Any Hospital Birth Moms Out There?

Considering 98% of births in the US take place in the hospital, I don't think you'll have a hard time finding at least a few, LOL!

I'm glad the hospital is there in case we have a medical emergency any day of the year, but barring any such emergency I'd rather have my babies at home. Viva la difference!

I had all three in a hospital/birthing center setting. Although the experience was amazing all three times, I think I would give it the old college try, and do a home birth. I would leave my option to go to the hospital if I felt it was just not happening:)

Good thing my tubes are tied and I wont hopefully have to make this call

I had hospital births, but even back then (before I knew what I know now) I hated it. It seemed like such a de-humanizing process, and having a baby is about as human as O. can get. And I was at a very nice Catholic hospital.

I also don't like the way they treat the babies sometimes.

I don't blame people for being interested in home births - but I respect either position. It's whatever works for mom & baby.

You're my favorite :)

Stir, stir, stir...

Under ZERO circumstances was I not having an epidural. So to the hospital we went. It was a wonderful experience. I would consider a home birth if I could have an epidural.

Im happy for all the ppl that choose to do it at home but for me there is no way in hell I would ever want to risk not having the help that being in a hospital provides, if something, God forbid ever went wrong I know that I and everyone involved did all that they can do to help with any issues that could arise

I am all for giving birth in the hospital! I'm the, "What in case..." kind of person, like you. I'm glad, too. I had twins the first pregnancy, and it was a scheduled c-section. As the doctor did the surgery he told my baby A wouldn't have delivered due to his position, so I would ultimately have ended up with a c-section had I opted to attempt a vaginal birth.

I completely agree. I never saw a need to take my life or my baby's life into my own hands!

I not only went to a hospital but the biggest O. known as the baby factory. Thing is on the hospital campus they have in house every specialty there is. I know the other hospitals are just a helicoptor ride away but I figured this way I could visit the child. Yeah, four uncomplicated deliveries but better safe than sorry.

Everyone thinks big is impersonal but I had great care as did my children.

I delivered at a hospital but would have loved to have had my midwife at my house for a water birth. I loved my midwife too much to have gone anywhere else to be able to give birth at home. She was amazing even in the hospital.

I also participated in my friend's home birth of her 5th child (4th at home) and I could see how relaxing that was and with the lights off and being able to eat or drink what she wanted (my midwife was lenient too). It was so simple and precious and all her other boys were there to help if they wanted to. No pressure for drugs or inducing or c-sections...just letting mama and baby come at their own time.

YES! I was high risk with both kiddos, I was not about to put my children at risk. Plus I don't agree with it. While I think it's great to have the choice to birth at home and mean no disrepsect to those who do choose home birth...I don't see the point. Then again my son almost came 10 weeks early and I had to fight to keep him in for 6 weeks.

And I'm so SICK of hearing about natural child birth vs child birth with drugs. I was once told that I didn't have natural child birth because I had an epidural...sorry but I pushed her out and did all the work...that's pretty natural to me. I was not moody, not yelling at everyone and guess what? She's healthy, intelligent and beautiful! Un-natural is my second birth where I had a c-section because he almost died.

This gets me going...sorry for my rant. Wait no i'm not really sorry!

I would never do anything but a hospital birth. And only in a hospital with an excellent NICU - just in case. My goal was a healthy mother and healthy baby. Period. Sorry, I just don't get the whole 'birth experience' thing. I also had no more desire to experience avoidable pain than my husband had to 'experience' the pain that would have been associated with his Achilles tendon repair had he elected to go the 'natural, drug free' way.

I can never imagine having a baby any other place other than a hospital. For all the reasons you give. It is also nice to be waited on at the hospital! It was like a vacation when I had my 3rd..I only had to worry about me and baby.

I'd have to agree with you. I would be scared to do it at home just incase something happened. And I definately wasn't brave enough to go without the epidural.

I required a c-section, so I didn't really have a choice. If I had, I would only choose a hospital. I was on the fence about where to give birth, before my pregnancy got complicated and a c-section was the best route. Well, on the fence...until my husband's aunt lost a child during her home birth. She had always had super easy pregnancies and births, but this birth turned badly quickly. There is no way an ambulance could have arrived at her home in time, or they could have driven to a hospital in time. That quickly terrified me and I choose the hospital after that!! Back-ups are only good, if you actually have the time to wait for the back-ups.

Hospital all the way, no questions asked.

It was our preference because we have O. of the best Dr's in the world, fantastic hospital and God forbid... what if that baby needed NICU (ours actually did for about 2 hrs) and I was not in a place that could safely care for her.

I'd be riddled with guilt the rest of my life for putting myself before the safety of my child.

Hospital for all 3..NO question!

I am not anywhere near the 'type' of home birth person!!!!!!

Since my first daughter heart rate dropped with every contraction because the cord was stuck between my side and hers and my second daughter was stuck at O. point due to her gigantic head.....I would say we made the right choice by being at the hospital.

I've had all my babies in the hospital. I've thought of a home delivery, but I'm just too nervous.
The big thing for me, though, is that my doctor (I've been with him since before getting pregnant with my first) is a great listener and will respect my wishes as long as it doesn't put me or baby at risk. The hospital is the same. They have never pressured me for drugs (with my first it became a necessity, but they patiently explained why it was - no progress for 4 hours in transition and baby was stressed), never even suggested episiotomy, never been eager to move on to c-section, and never given me the feeling that it wasn't okay to progress at my body's rate (as long as it was safe for baby).
I also am a wimp, and have wanted epidurals for all but my first (and I got O. at the end for her).
I also like to know that if something goes wrong suddenly, they have everything available right away to take care of it.

I did it in a hospital !! Never would consider doing it at home, or in a tub or with out Drugs ! BUT thats just me - and if you choose to have your babies in that/those ways.. More Power to You !
Thank goodness I was in a hospital... After 3 1/2 hours of pushing I had to have an emergency C-Section.... couldn't have had that done at home!

Sorry...I am O. of those "mess-o-phobia" types...no way I was doing that in the same bed I sleep in! Sorry...LOL. We had a dog who had puppies every year, without fail, when I was a kid. In my room, every time. Thats enough for this girl who washes her hands ALMOST like an OCD person.

Besides, for me, it was never a true option. I knew I only wanted O. child, so was only doing this the O. time once I was successful. Then had alot of troubles and losses and surgeries. Then when I was pregnant with my daughter, I knew that she was in a frank breech position...and tangled in her own limbs to boot. No way she could go thru the birth canal. Scheduled C-Section for us!

Last nights "19 kids and counting" had the daughter in law do at home birth for their second child (a son this time) at home. Makes it look pretty good with editing out the stuff no O. needs to be seeing!

Congrats to all of us Moms, not matter where our lovelies came into this world!

While I am very intrigued by the home birth experience, personally, I am too fearful of the potential dangers of home birth to try something like that. I do have to say that I admire those that do it, but I am not suited for it. Especially in light my last (and only so far) childbirth experience. Developed pre-eclampsia late in pregnancy, needed iv meds to stave off seizures, never dilated, and required emergency c-section. With that as my only frame of reference, I'd be super-fearful this time around about even considering a home birth. I don't know what this pregnancy will bring, and hope that it will be smooth sailing all the way through, but I just need the security that the hospital provides in a situation like mine the last time around. So I guess that makes me a hospital birth mom, even though I do sort of envy those who find so much joy in home births...

There's no place I would have rather given birth than at the hospital with my outstanding OB and all the caring, excellent nurses! I felt so safe and secure to be having my baby at a place with an experienced, well trained OB to deliver the baby and provide any medical attention that might be required immediately rather than later because I chose otherwise. The safety of myself and the baby was the #1 factor in me making my choice to have a hospital birth.

Since I am a former NICU Respiratory Therapist and saw all the mistakes and mismanagement that goes on behind the scenes in the hospital; I felt much safer giving birth at home. When I had my first homebirth I was still working in the hospital and all of my co-workers supported my decision and some of them had even had homebirths themselves. And since research has proven that homebirth is safer and healthier for low risk mothers that too gave me confidence in my decision. I am now a homebirth midwife and the only time I have seen a mother and baby die due to complications arising at childbirth was in the hospital. In every case these were low risk healthy mothers with healthy babies and hospital personnel screwed up. If they had been at home the chance is very great that they would be alive today.
You may feel safer in the hospital and that is fine but unfortunately it is a false security. You really are not safer.

I am like you - I felt safer and more secure in giving birth to my daughter in a hospital rather that water birthing or mid-wives at my house and so forth.
My reasoning was due to my own medical condition and the risk I took to have my daughter.
I had been told since I was 12 to not have children - due to my epilepsy. I didnt plan on my daughter but when I was 34 I was sick/queezey and took a at home test just to prove I wasnt pg, lol....
I was a high risk pg and I was okay to handle something happening to me but I wanted and needed to make sure my child had every available medical chance of surviving if something went wrong.
I didnt think any other options were as safe and secure and I am glad I made the choice I did.
7 yrs and a C-sect later - my daughter and I both survived the ordeal and she is thriving, smart, talented, loving, and very energetic!!!
Thank you to all the DR's and Nurses that helped deliver her after 24 hrs of labor and an infection and her not dropping down the canal....

I had 1 complicated birth (my first) and 2 normal, quick, unmedicated births in the hospital. I was thankful for the skilled Dr and RNs there for all 3 and looking back still wouldn't have wanted to deliver anywhere else. Once I got to the hospital in labor I felt I could relax and stop trying to be a midwife for myself. They were all 3 a great bonding experience for my husband and I. He was right beside me the whole time quietly and lovingly cheering me on. I feel so incredibly blessed to have healthy children and an incredibly strong, loving husband to help me raise them. Midwife Mom of 3

Hospital all the way! Im a scardy cat and I had problems with my first. Hospital, epidural and pain medicine afterwards please!

I would really have liked to have a home birth, but my pregnancy was O. complication after the other and I had a bad feeing. As it turned out being in the hospital saved my son's life. He had the umbilical cord around his neck and shoulders, which turned into an emergency situation during the birth.

I live 1/2 an hour from the closest hospital, so yes hospital was the only way to go for us! With my second, we barely made it and I was more scared than I have ever been in my life! I delivered 10 minutes after arriving in the ER. Too close for my taste!

I absolutely agree. You get all the medical attention needed in case something goes wrong. Not to mention some time to rest before going home to do it all on your own. Not that I have any choice anyway cause my babies are all c-section babies, but I like having professionals there to make sure my baby is doing great.

I agree for me it was the best place to deliver my babies and I also felt the same as you. I rather not take any chances of a possible situation and not be able to get my baby the care it needed. Although I also don't find anything wrong with home birthing. Especially with qualified professionals working with you that can spot a problem fast. It is really personal choice.

I personally wouldnt give birth ( by choice) anywhere but a hospital. My mom birthed her first 4 kids, including me at home. With just her & ny dad. My youngest brother was born in a hospital. She did not want to deliver in the hospital but the dr told her that if she wanted my brother to live she had to ( he was breech) it was a good thing she did or he would have never made it. He was born with undeveloped organs and was wisked off to the nicu for 6 weeks. I made up my mind at 13 when he was born that having a baby at home wasnt for me - and Im a wuss, I couldnt have even handled labor without drugs

Agreed. My friend who works in the ER has seen home births gone bad come into the ER. O. was brain dead from lack of oxygen. Here is what I think is going on and I give credit to my dear favorite talk show host, Dennis Prager, for pointing this out to me in his book, Think a Second Time. Instead of meeting extremes with moderation, people tend to meet extremes with the opposite extreme. So yes it is true, we've gone too far in this country with the C-sections, the drugs, and unatural childbirth. So that extreme has been met with another extreme; non physician attended home births. I think you are smarter than most for finding the moderate approach instead of the extreme reaction.

Well I was pregnant with twins so I didn't have that option-or at least that is what every single doctor had advised me. Every single O. had told me I would most likely have a c-section and I was fine with that but my own doctor knew I wanted vaginal if possible. I got lucky and both babies were turned in the correct position. However after baby A came out Baby B wasn't dropping into the birth canal and my doctor had to work her way down and there was "mention" of a c-section. Now that is what I DIDN'T want-hurting from both sections -no way! I began to pray and even though I was exhausted from the first birth somewhere within me I found the strength to push her out very quickly-alot quicker than the first that is. I lost alot of blood and I am glad that I had the "team" of people in there with me in case things had turned bad really quickly. There are times I think about how I had wished I could have experienced the whole birth at my home because I remember sitting in the chair and I kept feeling like if I could have squatted she would have come out quicker-I just didn't feel like I had any leverage then there is the bath births which I find would be good too -but I think I am too influenced that a problem could arise and I wouldn't want to have that held over my head IF something had gone wrong. I would keep beating myself up saying " you should have gone to the hospital" the x or y wouldn't have happened.....even though some things just happen no matter if you are at the hospital or not. If I ever become pregnant again I would like to experience a home birth but I would need to research it more and talk to my doc about it-I trust him fully and he did nothing wrong during delivery there are just a few things I know now that I would like to change which most likely could be met at the hospital but like I said I would have to research it and feel it out-it's a big decision to make really.

I am grateful that I was able to get to a hospital with all 3. Also grateful to leave the housework alone for a few days of quiet sleep in the hospital and have people wait on me for a change. Grateful there was someone to monitor the babies for the 1st few days. I had a few, what if, panicky moments and I was really comforted knowing I was in a state of the art facility with every possible machine that could be needed in event of emergency.

All 5 of ours were born in the hospital. I had to be induced with 4 (my water broke with our first 2 and I never had a contraction and the last 2 had to be turned using cephalic version and I was induced before the boys could turn again). I actually went into labor with our 3rd and as it happens my water was muconium stained and the cord was wrapped around his neck almost 3 times. Our first also suffered with respiratory distress. After our 5th was born my uterus wouldn't contract anymore and I was in real danger of bleeding to death...had I been at home that would have been a real possibility. Suffice to say...I never considered the home birth option and while I would never criticize someone who did/does choose a home birth, I was more than happy to have my wonderful doctors and team of nurses take care of not only the babies but myself as well.

With my first I asked my Ob if he did rounds at the birth center it is acroos the street from the 2 major hospitals where I live I knew from the very start I wanted to have all natural births.He explained to me the reasons not to there is no sure fire way to say that something won't happen becasue anything can as we all can vouch for either the good or bad outcoem of our births (time is critical)So I did birth at our hospitals all 3 of them,there was joking made that I would never make it to the hospital because of great succes with my first he was 6 hrs of 3 pushes the Dr. had no time to gown up he tossed it on & caught my baby,my second water broke she was crowning made it to the L&D hopped in the bed was ready to push 45 min from start to finish,then my last water never broke at home went into active labor the OB was in house came insaid I was ready to go popped my bag out she came no pushing 30 min. but after her 2 hrs late I began to bleed uncontrollably now if I had to get transferred from another facility or home would I have made it I was there in a hospital setting the nurses acted quilcky I was able to get what I needed under contol right there.Giving birth is a beautiful experience rather or not how you choose to do it.No I was never prepared to deliver at home we live 5 min away from the hospital if I was alone I would of called an ambulance & screamed get me to the hospital I can make it

Most births are hospital births. All three of mine were born in the hospital, and I would never consider a home birth. Sitting in a kiddie pool to have my baby definitely does not appeal to me and yes, too many things can go wrong. Both of my sons needed to go directly to the NICU after they were born. Thank goodness we were right there.

I did not want a hospital birth I have never been to a hospital in my life and I don't intend to with pregnancy. If home birth was not safe we wouldn't be here as a species. I think hospitals are wonderful for certain people. However for me I didn't want the interventions. I would like to say that these people who had failure to progress, emergency c-sections, high blood pressure etc and say thank god I was in a hospital because what would have happened at home. Hello the hospital is the reason that you had these problems in the first place. I had a wonderful midwife attended water birth with very little pain. Honestly when I relaxed and was left alone (which rarely happens in a hospital) the contractions didn't hurt at all. The only pain I felt was about 30 seconds where my son was actually coming out. That 30 seconds of pain was worth it to be able to feel my legs and stand up immediately after his birth. Also we had no problems with breastfeeding because in a natural birth the hormones are such that the baby automatically knows how to feed. My son was laid on my chest and found the boob and latched on all by himself. Epidurals are great I am not knocking anyone who has O. but if your baby then has trouble learning to feed it's not the baby it's the meds. Yes you can breastfeed successfully but it will probably be more work than a natural birth. Once again I am sure someone will be pissed off reading this so I just want to say that I think hospitals and epidurals are great for those who need them but I think that the actual numbers should be much lower.

I loved my midwife and am planning to do it all again the exact same way.

I am a convert for hospital births. I think they can be amazing!
I planed my first birth at home. things were mismanaged , and 32 hours after my water broke we finally went to the hospital for an induction. I should have gone in WAY earlier. My baby was born with extremely low blood sugar from being stressed for so long she didn't cry (literally) for 2 days because she was so exhausted. The whole time I was at home we were trying to self induce, I wore the poor baby out.
with the second baby, we just went straight to the hospital.
there are people there to help you, air conditioning, some O. to clean up the whole mess, a tv. it is almost like a hotel! lol
The best place for you to give birth is where you are most comfortable. the more relaxed you are the quicker you labor will progress.

Since my pregnancy was a giant cluster of bad events (lost twin at 11-1/2wks, baby wasn't growing properly, started leaking at 16wks, ruptured at 26wks), I knew I'd give birth in a hospital. I was in the hospital for over 4wks before my son arrived and I was thrilled with my care (aside from 2 nurses who need to quit their profession) by the docs, interns, most of nurses. We delivered cookies/treats to them/NICU every 6mos for 3yrs. They were phenomenal!

I had my son in a hospital. I wouldn't want to have a home birth. I like having the comfort of mind of knowing that if something goes wrong we are where we need to be and dont have to be transported.
I had a midwife and plenty of those sweet, sweet drugs. Cant get those at home ;)
And no clean up! I can let someone else do the house keeping and leave. All my meals are brought to me, and my hospital had some pretty great cheeseburgers I gotta say.

I wouldnt have gotten all that, and the care I did, if it was a home birth.

I delivered both my boys in a hospital. Glad I did, both of my boys had feeding issues the nurses and Drs really helped with this. Also my youngest son had a heart murmur in utero and it was checked after his birth by a Cartiologist. For me it was the way to go. Meds on the other hand were the way for me. Remember you run the show regardless of where you deliver. They are providing a service to you not the other way around.

I had a hospital birth with my first. It was an unmedicated birth attended by a midwifery practice. My second was a home birth, with a different, home birth only CNM practice. I would never have chosen an unassisted home birth. The care that I received from my homebirth midwives throughout the pregnancy was far superior to the care that I received from the OB practice that I used for the first 37 weeks of my first pregnancy. Some people simply feel more comfort or safety from the idea of the hospital, or they want drugs which are not safe to be administered at home. The thing about planned home births with a qualified midwife is that it's not really a crapshoot - you are carefully screened. My midwives told me that about 20% of the women that consulted them were risked out immediately, about 15% of those they took on risked out sometime during the pregnancy and about 5% were hospital transfers. They take no chances. If something is wrong or could potentially be wrong, your midwife transfers your care to an OB. I had 30 minute visits with my homebirth midwife instead of 5-10 with the OB, I could look at my own chart anytime I wanted, all test options were fully explained and all results given immediately - never lost like with the busy busy OB practice. That's just my experience. The vast majority of babies are still born in hospitals, so clearly most moms feel more comfortable with the drugs and the 30+ percent cesarean rate. A lot of women want to be in the hospital "just in case something goes wrong" but the thing is, when you're at home with no drugs, no pitocin, able to move about/eat/drink and not exposed to infection, things are much less likely to go wrong. Many of the things that went wrong in the hospital would not have happened if a mom had been at home, not on pitocin, drugs, stuck in bed on continual monitoring. Some people prefer those things. Many of them end up with cesarean surgery.

Hospital for both mine! I was treated wonderfully both times and I loved all my nurses and had the best ob/gyn O. could ask for!! My first was 5 weeks early and it was an emergency c-section.

I had both of mine at the hospital, but i still think its irresponsible to insinuate that the same monitoring cannot be done at home.

Yes! I am "sorta crunchy" but when it comes to my baby I am a worrier. Even if the odds are in my favor that nothing would go wrong at home, I still felt safer at the hospital just in case my baby needed any help.

I'm a big believer in natural births but I personally would not feel completely comfortable with a home birth. I have very uncomplicated, fast births (2 so far). We opted to get a better doctor, further away (1hour) that would support a natural birth vs. trying to labor at home and have the possibility of being transferred to the local hospital that has a horrible c-section rate.

I had both my kids at a Hospital.
Yes, it just felt safer.
Which, per my first pregnancy/birth, it was good because I had complications with my daughter. And then I had to have an emergency c-section after about 14 hours of labor while at the hospital.

My 2nd was delivered via a planned c-section.

Hospital birth for me and it'll be that way for any other babies I have. The hospital I was at for my son was a teaching hospital, which was just fine by me. When I went into labor, my BP shot up to stroke level, so I had to be put on magnesium, oxygen for a while, and then had a huge tear during delivery that generated a lot of bleeding and a lot of stitches. No way I would have wanted to be home for all of that.

I never thought of a home birth, but I suppose I wouldn't for the same reasons as yours and why get my place messy and crowded for the event?! I also had a epidural and most likely will with this baby and don't regret it O. bit! :) Plus I would much rather do it at a hospital period for my comfortable and what if something went wrong? So if anyone else beyond who private messaged me last (don't remember her name) doesn't like that then tough. MY decision and reasoning!

I needed both of my c-sections, so I didn't have much choice.
an aversion would have resulted in an emergency c-section because
of where my placenta was (both times), and back labor sounded too
dangerous for me. My mom had lots of labor difficulties with my
brother and I, so.....

Were I built different and had I carried different, I would have liked to have birthed my girls at home- with only my family present. Naturally with a midwife present to simply monitor me.

I think the medical industry has created big business out of birthing our children. It's also not very focused on natural birthing anymore. Doctors schedule c-sections and inductions for convenience, and begin interventions in birthing that create a cascade of other problems that are riskier for mom and baby than the initial concern usually was.

I think doctors owe it to mothers to help them become fully informed. Their creed is "harm none", but their interventions certainly cause harm.

Best wishes!