birth at a birth center w/midwives instead of hospital with obgyn... thoughts?

[thecurlymama]

I've decided to give birth at a local birth center where my cousin had all three of her kiddos, and my aunt also had her little boy there. I'm really close with all of them, and went to several visits and appointments with them at the birth center. It feels comfortable and I'm familiar with the midwives there... My boyfriend's mom dissaproves because I won't get an epidural and they don't monitor the contractions 24/7... only about every couple of hours durring labor.
I really like the women who work there, and my guy's best friend's sister had her babies there, too... so my boyfriend feels comfortable with it, too... he says I'm strong and believes that I can handle it and knows I'll be more comfortable there than the hospital. (i'm not good with doctors or hospitals ... I have a bit of a phobia and tend to freak out so we decided this was the best choice)
However, it's really hard.... my boyfriend's family calls me and my fam the "organi-babies" and "hippies" because we eat organically, avoid preservatives, high fructos corn syrup, bpa and stuff like that... It's how I've grown up so I"m relatively health oriented...That just makes it kinda hard for me to express the way I'm taking care of myself being pregnant to his side of the fam without hearing something about what a hippie i am...

Any similar experiences? any birthcenter/midwife experiences? thanks!

 

[ClairAye]

I don't have those places here and could never go to one as I had a complicated birth, but I have heard really good things about them! They have lovely rooms to yourself etc instead of a ward with other people's babies keeping you up all night as well as your own! x

 

[lunar]

Honestly, if I had a high pain tolerance, I would've loved to have the option to do something like that. If you think you can handle it, more power to you! There was no way I could've handled the contractions without an epidural (the nurse had to tell me multiple times to calm down ) but I admire any woman who can do it without one!

it sort of sounds like they're just commenting on your life because it's not what they're used to.

 

[KiwiMOM]

I had a home water birth. I loved it, and I'm now doing a degree in Midwifery because my MW rocked! My L&D was the most beautiful and empowering thing I've ever experienced. My MIL was totally against the idea, I actually invited her to be at the birth (I wouldn't recommend that ). She told me to have pain relief next time...

BUT you have to be 110% sure it's what you want, it's hard but so so worth it. There's a link to my birth story in my signature if you're interested

 

[xx~Lor~xx]

I had both my children at a midwife led birthing centre. I'm also planning on delivering this child at the same one. For me, I knew I definitely didn't want an epidural, and I personally don't like hospitals. Our midwife centre was also half the distance to us than the local hospital. I didn't have anyone sayIng anything about my choice of where I had/have my children, but wouldn't care less if they did, ultimately it has NOTHING to do with them. It's my child and I'm the one delivering it, so it's wherever I felt most comfortable!

 

[thecurlymama]

I had a home water birth. I loved it, and I'm now doing a degree in Midwifery because my MW rocked! My L&D was the most beautiful and empowering thing I've ever experienced. My MIL was totally against the idea, I actually invited her to be at the birth (I wouldn't recommend that ). She told me to have pain relief next time...

BUT you have to be 110% sure it's what you want, it's hard but so so worth it. There's a link to my birth story in my signature if you're interested

That's really amazing to hear. I'm looking forward to the experience, and I am actually very sure of my choice- I'm more comfortable in the setting they offer- and I know I would not be very cooperative in a hospital setting- I would probably be angry, upset, dissapointed etc... It's just part of my personality and my personal feelings towards hospitals.

On my way to read your birth story! thank you

I had both my children at a midwife led birthing centre. I'm also planning on delivering this child at the same one. For me, I knew I definitely didn't want an epidural, and I personally don't like hospitals. Our midwife centre was also half the distance to us than the local hospital. I didn't have anyone sayIng anything about my choice of where I had/have my children, but wouldn't care less if they did, ultimately it has NOTHING to do with them. It's my child and I'm the one delivering it, so it's wherever I felt most comfortable!

That's awesome! I have the same feeling towards hospitals. As I mentioned previously ^ I have a bit of a phobia of hospitals and normally don't have a very positive attitude about most things that go on there(especially involving birth- there were complications when my mom had me in a hospital [after attempting a home birth] and problems with my brother's birth - that, in the end turned out to be mistakes made by the hospital staff... it scares me)
Also, I'm looking forward to not having an epidural so I can really feel the entire experience without any kind of pain relief- as strange as lots of women (and men! haha) think it sounds. They have such nice rooms here and allow the mothers to walk around, sit, bathe, eat, drink, etc....
Thank you !

 

[MrsKyliePaton]

I had a water birth without any pain relief in a midwife led unit and I would highly recommend it, you feel more relaxed which helps things along