Put it in God’s hands and it will work out.

Did everything go well? Were they okay with delivering without the midwife?

There sure are a lot of laws over there, even the minutest details are really emphasized (which has its advantages, of course, which need no explanation). At the same time, I can see the possible downside of such emphasis on medical malpractice in the law; in my country, when such a bill in Congress was being deliberated, many from the medical community protested and explained the possibility of the doctor-patient relationship being undermined. Doctors would be overly concerned about being sued, thereby recommending every little test to the patient (some of them unnecessary) — which could end up being disadvantageous to poor people because they’ll be drained of their resources.

I can see both sides, though.

For some reason “liberal” means “overlegislating the heck out of people”. On another thread someday, I’ll whine about the hoops they make homeschoolers jump through.

And I thought here in the Land of Lincoln we had it bad. Here, malpractice rates are astronomically high, especially when it comes to labor & delivery, so OB-GYNs have left in droves to practice in neighboring states (especially Wisconsin).

But the fact that homebirth by a doctor is illegal–illegal!–in the People’s Republic of New York is astonishing.

Oh no. I wasn’t trying to imply a woman would be less virtuous, just I can understand how this could be more uncomfortable.

it was only my doctor, husband and me.

That is the other problem here-it is illegal for doctors and CNMs to do homebirths here (New York State). If you do a homebirth, you have to find a lay midwife willing to attend.

I am hoping where I live is not too far from any lay midwives, and even though I might get GD again, it may not be an issue if I promise to take good care of myself, and since I really feel like I know what I’m doing.

“Did they not want the baby to feel like the only was in his birth suit?!” — Annie, this made me laugh out loud! Heehee, you’ve got a point there ;-D

I guess that’s true, but I’m not sure it’s wrong to not care around them either. I think it depends on the woman. I wouldn’t say a woman was being immodest if she didn’t even care if some random intern came around. I think she would be more annoyed of the noise and extra people than that someone saw her naked or in a vulnerable position. But I can’t speak from experience because it was only my doctor, husband and me.

Actually, maybe it was because I was at home, but I actually didn’t care. I don’t think it’s being immodest, just being natural and you’re in too much pain to really care. But I could see how other woman might care.

But in a way that is still modesty. Gosh, I hope this is not too scandalous to say, but it is not “immodest” to be unclothed when you are alone with your husband, but it certainly is around strangers. It is kind of the same thing in the privacy of your own home. Granted there are other people around like your midwife (who you have grown a relationship with), but it is still limited. In the hospital you have L & D nurses you never met before, interns or residents sometimes coming in and out, whatever doctor on call, sometimes the OB resident…

“Modesty isn’t necessarily forgotten during such situations, right?”

Actually, maybe it was because I was at home, but I actually didn’t care. I don’t think it’s being immodest, just being natural and you’re in too much pain to really care. But I could see how other woman might care.

I do remember looking through our Bradley book and thinking, “Why is everyone naked?” The woman was naked, the husband had his shirt off (and from the picture he looked naked). It was like everyone had to undress for the birth! Did they not want the baby to feel like the only was in his birth suit?!

“I would like to know what to expect,sure i’ve heard it’s painful but i’ve also heard you get a sort of high after that helps you bond with the baby, is that your experience?”

It’s really two different realities. You go from working so hard and being in a weird sort of zone and then you have this baby and you just can’t believe that it’s for real. Even though you are pregnant for 9 months and feel your little one kicking (and my little girl kicked a lot!) you still can’t beleive you have a real baby. It’s awesome.

I know that physically it’s best if you can have a vaginal birth for many reason (although sometimes it just doesn’t work this way), but especially because during the labor process you release a hormone called oxitocin – it’s a bonding hormone. Not that those who have c-sections don’t bond, they do, but I’m sure the hormone helps in a lot of ways – maybe even with post-partum, perhaps.

You must be athletic, Pansy. My sister was also watching TV while waiting to give birth, outside of the delivery room. When they examined her, she was told that she was already 8-9 cm but she didn’t feel a thing. Then whoa! Out came the baby. Really swift! My sister was a volleyball player for years and is wide-hipped, so I guess the smooth delivery was a combination of those 2 factors.

Oh, I haven’t read your birthing story yet! Let me do that now…

Well, you don’t bleed until after the baby is out, which is usually when you get out. Or some women prefer to labor in the tub and deliver on dry ground. My last they made me get out of the tub,which made for a humorous story in and of itself.

But my first waterbirth, afterwards my dh looked at it and said “I’m glad that that mess is here and I didn’t have to clean it up at home.” I am sure the midwives would have helped and knew how to clean it up though.

I do have misgivings about going into labor and giving birth while there are strangers walking by and chitchatting, and all wearing scrubsuits with the masks which I’m not too fond of.

That is my problem with hospital births too. I would do best in prvacy. I think giving birth is as intimate as conception.

I remember before I had to have my first hospital water birth, I had to go to thsi orientation at the hospital, and after we saw these videos, one lady afterwards asked the instructor (it was her first) “do you have to deliver naked?” and the nurse/presenter said “oh Honey, once you’re in labor, you won’t care”
I said, “no, that’s not true. Fact is, I my labor is always slowed down by the fact that I am always trying to cover myself up”

Gee, this is like getting a wonderful preview of the whole experience! I’ve got a question about water birth, though. I’ve seen snatches of it on TV (the discovery channel, i think) and I really like the idea of giving birth in water (beneficial to me and the baby), but doesn’t this mean I’ll be in water with blood swirling around the whole time until the baby is finally out? And I hope this won’t be bad for the baby in any way…

I spent a great deal of time in the hospital growing up because my Dad worked there and he and my mom brought me along a lot, so I’m comfortable with the surroundings. I do have misgivings about going into labor and giving birth while there are strangers walking by and chitchatting, and all wearing scrubsuits with the masks which I’m not too fond of. =( Bringing a baby into the world at home instead of the hospital then appeals to me more when I think of this factor.

Goodness! I don’t think I could have gone much longer.

My girlfriend had her first at home (and really, really wanted to do a home birth), but she had a 60 hour labor. And she wasn’t exaggerating. She had contractions one on top of the other for the lat 24 hours. It was definitely out of the ordinary. But had she been in the hospital she would have definitely had a c-section even though her baby was never in distress. In the end everyone was healthy, just very, very tired!