By the time I was pregnant with my third child, I had done a lot of research. I knew the statistics. I knew what I did and didn’t want to experience. So, I contemplated a home birth. Having examined the pros and cons of hospital and home births, it wasn’t safety that made me stick with a hospital birth. It was the fact that I absolutely loved my hospital midwife. And, to be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure about the after parts of a home birth.
{Photo credit: Meg Esau Photography.}
I have had pretty easy recoveries after my babies, aside from some soreness thanks to a tear during my first delivery. After babies two and three, I was up and moving around immediately. So my hospital stays were kind of like mini-vacations. I got to relax in bed, while people brought me food and drinks. I kicked back and took advantage of cable television–something we didn’t have at home–while others cleaned up after me. I didn’t have to worry about meals, clean-up, laundry, etc., for those few days in the hospital. But, if I birthed at home, what would that look like? Would I have to hop out of the birthing tub only to clean it and put it away? What about all those tests and check-ups that the nurses do (during all hours of the night and day)? What about filing the birth certificate?
Well, apparently I’m not alone in these questions. A former labor-and-delivery nurse and author of “Tiny Blue Lines,” Chaunie Brusie, got answers to these questions and more. Take a look at her article “What Happens After a Home Birth?” for the complete details. Here’s just a teaser to get you started:
I have to admit, I’m a little more than intrigued by home birth.
I see the glowing, serene pictures (always artistically black and white, of course) of overjoyed parents, the look of sheer happiness and exhaustion on the new mother’s face, the love that seems to shine on their other children’s faces as they meet their new sibling, and I can’t help but marvel at what looks like a picture-perfect affair.
As a nurse who worked more than three years in labor and delivery, I know that birth isn’t exactly always a picture-perfect affair. It’s messy and painful and sometimes complicated. … [read more here.]
In case you haven’t heard, I am in the midst of writing the Unexpectant book that will be full of real mom’s stories of pregnancy, birth, babies, breastfeeding and beyond. If you would like to take part and share your own story, then visit our submissions page or contact me. By sharing your own story, we can help prepare more women for their journeys to and through motherhood.
