Birthing Jelly Bean #3

So, for those of you who do not know, we are planning a home birth with our next baby.

You might be thinking - didn't you have caesarean's with Harrison and Kadie? Are you allowed to do that? Aren't you afraid something bad is going to happen? What if something happens to you? What if something happens to the baby? Won't you want an epidural?  Why would you want to birth at home when you can birth at a hospital?

Generally when I tell most people we are having a home birth, the advice, warnings, etc, start rolling in. Usually unwanted and bad advice. I must say, it is extremely irritating that everyone has an opinion on birth whether they've given birth or not. And everyone has an opinion on home birth whether they have researched it or not. So let me just say, I am a research queen. I would not to anything to jeopardize my baby or myself. I am 100% comfortable with a home birth and quite frankly, looking forward to it. What most people don't realize is that birth is normal. A woman's body knows how to give birth. Modern medicine interferes with the process. Interventions (pitocin induction, epidurals, artificial rupture of membranes -to name a few) generally cause the problems.  If doctors would let women go into labor on their own and let their bodies do what we were meant to do, the caesarean rate would drop tremendously.

Ok, off my soapbox.

So, what led me to this decision. Well, I was planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) with Kadie. I started planning my VBAC before I was even pregnant with her. My OB was on board. There was no medical reason for my c-section with Kadie. I was 10 days past my "due date" and my OB didn't want me to go any longer. So I reluctantly scheduled the c-section and prayed  I would go into labor before hand. As I was laying in the operating room, my OB told me that if we had another baby, he would do a c-section.

So when we got the surprise of a third baby, I knew in my heart the only way I could have a normal vaginal delivery was to plan a home birth. Thankfully, I found a midwife who is right down the street from me who was willing to trust my body's ability to have a baby. And for those of you who are concerned, we are literally less than 5 minutes away from Park Ridge East hospital. My midwife is trained to recognize a problem before it happens and very very rarely has a hospital transport. And even with my 2 previous c-sections, my chance of uterine rupture is still less than 1 percent. And just for the record, uterine ruptures can occur in women who have never even given birth or had a previous c-section.

I have researched this subject quite a bit and continue to research it throughout this pregnancy. I am very comfortable with this decision. For some moms, a repeat c-section is the only choice to consider. I am not that mom. There is nothing wrong with that mom. I personally do not like having surgery. I think the risks of a c-section/repeat c-section are greater than that of a VBAC. These risks are: infection in uterus or nearby organs, increased blood loss, decreased bowel function, complications from anesthesia, longer hospital stay/recovery, risks of additional surgeries (hysterectomy, bladder repair), blood clots, breathing problems with infant, lower apgar scores, and fetal injury. With my last c-section, I got an infection in my incision site and it popped open. It is nearly impossible to adhere to the restrictions given when you already have an active toddler at home.

I do realize I could possibly end up with another c-section. If there is truly a medical reason warranted, I'm okay with it. I just want to do everything in my power to have a normal birth and give my baby a peaceful birthing experience. At this point in time (18 weeks into my current pregnancy) everything is perfectly normal and healthy.

.