The Whole Home Birth Experience at Its Finest
Our family has a tradition of having our kids born at home. It is not as bad as you may think if you haven’t ever done it or fear the entire birthing process. Let me tell you though, with our first child I was a complete wreck. The problem was basically fear of the unknown. There is still the element of surprise with each birth but at least you are familiar with a lot more of the process.
But what is weird is not the actual birth process but afterwards. The midwives leave after a couple hours and it is just the family again but this time with a new addition. And the weirdest part is knowing that 2 hours ago the baby wasn’t even “out”. Now you see me, now you don’t kind of a thing.
But, basically the experience is quite relaxing. We can set up the bedroom however we like. Light candles (or dim the lights), turn on background music real low, and set up the things you need around the room. We always have a back up oxygen tank, hot water, towels, etc.
It is really about my wife and want she wants. The happier she is the better the entire process goes.
My wife has exceptionally quick births. Once her water breaks the baby is out in 12 to 18 hours. The other thing too is once she starts pushing the baby is born within 20 minutes. I remember with our last child it was about 6 minutes. So it all happens real fast and it seems to get faster each time. That is why it is good to be ready and prepared. There are times I am actually thankful we don’t have to get in a car and drive her to the hospital. Why should I have to move her and get her somewhere. There have been times we wouldn’t have made it probably. But everybody comes to her. Her mother comes and picks up the kiddos, the midwife and her assistant come over. That is much better than having to get all 4 of the kids ready, drive them over to my wife’s mother’s house, and then go to the hospital.
But if you have any questions about the home birth experience please feel free to ask away. Even though I have done it 4 times I am in no way an expert on the matter but would love to try and answer any questions you may have.
I will also be posting updates. I won’t post personal stuff but if I get a chance I will fill you in on how far along we are. Whether it is 24 hours, 3 days or a week. :D
Tags: baby, home-birth, hospital, infant, newbornRelated Stories
POSTED IN: General
8 opinions for The Whole Home Birth Experience at Its Finest
Long Island Dad
Jan 8, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Good Luck and best wishes to all of you — especially to Mom!
steve
Jan 8, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Thanks Long Island Dad :D
Appreciate the wishes.
Kellys
Jan 9, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I hpe things go well and we are praying for you. I have a great friend that had her son at home and I was so impressed. Tell your wife she is more woman than I am and I respect her for it!
Let us know when the new bundle of joy is here.
Inside Fatherhood » Dads, You Need to Know the Realities of Labor
Jan 19, 2007 at 8:56 am
[…] I have labor on the mind, sorry… but rightly so. My wife is about to give birth to our 5th child. Though we seem to be pros by now in this entire ordeal, especially where we have delivered all of our kids so far at home, we still tend to go through the same spikes in anxiety, frustration in the fact the baby isn’t out yet, exhaustion from sleepless nights and back rubs, and all the other normal parts of pregnancy at nine months. […]
Wendy
Feb 3, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Hi, Steve —
I would guess that your new addition has been born already; if so, congratulations! And if not, then all my best wishes to your spouse and you for a peaceful, joyful, easy birth! I had a homebirth myself, and it was wonderful. (This was with my second baby, after a highly (and unnecessarily) intervention-filled first birth in a hospital.) I’d welcome you and your spouse to join my “Healthy Birth” group at kaboodle (see my website link) — along with anyone else interested in participating in discussions and sharing resources on this topic, whether you’re interested in homebirth or how to plan the best hospital birth possible.
Best regards to you and your whole family!
Inside Fatherhood » Meghan Alexis
Feb 4, 2007 at 5:23 pm
[…] Well Meghan Alexis was born at home at 7am on Super Bowl Sunday, February 4th, 2007. […]
Inside Fatherhood » A Chronological Account of What Happened Super Bowl Sunday
Mar 5, 2007 at 8:54 am
[…] My wife and I have been having our kids born at home and each time it is quite an adventure. This story I wrote covers the labor and birth briefly in chronological order. Here is a little teaser of what 6:25am was like Super Bowl Sunday: 6:25am: Wife calls from bathroom and I come running. […]
childrens bedroom furniture
May 28, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Surprising or not, statistics say that 90% of births can be performed without a doctor and don’t need one. I was shocked to hear this but then i thought is true. Many women along history had births without doctors and yet they had healthy children. So why it can’t be the same nowadays?Childrens bedroom furniture
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: