Hospital, Home, Or Water Birth How Do You Choose?

My kids are grown and have moved out and started their own lives and families.We have 4 grandchildren and 1 on the way.  I actually miss the process of pregnancy and childbirth. 

My Dr. once told me I was made to have babies – which is nice to hear, but, weren’t we all?

There are many choices and decisions to be made when deciding how to have the baby, but that’s just the beginning.  After that, some decisions are minor and easy and some are harder. 

Decisions about cloth or disposable diapers, formula or breastfeeding, circumcision or not, shots or no shots.  Lots of decisions.

Hospital, Home, Or Water Birth How Do You Choose?

Now I would like to focus on the actual birth.  I know there’s a wave of “natural” and water birth advocacy (and in some cases I would even say bullying) happening right now. 

I think many young Mothers are being pressured and even shamed into doing things they aren’t certain are best for them and their birth.

The first thing I will say, is whatever decision you make, try and surround yourself (after you have studied and put the time in to make a good decision) with people who support your decision.  You cannot imagine what a difference that will make.

The next thing I will say is, if you are pregnant for the first or even second time, I would advise you to have a hospital birth.  Now hear me out.  I had 2 at the hospital and used Midwives for the other 2 and had them at home with no incidence. 

My reasoning is simple:  you don’t know your body as it relates to pregnancy and childbirth until you have done it a time or two.  You don’t know how it might react, you don’t know if you can handle what’s coming your way or if you will want to handle it. 

I know women who have sworn they wanted a natural birth with no meds and 5 minutes after labor started they were asking when they could get an epidural.  You just don’t know.  That is my point.

After you have had one or even two and feel that you know your body during childbirth, then you can make a more informed decision as to where to go from there.  You’ll even be better equipped to handle any situation that might arise.

My last was born in my waterbed (I almost didn’t make it to the bed from the tub ) at home, pretty far out of the city and far from any hospital, with family, a few friends, and 2 midwives in attendance. 

He was my fourth child I knew how this went, for me, but I was still apprehensive being so far from the hospital.  So, it’s perfectly normal to be nervous every time.  You just want what’s best for your baby, as you should.

You can have a water birth, and use a Doula or Midwife in the hospital, so that if there are any issues, you’re already there.  My daughter had one of hers at the hospital with a Midwife. 

There are many hospitals that have a Midwifery center/department set up outside of the hospital in a separate building that lends more to the home birth “vibe”.  So, make an informed decision, think about having one or two in a hospital setting before moving home. 

I read every book I could get my hands on every time I was pregnant I wanted to know everything I needed to know.  The old saying “Knowledge is power” is definitely true in a child birth situation, having confidence in your choice because you got all of the necessary information is huge in my book.

I hope sharing a little will help you make the right decision for you and your baby and your family.  Don’t worry about what everyone says – you do you!

My best advice to pregnant or new Moms has always been:  “Everyone will have an opinion and advice for you, keep what you like and throw out the rest – even what I say!  😉