A Home Birth Story

After my first two experiences with birth, managed by a doctor, controlled in a hospital, with staff that didn't listen to me, respect me or even consult with me when they tried to perform medical proceedures on my body, as if I didn't have a right to be part of that decision, I desided on a home birth.

Finding the proper care for a home birth then became my challenge. This is a descision that is not encouraged or supported in the general community. After reading dozens of books, researching the internet and talking with many care providers I finally found a qualified home-birth midwife in Tampa. It was a long trip to make every month, but well worth it! The level of care I received from this woman was so far superior to the care I received from my prior OB's. She would spend sometimes up to an hour with me. Home-birth is not something to be taken lightly. This is for a healthy mother with no complications. To ensure that the care you get prenatally is much more indepth. She wants to know not just how much you weight and measure your belly, she wants to know everything you have eaten. Are you getting a proper diet and all the nutrients and water you need. How are you feeling, both physically and emotionally. Is everything at home ok. Home birth is not something you want to do if there is any kind of stress in your home. She had counselors available, a nutritionist that analyzed a weeks worth of my daily diet, and a huge library of birthing, breasfeeding and bonding information available. The care I got through this pregnancy was amazing to me!

It was also during this time that my good friend was pregnant as well. Her first pregnancy ended in an emergency cesarean, the second baby was born a few months before mine after three days of labor, attempts at inducing labor, drugs and a very long drawn out birth. This was a very healthy woman who very much wanted an all natural birth. During my years of reading after my second child, everything she told me about these birth were text book. Each thing the doctors or hospital did to her sent her down a path of more intervention. It was as if by design, the medical community gears all birthing toward the worste case senario, all driven by fear.

I started talking to her about the things that happened through her births. How things could possibly be different with her having more information, more support to help her have her wishes respected. I then asked her to be present at my homebirth. I wanted her to see what a health natural birth could be like without any interference. As a massage therapist, she would be an excellent member of my birth team too! I thought it was important to help erase the negative associations that she had with her prior births. Birth is such an emotional process. By having the tools of knowledge, emotional and physical support and love, the birthing process can be a peaceful and joyous experience.