Question to those that have done home births

I was dead set on a home birth when I got pregnant. I didn't know where we were going to be living though since we're in an apt but trying to buy a house and I didn't want to deliver in an apt. So far this pregnancy, I'm not happy with my doctor at all though and would love to switch to a midwife. I just want to hear experiences! Also, if anyone was on blood thinners I'd like to hear your input. That's my biggest deterrent.

Talk to some midwives about the blood thinners. I assume the biggest risk is excessive bleeding.

I had planned on home birth, even rented a tub (it was set up for my second) but gave birth at the hospital because of high blood pressure (the hospital became the safer place to be, I was induced with my first). I don't know what the health system is like there, but here I had the same midwives in the hospital and the rest of the hospital staff left us alone unless we needed help (though food appeared at meal times  ).

I would have loved to give birth at home, but I had wonderful experiences in the hospital, it was more like a birth centre experience though, we don't have birth centres here.

Quoting Roe23:" Talk to some midwives about the blood thinners. I assume the biggest risk is excessive bleeding. I had ... [snip!] ... had wonderful experiences in the hospital, it was more like a birth centre experience though, we don't have birth centres here."

That sounds awesome! Honestly, I'm kind of scared because of the blood clot issues. Before that it was just the normal nervousness about doing it all natural. I am seriously unhappy with my doctor and have heard nothing but good things about using midwives. I am going to meet with one that I was given a recommendation for, but I'm sort of nervous regardless of whether she thinks it'll be ok or not. She said we'll have to talk about the issues but she's done women on blood thinners before.

Quoting Audra's mommy:" That sounds awesome! Honestly, I'm kind of scared because of the blood clot issues. Before that it was ... [snip!] ... she thinks it'll be ok or not. She said we'll have to talk about the issues but she's done women on blood thinners before."

That sounds wonderful!

I loved my midwives. My appointments were 30 - 45 minutes of sitting on a couch talking about pregnancy and childbirth with the midwives. I was offered all the same tests as my friends who had OBs (some I chose to do, some I declined after talking about the pros and cons with the midwives and doing my own research). My friends with OBs complained that they would wait for a long time to see the doctor, then might see him/her for 5 minutes and wouldn't have enough time to ask questions.

I also liked that I knew my birth team. I know that most nurses are very good, but I couldn't be guaranteed to get one that was knowledgeable and able to support an unmedicated birth. This was important to me (as was feeling comfortable around my support team  .

Quoting Roe23:" That sounds wonderful! I loved my midwives. My appointments were 30 - 45 minutes of sitting on a couch ... [snip!] ... and able to support an unmedicated birth. This was important to me (as was feeling comfortable around my support team  ."

That's exactly how my OB experiences have always been. I may not always wait very long but she quickly listens to the heartbeat then says "any questions? no? ok see you in 4 weeks!" I'm lucky to get 5 minutes. I feel less connected to her this time than I did last time, although that may be because she's annoying me so much. I know this midwife I'm going to meet with would spend an hour or so with my coworker at every visit.