Comments on: The Hospital Birth of My First Baby

By: Elizabeth Snyder

Elizabeth Snyder — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 19:04:56 +0000

Your story really helps me Katie. I’m crunchy granola to the core and proud of it. When I found out I was pregs with my little guy in my late 30’s I immediately started looking for my midwife for a home birth- no hospitals or western med were even in my mind. I had years to think about this should it ever happen with my sister and friend’s journeys so I was quick to react. I had a perfect pregnancy until I went into labor, but things went south and we ended up with a hospital transfer at 40 hours in and a very unexpected but necessary C-Section at 56 hours after being in labor. What a whirlwind! Honestly I had some PTSD from a past hospital experience 15 years prior and I was able bring closure to that event with the wonderful medical staff who were by my side and actually respected my decisions for the choices I was making. They were crucial in my healing process. If I could have done it differently I would have, but I’m so blessed to have the most wonderful little boy and despite the health complications in the end I’m very grateful my little guy was given a perfect bill of health when he should have been in the NICU. I had to learn : western medicine is needed in certain ways and despite not always choosing it as our first option, we’re lucky to have it as a back up when issues arise. If anyone would have tried to tell me to plan for a hospital birth let alone a C-Section, I would have said NOT ME! Oh how life has a way of teaching us very valuable lessons in such unique ways. 🙂 Best of luck to everyone on their own journey!

By: Eve-Marie Devaliere

Eve-Marie Devaliere — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 22:39:23 +0000

Hi Katie. I love this article. Thank you! So funny too! I kept recognizing myself! I am currently 37 weeks pregnant with my first child and going for a home birth. Reading all this I am, one more time, so glad not to do it in the hospital! Thanks for sharing!! I have been following you for years now, making quite a few of your recipes that I absolutely love and will keep doing so and discovering more for my baby! Thanks again! 🙂 I will go read the second child’s experience now! 😉

By: Marlene

Marlene — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 18:10:22 +0000

In reply to Penny. Oh my, I'm so sorry for that nasty comment. Talk about adding insult to injury! Thank you for sharing your story. Women learn from others. I love your blog!

By: Jasmine

Jasmine — Tue, 10 May 2016 19:10:38 +0000

What a great read. You had me laughing at all the sarcasm because boy have I thought similar things when I birthed both my girls! So sorry you had such a rough experience with your first but I’m so happy it catapulted a life change for you and now thousands benefit from what you learned!

By: Mariana

Mariana — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:34:31 +0000

Although I already read that you had your natural and healing births since, I want to hugh you at this point!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 15:54:58 +0000

I’m really enjoying reading your story! The birth of my first seems very similar. I never had the epidural because by the time I got to the hospital I was 9 cm but the midwife did an episiotomy and I felt robbed of my experience. My second came 13 months later and was a homebirth. I couldn’t have asked for a more exciting birth! She came so fast the midwife wasn’t even there yet! But it was perfect.

Now I’m expecting my third and hope to have another homebirth. I have just started chronicling my experience with a new blog. My goal is to improve my health with each pregnancy. Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” That’s what I’m trying for!

Thanks for all the great info on your blog!

By: Caitlyn Baldo

Caitlyn Baldo — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 02:52:00 +0000

In reply to Penny.

Dear Penny, are you done patting yourself on the back? For crying out loud… People learn and grow. This is a story of growth, and its beautiful. Also, it is illegal in some states for a midwife to attend a home birth, I live in one of those states, and the nearest birthing center is 287 miles away… I had a doula and midwife, in a hospital, and birthed naturally after signing AMA’s and everything else defying doctors. My point is, there are many ways to bring children into the world. Is home birth best if you have a completely uncomplicated pregnancy and healthy baby, probably, but that’s not always an option… Get out side of your self-made bubble! I could go on, arguing against your ignorant comment, but would you hear me as you’ve already achieved perfection?…

By: Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:55:00 +0000

In reply to Penny. Wow… I"m guessing you haven't read the rest of my story yet, but it seems like a pretty harsh critique. This was my first birth, I was young, and I had to heal from this one for a long time. Since then, I've had natural births, including a home birth v-bad (after a necessary c-section from placenta previa). I agree that home birth is a great choice most of the time, but in some cases (like my own placenta pre via) it isn't possible. As a doula, I agree there are a lot of things that need improving in hospital situations, but I don't think that responses like yours, especially to the mothers themselves, are the answer, as they are more likely to alienate and anger the mothers (as you have with me from your post).

By: Barbara Fryman

Barbara Fryman — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:08:00 +0000

In reply to Penny. How can you write this garbage? People learn and grow, and this was her first baby. As for the 100% home birthed nonsense, well good for you! You've never had placenta previa or a bladder surgery that could burst during labor. You've never had a baby diagnosed prenatally diagnosed with a life threatening defect. That is a gift, not a reason to shame others. You, my dear, are lost....

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:01:00 +0000

How can you claim to be a natural mother and then blindly shuffle through the American medical birthing system and all its interventions with their lifelong ramifications. I am a home birther 100% and I am using this story to illustrate a usual horrific example of the indignities and abuses of hospital birth. When will women (especially american women) become intelligent life givers instead of negligent useless eaters. Pizza after birth& 24 hours of starvation??? America is lost…