How did/will you Birth??

[SabrinaFair]

Well as I am in Australia, we don't have the options that you have. Birthing centers, public hospital, or private hospital. Not sure that we have midwives, assisted homebirths are not allowed, (or if they are, this is only new), only if you go into labour, and the ambulance get there in time. Doulas? or what ever, I've never heard of.
For me I choose private hospital, that way I can stay however long I want.
Birth center you only have 24 hours, public hospital only 3 days.
Not sure about all the birthing methods that everyone mentions, I just do what is natural and comfortable for me. I breath however I feel I need to, to get through the pain. I also birth on my knees. I haven't had pain medication for the last 6 of the 7 births, and I can't stand people touching me while in labour. I am so inwardly focus on getting the baby born, that everything else is just a distraction. My husband knows to just let me "do my stuff".
Tracey

Thanks for sharing! It is always amazing to hear the differences in birth options and traditions from country to country.

There are midwives in Australia, but I think availability depends on what area in Australia. You may know Doulas as "Labor Coaches" I think that is the better known term overseas- maybe.

 

[PegasusOnFire]

I wanted to go natural no drugs, hospital and just hubby, nurse and OB.

I had hospital, 44 hours of labor, heavy meds + Pitocin, lamaze, a whole heap of nurses, not only for me but NICU nurses for Christian, as there was mucosum in the waters, and an emergency C-Section cause she refused to decend, (btw I went into labor naturally, but then stopped at 4 CM) two doctors, the OB and the anestheziologist(sp?), and hubby holding my hand through it all.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

My first was in hospital - just going with the flow. The second was at home, because, based on the first, I didn't need to be in hospital. The next two were then at home. My fifth was a hospital birth because I was living in a place that did not offer a choice of homebirth - but it was fine.

I've only ever been attended by midwives, because all my pregnancies and labours were completely straightforward and normal.

 

[Tea]

There are midwives in Australia, but I think availability depends on what area in Australia. You may know Doulas as "Labor Coaches" I think that is the better known term overseas- maybe. :cool:

You maybe correct on the above. I was reading some material the other day, and it mentioned that it covered for a midwife.
I have not though, been offered the option of one, even when discussing what my options were with the Doctor, so they are probably only available in the larger cities.
But considering that it is 11 years from my last, I have to admit that I am not up to date with the latest.
Tracey

 

[Tea]

Drat, sorry about the above blue box, thought I had put the text into a quote box.
My apologies.
Tracey

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Tea,

It's all to do with insurance. You can have an OBGYN exclusively, a midwife exclusively, or use shared care (with the OBGYN only really around for emergency/last minute situations).

A midwife (at least in QLD - I think it could be different in Victoria and Canberra at least) is not covered by insurance or legislation if he or she chooses to operate as an individual. They must be attached to a hospital (birth centres/suites HAVE to be part of a hospital) in order to be licensed, and practicing.

For me, I have to have a c-section when I go into labour (I'm not pregnant), but before I knew that, it was my 'first preference'. Other than that (if my OBGYN wouldn't allow it), I always wanted to give birth in the hospital I work in - I like the fact that there is an operating room and a NICU and ICU all on the same floor if further intervention was needed...

I work in the obstetric theatre as a scrub/scout nurse, and have just been accepted into Postgraduate Midwifery Studies...

Sasch

 

[lin1235]

I have to be in a hospital with OB, because dh has a heart condition and it may become apparent during the birth that the baby has it too and then we'll probably have to do c-section. We're going to try vaginal birth first though, praying that God will see the baby through the birth.

Don't know about pain meds, I'm not going to claim that I'll go without but I'm not planning to take it until I need it either, if that makes sense. So if I'm in too much pain I'll go for it, but hopefully I don't need it.

 

[SabrinaFair]

Wow! Looks like a nice cross-section of mothers and birthing styles represented on the poll! Cool!!!!

 

[Keira]

I am going to use a midwife and the family that I am staying with the mom says that a doula is great to have for support and massage. So I think she said she is going to get one for me.

 

[SabrinaFair]

I am going to use a midwife and the family that I am staying with the mom says that a doula is great to have for support and massage. So I think she said she is going to get one for me.

Great avatar!! I love that!

 

[Keira]

Thank You, I was on the beach I love how my friend focused in on me holding my belly.

 

[SabrinaFair]

Thank You, I was on the beach I love how my friend focused in on me holding my belly.

Yeah, that angle is great and I love the lighting in that shot!! Really a nice photo!! Great idea to use it as an avatar!!

(I see you've been shopping! Nice background!! )

 

[SabrinaFair]

 

[KillerV]

I had my boy at the hospital. with my second I plan on the hospital again..I had a wonderful expierence there

 

[jessi22]

I had 2 hospital births and I will again.

 

[Angelika29]

Planning hospital with OB

 

[TaterFaith]

I have always been comfortable in the hospital

 

[epiclesis]

I'm going to have a homebirth.

 

[PegasusOnFire]

had all three of mine c-section and the next will be to, when ever that time comes, be it a year from now or 3 years from now.

 

[Mama von 2]

I had 2 c/s and I hope for VBAC in a hospital.