...where peaceful life begins

Birth Stories from Almost Home Birth Center

The birth of my third daughter at the Almost Home Birth Center was perfect. She was born on March 2nd and the entire experience was wonderful. Since my first daughter was born at the hospital, I will compare the two experiences.

We arrived at the birth center early in the morning and immediately felt at home. I was allowed to move around as I pleased. I was able to choose where I labored and where I did the actual delivery. I started out in the over-sized shower but I also spent time laying in bed, on the birthing stool, walking around, standing, and down on the floor on all fours. And finally the delivery happened on the birthing stool. The baby was caught by my midwife and immediately placed on my chest. I was allowed to begin breasfeeding as soon as I could and there was an instant bond between my daughter and I. It was amazing!

I could eat and drink what and when I wanted. We made use of the fully stocked kitchen and I also ate food that I brought from home. After the birth, I ate some of my favorite home made soup that I brought with me.

After the birth, I got to sit in the tub with my new baby and get to know her. And the best part was when it was all said and done, I got to go home and sleep in my own bed with my husband and new baby. I wasn't stuck sitting in a bed for days on end waiting to go home. Which is why I believe my recovery went so quickly. (I was at church three days after having a baby!!)

In contrast, when I arrived at the hospital, I was told to change into a gown, get into a sterile smelling, uncomfortable bed and was then hooked up to several machines. I was also told I couldn't have anything to eat. I wasn't given any say in what was happening to my child or me. They told me I had to stay in bed and because I wasn't allowed to move around, I ended up delivering by C-section. When my daughter was born, she was quickly whisked away from me for over an hour to me "monitored". Because of that, we had troubles with breastfeeding and I received no breastfeeding support from the hospital staff. After the birth, I had to stay in the hospital for several days eating food I didn't like, sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, and I was constantly woke-up in the middle of the night by various staff members. It took months for me to recover from the birth.

Because I was able to make the decisions concerning labor and birth at the birth center,and not have someone telling me what I could and couldn't do, I felt empowered and confident about the delivery. Throughout the entire process I was in control.

I am proud to recommend the Birth Center to all my friends and family.

Melissa, New Virginia

I am a critical care nurse. My job is to care for people during one of the greatest times of crisis in their lives. I have to be able to think critically as well as rely on vast amounts of technology to keep my patients alive.

But I have another job as well. It is being a mother. My husband I have have a 5 year old, Joshua, and now thanks to God, Carey Ryan and the Almost Home Birth Center we have another very healthy 5 month old son, Samuel.

Joshua was born in a traditional hospital setting, with all the technological bells and whistles they offer these days. I thought that was where we would be comfortable. After all, that is where I care for others. I didn't think that being cared for during the birthing process would be any different. But it is. So when we decided to have another child, my husband and I did a little critical thinking and asked, "How can we do it better this time?" Carey Ryan and the Almost Home Birth Center was the answer to that question.

From the moment of my tour and first visit with Carey, I was assured that her knowledge and an expectation to make many of our own birthing choices, coupled with the environment of the Birth Center, was the best choice for all of us. I had other friends and co-workers who were also expecting at the same time. As I progressed in my pregnancy, I was amazed (and sometimes frightened) at the difference in the teaching and treatment that others were receiving. The birthing process was the same. I remember being in labor with Joshua in the hospital. When I was dilated to a nine, I was told it was time to get out of the tub. No explanations, just "It was time." With Samuel's delivery, I couldn't get out of the bathroom fast enough, so Carey was ready to do and be whatever I needed where we were at. There was never any sort of "because we always do it this way" discussion; it was all about us and our baby. That's the way it should be.

I couldn't have asked for more competent or compassionate care. Birth has nothing to do with bells and whistles. It's about choices. There is definitely a time and place for bells and whistles; intensive care is one of them. Birth isn't. It is a natural and beautiful process that should be filled with peace and love, not bells and whistles. The Almost Home Birth Center gives you that option.

Renée, Hampton