensive care. You think that can't happen to your family??? That's what I thought, too.<br><br>But as long as the parents are emotionally fulfilled, right???

Sean, hadn't read this part of your post. While I'm glad everything worked out for your family after the serious nature of your birth, I still don't buy what you're selling because it doesn't sound like you were ever considering home birth.<br><br>Even if we have to go to the hospital for an emergency, we've got a qualified professional by our side and a hospital 10 minutes away with an OB to meet us there as back up.<br><br>That's why plan B is so important.

I know there are a lot of grey areas in parenting. This is not one of them in my book.<br><br>Our daughter was an emergency c-section beacuse the amniotic fluid had drained out during labor without anyone realizing what had happened. Her life was only saved by the OR which was literally 20 feet away from the delivery room. It was also saved by the heart monitor which continuously monitors the baby's stress level in real-time. Is your mid-wife going to provide that equipment at home?<br><br>I'm sorry I can't participate in this discussion anymore because it literally makes me angry and upset.

My apologies to Sean and everyone reading these posts. I stand by our choices, but my earlier sarcasm was unwarranted.

In the Netherlands home birth is the norm. That is how my first daughter was born almost 13 years ago and how this one (due end Aug) will be delivered. Only if there is a complication is the mother taken to the hospital. Also, home birth is covered via health insurance hospital deliver only if there is a reason for it otherwise you have to pay a fee (around 300 euros).

Sort of bizarre knowing the child was created and delivered on the same bed.