Am I Crazy? - Ponca City,OK

No, I don't think you are crazy at all! After 2 hospital births I had my 3rd at home. If I could do it over again I'd have both my 1st and 2nd at home too. I'll PM you.

The problem here is that your mother/family are being intrusive. I wouldn't discuss it with them again, especially since you aren't even expecting yet. Don't bring it up, and if they do, change the subject, or say "that's interesting, I'll consider it". You have their opinions, don't discuss it with them and make everyone (especially yourself) miserable. When the time comes, don't tell them you're in labor. Do whatever it is you're going to do, and when you have a happy, healthy baby and are ready for visitors, invite them to come see the baby. There are birthing centers and such, which would probably be more to your liking than a hospital setting. Find one, take a tour, schedule an appointment with a midwife (when you're expecting) and make an educated decision yourself. If you have issues or are high risk, you'll be referred to a physician, but you can still use both.

My thoughts are, knowing the PC doctors like I do, that they are all experienced in childbirth. Most people I know that have good insurance go out of town to Stillwater to the Stillwater Women's Clinic on West 6th Street. Since Dr. Hamilton left PC a few years ago the rest of the doctors in PC are overworked.

All my grandkids were born in the PC hospital except K, she was assigned (SoonerCare) to a doctor in Blackwell, and was born in that hospital. The rooms in PC are huge compared to the regular rooms in Blackwell. I recommend you have your regular check ups, if all is well, with no expected issues, plan on the birth experience you want with a backup plan that only takes a few minutes to implement if needed. Call around and find a doctor or nurse practitioner that will work with you. Plan on staying in that town several weeks if you are going more than 30 miles away. Especially for a first time, you have no idea how many times you'll have false labor or go into labor quickly.

Here some sites I like, parenthood.com or babycenter.com

http://www.parenthood.com/pregnancy/childbirth/childbirth...

So, to say my points again:

1. Have good prenatal care once you get pregnant. If there are no expected issues then plan the experience you want.

2. Find a doctor your insurance will cover so you don't have to pay out a ton of money yourself.

3. If you are willing to travel out of town to appointments and then the birth the go to Tulsa, Okc, or some other town. But not too far away, my friend almost didn't make it to Stillwater when she went into early labor. It took anly about 15 minutes before her baby was born in the ER in Stillwater, what if the baby had started coming all the way out on the road between here and there, it could have been interesting....

of course there are risks, but a good midwife usually works in conjunction w/ a hospital so that if need be, that's where you'll head with her! women have been birthing babies at home since the dawn of time, so YOU ARE NOT CRAZY! my sister birthed all four of her babies at home w/out a hitch, she made sure to make lots of moaning, deep noises to release the pain, always breathed deep and invisioned the canal openning up, etc. and those babies just slipped out! i had all three of my babies in a hospital and except for the first (in which i had pre-eclampsia and so it was good i was in the hospital) i wish i HAD done it at home because the hospital is VERY invasive and they urge you do to things you really don't want or need in the name of just getting your baby out w/out any complications that they would be deemed responsibly for...it's kinda horrible how they manipulate women to do things to get their baby out w/out any trouble TO THEM, the HOSPITAL!!! go w/your gut instinct and get yourself a nice support group of galz who have done or want to do what you're doing! they're out there :) best of luck and, whatever you decide, remember that a healthy baby is your only goal and all the means to get that baby out matter less in the end then that you have that little baby in your arms!
XOXOXO

I just wanted to say that I have delivered 5 babies in a hospital with a midwife, one with an OB/Gyn, and one with the ER dr. because the midwife didn't make it on time. I would take the midwife any day over the doctors. With that being said, it depends on the midwife/doctor in question. As long as you have someone who will respect your desires, you should be fine. As far as home birth, I can understand the concerns about the "what ifs" of something going wrong and not getting to the hospital on time, which is why I opted for the hospital, but I really believe birth is a natural thing and women have been having their babies at home for centuries. In my opinion there is way too much negativity about this topic. It seems everyone wants to share their horror stories about what went wrong, or what could go wrong. I've had seven wonderful, normal deliveries with no drugs and no complications, not even any hemorrhaging after so many pregnancies, so don't let the negativity scare you. I would talk to other moms in your area and find out their recommendations/experiences of different doctors/midwifes in the area, and even go and meet some of them and "interview" them about their approach to childbirth. Ultimately, it should be your decision how you go through the process. No, you are not crazy -- it's everyone else putting things in such a negative light who is crazy! Good luck to you. Bearing children is a wonderful, miraculous experience.

My best friend and I (who live in different cities) both used midwives through a doctor's practice. We each interviewed different practices until we found a midwife that we felt comfortable with and understood our wants/needs. My friend had a perfectly natural delivery (in a hospital) with her midwife and she said the pain was bad, but nothing a woman can't handle. Unfortunately I developed pre-eclampsia and had to have an emergency c-section. Therefore, I was very happy that not only was I in a hospital when this happened (both mine and my son's blood pressure sky-rocketed out of no where), but I still had a medical doctor that I already knew from the practice to perform the c-section. My midwife was there during the c-section with the doctor, and she gave me all the comfort I needed. I strongly recommend one, and if you can find one through a doctor's practice, even better. No matter what, I think you should go to a hospital to deliver, you never know what's going to happen during labor and better to be there than be sorry. Plus, many hospitals now have birthing tubs, etc. Good luck!!

Research has shown that home-births are slightly more risky, just because if a problem develops mid-birth, the midwife then has to get you to a hospital (you're not already there). However, if you give birth in a hospital, your chances of getting a c-section are much higher, which is also risky. I would ask your OBGYN for the name of a midwife with a good reputation, and also ask around. Don't let your mother scare you into doing something you don't want, but consider her points carefully. There are many hospitals that allow midwives, or you could always just sit down with a regular OB and interview them about their perceptions of natural birth, and express your firm desire for a natural birth and no c-section unless absolutely necessary. Although it was not something I was interested in, my OB was very supportive no matter which direction I went, and actually did not want to influence me. Women have handled childbirth for thousands of years without medications, so of course you can handle it, and you can point that out to your mother. Having said that, I was very very grateful for my epidural after I had been in labor for over 10 hours without making any progress, and I am personally glad I was in a hospital where I could get it. Good luck, whatever you decide.