I delivered at a DC hospital and a VA hospital. My nights were quiet. My requests were listened to. The nurses were huge helps in talking me through what I was feeling. Baby O2 saturation was not great at one point so they helped me find a comfortable position that was better for baby.

No one was rough. No one was dismissive. I am not at all saying that does not happen. But that does not have to be the experience.

Was recently in L&D emergency room for a complication. Everyone was masked. Felt very safe. I would worry more about home birth complications than COVID but I had two great experiences.

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend....friend has a permanently brain damaged child from one. It’s fine the vast majority of the time- which is why most anecdotes you hear will be happy stories and women thrilled with their experiences. But you only know in hindsight whether it would have been ok or if you are that rare unlucky person who has a tragic outcome that could have been prevented with access to a crash CS or other interventions that are only possible in a hospital. I don’t say that to try to scare you, just that this is a scenario where the downside risk is worth fully understanding, and it is hard to talk about without being accused of fearmongering.

Hospitals are increasingly adding home-like features to the rooms, tubs, that sort of thing...and good hospital based CNMs can be a great fit if you’re wanting an all-natural birth.

Yeah, I had a friend who had 3 successful and happy home births and died delivering her 4th. I just...can't get past that.

I was a low risk first time mom, had a vaginal birth without an epidural, and ended up with a severe postpartum hemorrhage that might have killed me if I hadn’t been in a hospital. I know everybody’s risk tolerance is different and some women have terrible experiences in hospitals, so I’m just sharing because you’re looking for anecdata anyway. Whatever you decide, I hope things work out for you and your baby!

I have a cousin who delivered 5 weeks ago in NYC and two other friends who have delivered in hospitals recently and have been fine. I’d be nervous right now about a hospital, but no way I’d do a home birth. First child the hospital kept me in the waiting room not believing child was arriving and then got me into a room and said they’d check on me in a few hours. 45 mins later my DH was begging someone to come in and ob arrived to catch my baby. The nurse commented “you could have done this at home”. Except I was hemorrhaging, didn’t deliver the placenta, and needed stitches. The hospital experience was pretty miserable (they took my blood throughout both nights to keep monitoring whether I needed a transfusion) but I think I easily could have bled out at home. I didn’t intend to do unmedicated but that went reasonably well. That was in DC. My second child was born in a hospital in CA. The experience was extremely calm and peaceful as far as birth goes.

Do not recommend....friend has a permanently brain damaged child from one. It’s fine the vast majority of the time- which is why most anecdotes you hear will be happy stories and women thrilled with their experiences. But you only know in hindsight whether it would have been ok or if you are that rare unlucky person who has a tragic outcome that could have been prevented with access to a crash CS or other interventions that are only possible in a hospital. I don’t say that to try to scare you, just that this is a scenario where the downside risk is worth fully understanding, and it is hard to talk about without being accused of fearmongering.

Hospitals are increasingly adding home-like features to the rooms, tubs, that sort of thing...and good hospital based CNMs can be a great fit if you’re wanting an all-natural birth.

I had an accidental home birth. Delivered at home and then we were taken to the hospital. Despite being scared at the time, my memories of giving birth are amazing and I felt so empowered and had a paramedic who was an absolute rock star. Plus I got delayed cord clamping, immediate skiN to skin, golden hour. I was the first person to hold my baby and the first thing she heard was my voice. Postpartum at the hospital was exhausting and obnoxious. I totally get why people plan home births!

I will say it is riskier for a first birth. There is more that can go wrong. I would want to live near a hospital, a highly experienced birth team, and a rock solid transfer plan I.e the moment something is in doubt you head for the hospital.

I have 2 friends who were turned off so much by a hospital first-birth they went with home birth the 2nd time.

I had my one and only at home.

Is it your first? How close to a hospital do you live? I think it's possible (and a better experience for a lot of people) but you have to be the PERFECT candidate.

Anonymous wrote:Three home births and one hospital birth. I wouldn’t step foot in a hospital while unless absolutely necessary. All three babies were born peacefully in my home, the midwives monitored us, cleaned up, tucked us into bed, and checked on us daily after. In the hospital a nurse tried to stick a glove that had just touched my dirty foot (wearing the socks I had walked into the hospital in) into me for an internal exam. Thankfully DH stopped her. The nurses were rough with the baby after birth, there was nothing peaceful about it. And then the constant interruptions of sleep by staff and machines for the next two days until we left. At home it was incredibly peaceful. Two of them were born without crying, one was so calm when born that I kept asking if they were breathing.

I would only recommend that you find a CNM - they are nurse practitioner midwives, and they have physician oversight for safety.

But by the time you know it is “absolutely necessary” to be in the hospital, it could easily be too late. I wouldn’t take that risk.

3 home births. Had my kids at 32, 36, 40. Painful in the moment of course but I would do it again and again. Had a birthing tub in our master bedroom!

Three home births using birthcare in Alexandria.

Anonymous wrote:Three home births and one hospital birth. I wouldn’t step foot in a hospital while unless absolutely necessary. All three babies were born peacefully in my home, the midwives monitored us, cleaned up, tucked us into bed, and checked on us daily after. In the hospital a nurse tried to stick a glove that had just touched my dirty foot (wearing the socks I had walked into the hospital in) into me for an internal exam. Thankfully DH stopped her. The nurses were rough with the baby after birth, there was nothing peaceful about it. And then the constant interruptions of sleep by staff and machines for the next two days until we left. At home it was incredibly peaceful. Two of them were born without crying, one was so calm when born that I kept asking if they were breathing.

I would only recommend that you find a CNM - they are nurse practitioner midwives, and they have physician oversight for safety.

thanks! I feel increasingly this way in light of COVID. what state did you deliver in?

Three home births and one hospital birth. I wouldn’t step foot in a hospital while unless absolutely necessary. All three babies were born peacefully in my home, the midwives monitored us, cleaned up, tucked us into bed, and checked on us daily after. In the hospital a nurse tried to stick a glove that had just touched my dirty foot (wearing the socks I had walked into the hospital in) into me for an internal exam. Thankfully DH stopped her. The nurses were rough with the baby after birth, there was nothing peaceful about it. And then the constant interruptions of sleep by staff and machines for the next two days until we left. At home it was incredibly peaceful. Two of them were born without crying, one was so calm when born that I kept asking if they were breathing.

I would only recommend that you find a CNM - they are nurse practitioner midwives, and they have physician oversight for safety.

Even though baby and I had no risk factors, my third would be dead if I had him at home. Don’t.

Has anybody here ever done one? I am in my second trimester and have started doing research into it and am really interested in the experience. Don't know how to go about finding more DC specific information (have reached out to a couple of midwives for clarification) and would also just love to hear if anybody has had any experience with it.