I really liked delivering at home for the privacy- I wasn't checked for progress a million times. Or pressured to progress like they will do to you in a hospital then offer interventions like pitocin which in many cases will lead to a C-section. I was only checked when my midwife got to my house-- but I was 9 cm when she got there. Obviously I knew I was in labor and just let it happen.
I wasn't forced to a bed with people in and out of my room and had the freedom to do what I wanted, when I wanted, where I wanted to. I had welcome distractions so I wasn't really 100% focused on contractions- I was working on some real estate transactions and getting things done around my house like laundry and interacting w/ Brendan and family. I was actually on the phone with another agent and was having a good contraction and couldn't speak back to him right away. It was beneficial to be distracted for me and helped me stay in control.
In the hospital you are given an iv right away and if you do get an epidural then you don't move and have a catheter go in. You stay there and have nothing else to do but focus on the labor however long it may be. It also slows your progress down with epidural making it more likely they will give you a hard time about progressing in a certain amount of time-- which is complete crap. Delivering babies takes time and in the hospital I hear about the 12 hour rule, or getting to a certain number of centimeters with a time frame then you have to go for your c-section or intervention.
I pushed like 30 min maybe? I really had no concept of time but at my follow up the midwives were saying how much longer it took because of my previous episiotomy and courtesy stitching. They used olive oil and helped me to stretch so I did not tear. I am grateful for that! Recovery has been much easier.
I only labored in the tub like another 30 min or so? I wasn't in there long but was in there during the peaking contraction part. It was as relaxing as it could be. They say it takes labor pains away by about 40% but I think I waited too long to finally get in there. My water also broke in the tub so no mess to clean.
The recovery was fast. I got to get out of my bed, shower, and cuddle with Caleb. It did not create a mess of my house like you may think either. I did throw away the top sheet of my bed but I had intended on it. The sheets under shower curtain and padding were protected, carpet protected, etc. The comfort of my own bed in my own home after was priceless.
It was not that big of a deal doing it without an epidural. It hurts but you can handle it. The pain is short lived and soon forgotten. It's not like what you see on TV. I just accepted it was happening, and tried to breath and relax- not fight- the contractions. My body did the work for me and when my midwifes got over here it was time to push. I was only in intense labor for about 3 hours. It was totally worth it! Both Lou and Amy the midwife held my hands and coached me through it. My baby came healthy, happy, and alert.
I highly recommend the experience and the team I used. Lou would say the same. Check out the Beyond Conception website to read up and get more resources. Mary has delivered many babies and she instills such confidence in your ability and is completely trust worthy.
About the experience of prenatal care-- 300 times better than OB experience. You are not just a number in the baby delivery business. They are 100% focused on your care. You can talk to midwife directly instead of 5 people on staff when something comes up. You can text your midwife!
I hated never being able to contact my doc directly and then waiting
forever to see her. Even the exam office was more like a home instead of
a medical environment. Great for kids too. Brendan loved going with me.
I am now spoiled being treated so well and with such care that I am
becoming unhappy with my pediatrician who also processes a volume of
patients.Finally, see the movies Rikki Lake produced- the Business of Being Born and More Business of Being born. The first one you can rent, the second series you can order online and stream on computer. It really was the start of my education on home birth and a real eye opener to how birth is most commonly treated in the U.S. Keep in mind home births are only possible for low-risk women and I'm glad to be a part of a larger movement to take back control of our own birthing experiences.
