Help from the homebirthing mamas out there

you have the right to refuse any medical procedure or test, for you or your baby. Just make sure you are well enough informed to give them a good reason why not, and be prepared to sign some kind of release form. Best would be to find a care provider who respects your wishes and your right to make your own informed decisions.

 

Not nice on that nurse's part. But, the reason I refused any invasive prenatal tests. With my "irritable uterus" I know I would have lost my kids if I had had an amnio at 17 weeks. As it was, I went into labor with Sage when they did the amnio at 36-37 weeks.

The nurse was out of line.......and also inaccurate. NO babies survive at 17 weeks. 21 weeks is the earliest any baby has survived (taken care of by my OB's Neonatalogist twin brother ) This baby weighed 9 ounces. No baby has survived to my knowlege earlier than this.

 

so i have some family members and co workers giving me crap for wanting a homebirth when me and my husband have kids. i am getting a little pissed b/c 1. my mom thinks she has to be there when i have kids. i dont want anyone there other then me my midwife and my husband. 2. people keep telling me all ill be doing the whole time is screaming at my midwife to give me drugs...i dont get it...why are people so against it?..also i am against going through alot of stressful tests when your pregnanyt except for the glucose test..i can understand that one..the rest of them seem unnessacary to me and like a waste of my time and money.my sister works at our local hospital and she said by law u have to go through with all testing and ultrasounds and that you have no choice...am i lost here or what?...now im starting to freak out that i wont be in control of mine and my childrens well being...what do u guys suggest for informatuion regarding this stuff?

 

Actually, I saw the glucose test as the one test that was UNNEEDED. Do your research. Look at European studies regarding gestational glucose testing. Maybe opt to do some at-home glucose testing before and after meals for a few weeks instead of such an evasive procedure.

In my opinion, the only really necessary test was the GBS test in the very end of the pregnancy. Even though it's not too common, having GBS present could cause major problems for the baby. That was the only test I opted for.

 

what is a gbs tet exactly?

 

GBS is Group Beta strep. It lives naturally in your GI tract and sometimes migrates down to your yoni and anus. If it's there during the birth, it could get to the baby and cause a mighty infection that could kill the baby.

The way they test for it is to swab your yoni and anus with a q-tip thingy after you reach 36 weeks pregnant.

 

it's a small risk of baby being harmed by GBS, but hospitals in the US are not willing to take that risk (or maybe it's the risk of being sued if it happens). I took the GBS test because had I been transferred to the hospital for whatever reason, if I didn't have a negative gbs test, they would have given me antibiotics as standard procedure, and I wanted to avoid an IV at all costs. Luckily, everything happened as planned, and my second child has never been anywhere near a hospital in her entire life!!

 

From 20 years parenting expereince, I have found that most people know LITTLE about birth, parenting, breastfeeding ect.

Don't TELL people what you are planning, they most likely know notning about the reality of Home Birth and are just going on knee jerk reaction or some crap they saw on FOX TV. Only tell people who are close to you, AFTER you have felt them out to see how they feel about home birth. Say your MIL is vehemently against it. Don't say anything to her, and call her after the baby is born. When she asks which hospital she can visit you at. say "I'm home. I'll call you if I am ready for visitors." A lot of the time, when we make well thought out choices, we don't realize most of the people we talk to know noting about the subject. I am a Lactation Consultant, and I still got breastfeeding ADVICE from people who didn't even nurse their own kids, when my children were babies. I nurse my kids for a long time, and I CHOOSE who I tell, and who I don't bother with. It isn't worth my mental health to tell my BIL's Lodge buddies about extended nursing, when they don't even know how to change a diaper, and weren't even there while their own wives gave birth. Choose who you share things with, carefully.

It is better to keep your personal life to yourself. Especialy when you talk about really inimate things, to people who are ignorant about the matters. Talk to mama friends who KNOW the process, not elderly people and coworkers and those who have little interest and less knowlege. This will keep you saner. I guarentee it.

 

Thank you for the very good advice. I am so tired of people telling me how to do these things. Like my sister who is a respitory therapst at our local hospital telling me its against the law to not have ultrasounds. come on now thats ridiculous. seriously though maggie i appreciate the advice

 

I read thru the thread and if you-all don't mind me saying,it has only confirmed my love and deep respect for women.What you go thru and how you help one another is amazing.Take care dreadlover.

 

first of all wow another hipforumer from spfld. oregon...cool...second of all the time for trying really hard is getting close and im starting to get kind of nervous..im sure some of u out there were nervous when u had your first babis...ay advice or help fer me?..pleez?

 

First of all, try to relax. Being relaxed is a very important skill to learn now before the hormone changes and baby screams.

 

I know but i cant help but be slightly nervous about the whole thing...its a huge change...i want a baby right now more than anything in my life...but the whole thing of everything i have to prepare for is kinda overwhelming yahno?i cant do the job oo physical and i know the chemicals i am around there are not what i need to be around if i were prego. so i am planning on getting my ged and going to beauty school, but thats alot to do on a 1 income house....any advice??