Unassisted prenatal and childbirth

[MDever]

Yes, Natasha I am :SURPRISE: and here in Maryland closer to the PA line it is near impossible to get a midwife(our laws suck) and they are all closer to DC. I have precipitus delivery and would likely not make it to a birth center or non-local hospital. I am considering having prenatal care with a local group and then delivering at home. These are amazing stories from UC mamas. I am interested in both the why and how of your choices.

[Boheme]

I'm not sure the specifics you want to know about, but I've had 3 UC. Only the last one was UP. The other two I saw a doctor and a midwife a few times each, mostly to keep my birthing options open.

The midwife I saw for the first two is COMPLETELY supportive of UC, but she won't assist your birth if she hasn't seen you during your pregnancy, so I did that to appease her. I ended up sticking with my UC plans and I called her over after so she could do the newborn exam and sign off on the birth certificate stuff. I didn't have her check me or anything else. But she did do a load of laundry.

The doctor visits were done so I could get my bloodwork paid for by my insurance, and just so my insurance would cover anything I might need done (my insurance requires "proof of pregnancy" in order to pay for anything for me or the baby, during the pregnancy or after the birth). Also, there was a thing about us using our FSA to pay for the midwife visits if I didn't have "proof" first, so I went along with that, and was happy to have the bloodwork done anyways.

With the last pregnancy, I had bloodwork because it was required, and had a "quick peek" 30 second u/s because I was measuring 20+ weeks by the time I was 10 weeks. I'd "technically" had a twin m/c the year before (one was a "blighted ovum", but they shared a sac so both were miscarried) and if I was going to UC twins (I would have) I wanted to know ahead of time.

After that I didn't see anybody for prenatal for the rest of the pregnancy, and I didn't have the "big" ultrasound at 18-20 weeks. I probably should have, because I felt somewhat inhibited at that birth (which I didn't feel at the other 2 UCs). I guess there's a certain reassurance that comes from knowing there isn't anything "foreseeable" wrong, or at least for me there was. I really think this is why my 3rd UC took 6 hours instead of the 3 hours of the previous 2.

There wasn't much in the decision-making process for any of those times, because I really felt like I would know the right decision when the time came, and I did. I didn't lock myself in to anything, but I visualized the perfect birth every single night (really! visualization was my secret weapon).

The only thing I knew for sure is that I didn't want the kind of birth I had with my first baby, and I trusted that everything else would work itself out.

[MDever]

Originally Posted by Boheme I'm not sure the specifics you want to know about, but I've had 3 UC. Only the last one was UP. The other two I saw a doctor and a midwife a few times each, mostly to keep my birthing options open. The midwife I saw for the first two is COMPLETELY supportive of UC, but she won't assist your birth if she hasn't seen you during your pregnancy, so I did that to appease her. I ended up sticking with my UC plans and I called her over after so she could do the newborn exam and sign off on the birth certificate stuff. I didn't have her check me or anything else. But she did do a load of laundry. The doctor visits were done so I could get my bloodwork paid for by my insurance, and just so my insurance would cover anything I might need done (my insurance requires "proof of pregnancy" in order to pay for anything for me or the baby, during the pregnancy or after the birth). Also, there was a thing about us using our FSA to pay for the midwife visits if I didn't have "proof" first, so I went along with that, and was happy to have the bloodwork done anyways. With the last pregnancy, I had bloodwork because it was required, and had a "quick peek" 30 second u/s because I was measuring 20+ weeks by the time I was 10 weeks. I'd "technically" had a twin m/c the year before (one was a "blighted ovum", but they shared a sac so both were miscarried) and if I was going to UC twins (I would have) I wanted to know ahead of time. After that I didn't see anybody for prenatal for the rest of the pregnancy, and I didn't have the "big" ultrasound at 18-20 weeks. I probably should have, because I felt somewhat inhibited at that birth (which I didn't feel at the other 2 UCs). I guess there's a certain reassurance that comes from knowing there isn't anything "foreseeable" wrong, or at least for me there was. I really think this is why my 3rd UC took 6 hours instead of the 3 hours of the previous 2. There wasn't much in the decision-making process for any of those times, because I really felt like I would know the right decision when the time came, and I did. I didn't lock myself in to anything, but I visualized the perfect birth every single night (really! visualization was my secret weapon). The only thing I knew for sure is that I didn't want the kind of birth I had with my first baby, and I trusted that everything else would work itself out.

So inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

[Mamatoabunch]

My last 8 were UC, last 7 UP/UC. I can't imagine being pregnant or birthing any other way. All have been pretty straight forward pregnancy and deliveries. I have read much about pregnancy and birth. I have had a doppler w/ my last 3.

[MDever]

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch My last 8 were UC, last 7 UP/UC. I can't imagine being pregnant or birthing any other way. All have been pretty straight forward pregnancy and deliveries. I have read much about pregnancy and birth. I have had a doppler w/ my last 3.

Thank you Annabelle. I always notice your post. You are an inspiration

[dannimom]

Originally Posted by MDever Thank you Annabelle. I always notice your post. You are an inspiration

She inspires me too! I'm doing my 1st UC/UP. I'm not doing anything specific.

[KaleidoscopeEyes]

there's another thread going on about this http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/....php?t=1388248 i am doing a UP/UC this time as well.