As a veteran home birth Mom and now doula, I wanted to share my story and tell you about the option for a home birth in Chattanooga. A home birth might not be on your radar as a birth option or you might have been thinking about it for years. I love sharing the story of a home birth after having two great experiences with them locally!
Having a hospital birth as a teen mom in 2008, I am so thankful for my provider and the hospital nurses that cared for me! However, before I became pregnant again, I had my heart set on bringing my next birth home. I read a lot of home birth stories, connected to some women in Chattanooga who had birthed at home, and looked into all the “what if’s” before having my answer that it was definitely something I wanted to go for!
These are a few of my big pro reasons for having a home birth:
- I like to be prepared and in control. I had to not be afraid to admit that when preparing for my home birth. Being at home, I had my bedroom and bathroom ready with suggested supplies from my midwife. I knew who would be present on my birth team (midwife, her assistant, doula, photographer, my Momma, and Dad!). My environment and the people I let in was something prepared for ahead of time.
- I knew that I wanted a natural birth without meds, and being at home I wouldn’t have the option to ask for an epidural. This seemed more possible for my birth wishes. I was able to prepare for contradictions and labor with a birth class. The people around me were one hundred percent for me having the birth I wanted without pressure. Note: A hospital transfer is respected and an option for moms if they are at home but would like to move their birth to another path.
- I trusted home birth was safe and I was capable. It ended up being an emotional and spiritual journey that I still fall back on when needing encouragement in hard times. I trusted my body and I trusted God with minimal interruptions to the natural process of birth.
These are some questions I asked my home birth midwife at our first appointment:
- Do I have to have any cervical checks? No was the answer. This was huge for me as I felt a lot of pressure in my first pregnancy to have dilation be the guiding factor for labor, which felt intrusive and unnecessary. Note: Now I know that doctors and midwives will respect this wish in a hospital setting too!
- What resources do you have in case of an emergency? Meds for bleeding; knowledge in care for potential hemorrhaging and tearing; infant CPR and resuscitation care. I was shocked at how many bags of equipment my midwife brought to my home! She was beyond prepared!
- How long have you been a midwife? How many babies have you delivered? I wanted someone who knew some things and had handled a lot of situations. Turns out that came in hand with a couple of hiccups with my births!
How did my family handle the decision for me to give birth at home?
They were respectful as I shared our reasons for wanting to birth at home. I wanted them to be a part of the process as well, and me screaming “I need my Mom!,” before feeling ready to push is a great indicator that I needed their trust and respect.
If you’re considering a home birth, there is a local Facebook group where you can connect with other birth workers, veteran home birth moms, and ask questions for yourself. It’s a group recommended many times over and a great starting point for connection! The home birth midwife I used is now retired, but I have worked with many of the midwives in Chattanooga as a doula. They are open to an interview, and I would start early in your search to find the right fit for you. Chattanooga Home Birth Community has a great list of midwives and birth workers ready to support you.
You can read one of my birth stories on my personal blog. So many people say that I was brave for having a home birth. Yes, it was painful (12 and 11 years later I don’t remember that part though!). Yes, it came with uncertainties (but I was able to grow as a woman and mom!). But it was not a risk. It felt like I was yielding to what I was called to do.
