i was too eiri..
i was just basing my opinion from "a baby story" on TLC..
but they look like they are easier.. and more comfortable..
idk...
but i'd give it a try..

Yeah, I love that show

me 2 and Bringing Home Baby...lol

do they offer water births at every hospital?...
or do you have to go to a special one?

I don't think all hospitals offer them; but one on your area probably will. They are becoming increasingly common.

There's really nothing to debate here. Every woman should research the opptions and make the best decision for her well-being and the baby's well being.

That being said, having done the research I am absolutely certain that a homebirth will be best for me and definitely be best for my future baby's well-being - assuming that I have a low-risk pregnancy. I have no health conditions that would make a pregnancy high-risk so in all likelihood I will get homebirths. Husband is 100% supportive of homebirth, especially after talking with a (male) co-worker who told him how wonderful their homebirths (plural) were.

I am not pregnant, not trying and not ready to start trying.... so this is all hypothetical/done the research/here's what I think.

Homebirth is just not possible for some - for example my friend with a heart condition who had a pacemaker installed at age 25. A heart-specialist guy (cardiac doctor/specialist/whatever) will need to be present for a scheduled c-section delivery if she has a baby someday. A less-than-ideal birthing situation, but that is the safest option for her and the baby.

Waterbirth is great for some but some women prefer dry land. I plan to have it available, and expect to use it but I would follow my instincts when I'm in the moments and just go with it. Waterbirth has excellent benefits - it makes tearing much less likely (dontcha love that idea????) for example.

Edited to add: Midwifery is a regulated profession here, and all midwifery services are fully-covered by our public/"free" health plan. This includes midwife-assisted births in hospitals or at home. Thus, a midwife-assisted homebirth is a much more feasible option here than in some states where midwifery is not regulated (i.e. midwives' services can be considered illegal) or if a person's insurance coverage will not pay for homebirths (or midwifery services).

thank you for the wonderful information Anne..
that actually helped me alot..
i haven't even looked into birth options yet, as i am not preg. yet..

do you know if water births cost more than regular, in the hospital birth?

You're very welcome.

I don't know about the costs of a hospital birth - with or without a birthing tub, sorry. All hospital births (and homebirths) are totally free in Canada. If we visit the hospital we don't even know what the bill would be.

I wouldn't think a tub would cost extra - unless they charge extra for a larger room? Maybe someone from the US can answer that. It's certainly something you could ask when touring the hospital you are deciding whether or not to birth in.

thanks!!
i'm sorry i didn't even realize you were from Canada..
my mistake..
sorry..

I just thought of something....

Wouldn't it suck if you went to the hospital fully intending on having a waterbirth, and they only have 1 tub, and another woman is using it?!?!?

That would suck.

that would!!
but i'm sure that if a hospital offers waterbirths..
they probably aren't stingy on their tubs..

but i'm sure they don't have very many...

waterbirth isn't very popular where i'm from..
so idk if my hospitals would offer it or not

i really really wanted a water birth but due to complications during labour it wasn't deemed safe for me. personally i couldn't ever have a home birth because i like the securityof knowing there is every bit of help available for me at a hospital if i need it

i would love to have a water birth but they don't do that in our hospital. i considered home birth but i couldn't get a midwife. they are paid for under our provincial health care but that just means that there aren't enough to go around. i tried so hard to get in with one but no such luck. anyway, i'm ok with the hospital birthing centre since it will give me some time to rest and recover without being barraged by visitors and feeling like i have to play the hostess after the baby comes. plus their air conditioning has to be better than ours. i just hope i'm able to get one of the LDRP rooms because if you get moved to high risk it's like going back in time 30 years. instead of a lovely single room with a tv, mini fridge, nice decor, big window and rocking chair, that you get to stay in the whole time you're in the hospital, you get an orange, low ceiling, tiny room with no window and you have to be moved for the delivery then moved again for your recovery period and there is no guarantee that you won't be sharing a room with someone else. it's like the hilton versus motel 8, as someone else put it. you would think they would be nicer to the high risk moms since they have to go through more. anyway!!! im all for water and home births!

Yes, midwives are in very high demand. That's too bad that you weren't able to get one, but you're very well informed about the services at the hospital and sounds like you will hopefully be able to get the birth experience you'd hoped for (except the water birth bit).

It may be too late, but doula services (in addition to the OB) could also give you the midwife-level service/support that you sought.

There's a pretty serious midwife shortage in the GTA (greater toronto area) but I'm not too sure about my area. Regardless, I think I'll be starting to interview midwives the day after getting a bfp (if it's a wanted pregnancy).... just in case there is a shortage here too.

with a waterbirth..
you know how the baby comes out into the water?..
is that healthy that there first breath is a ton of water?...
or what if they leave them in the water too long and water gets in their lungs?.. i just thought about this..

Their first breath is not a ton of water, because they're still receiving oxygen from the cord/placenta.

They go from the vaginal canal into the water (both places they're not breathing air into their lungs), then you bring the baby up out of the water gently onto your chest and they can take their first breaths.

Also some good reading for you is here:

Why the Umbilical Cord should not be cut immediately after birth:
http://www.cordclamp.com/Why Do Babies Cr1.htm

It explains about the oxygen and blood supply the baby is still getting from the placenta after birth and why it is important.

Intuitively, by clamping the cord immediately after birth a "breathe or die" situation is created for the baby. Kinda stressful, yah???

ya!
you are so smart.. lol..
you give great advice!!
thanks for the websie... i'll read up on that cuz i have nothing to do at work

I'm a bit of a birthing junkie. I love watching birth videos and researching it. Maybe I'll become a midwife someday.... after the house is paid off. =)

Here's a website about a movie called "Birth As We Know It". I've only watched the trailer (haven't bought the movie yet), but the trailer is long and shows some beautiful water births.

It's a lovely way to pass the time at work.
http://www.birthasweknowit.com/trailer.htm l

lol
thanks for the video!
i'll have to watch it when i get home tho..
i don't have sound on this computer...
and i can't run videos without it crashing
(i'm the newest so i get the oldest computer!)
but i appreciate all your insight and advice!!

Lol. I have the opposite problem. My computer at home is pretty old (and slow internet) at at work my computer is almost brand new.