I agree — and I try to make that VERY clear in the article.

I think, no matter who your provider is, you need to know they have a plan for when things go awry….

Just sent them your post! THanks again for linking up with us!

Thanks, just shared it! Good lukc to your son and daughter in law!

I actually think your home is cleaner than the hospital. I mostly just like leaving the mess there. I can’t imagine how my mattress woudl survive a delivery! I think your #1 is finding a doctor who is on board. Being honest with what you want and finding that doctor would give you the birth you want and the safety you desire. I know just which doctor I’d pick for you at my hospital. 🙂 It’s just so hard to find that actual information out unless you’re in a position like myself. 🙂

I so understand your points! I also agree by and large. But I don’t think nurses or medical profs are “out to get me” or make it unsafe for me. My mother and brother are nurses and I know most nurses truely want their Pts to be happy, healthy, and have choices in their care (nurses are flipping awesome IMO!). I do think hospital is safer (and I don’t like the idea of giving birth in my home where it dosn’t feel as “clean” as a hospital, even though infection is higher at the hosp) I get nervous about the hosp b/c I truly WANT to try to do it unmedicated and/or use medication that wouldn’t leave me flat on my back. I want to be able to walk around, move, give birth in whatever position feels right. I don’t want to be treated like my pregnancy is a pathology or be over controlled by staff, I don’t want to be on some arbitrary “clock” that means once my time runs out I’m pressured or forced into a non medically needed c-section (I’m all for actually medically needed c-sections but I don’t want to be pressured to get one because my labour is taking longer than 10-12hrs.) I work in the medical field and I SO understand having policies you HAVE to follow, I truly understand that but I also know that sometimes Pts are pressured to just get the cookie cutter treatments even if they are not wanted or needed just so the staff have it easier, which is not cool IMO. So I feel stuck between really wanting the safety and backup of a hosp but wanting a team that will allow me and my body to birth on my body’s own time and in ways that feel right for me (assuming everything and everyone is doing well and safe) and to be treated as a smart person able to make my own choices and not like a sick person (eg pregnancy as pathology) who can’t make rational choices. It seems like it’s truly hard to get both worlds, at least where I live. I just want a safe supported birth with a team that will only give me intervention I request or when they because ABSOLUTELY needed for my or my baby’s life to be safe (not a “oh maybe” or ‘gosh I want to get off work on time, lets schedule a c-section” or “we give everyone pit after 3hrs” intervention). *sigh* I really do respect nurses and the bind’s they’re in a lot of the time, my frustration is more with the medical culture in the states, not the actual ppl. Thanks so much for your insights!