We are 19 weeks in to this pregnancy, today!
Here’s a glimpse in to what baby looks like right now, so says BabyCenter.com. I actually just think this picture is really funny looking. 
I honestly can’t believe that next week, we will be halfway there. Each pregnancy has gone by faster and faster for me.
Even though this is the third time for me, in some ways, it feels like the first time.
We’re doing things pretty differently this time.
I’m not having the baby in a hospital.
We’re using a birth center and it’s something I’m very excited about, for several reasons.
When Langston was born, he was delivered by the on call doctor because it was a Sunday and my doctor was not on call that weekend.
When Riverson was born, he came so quickly that he was delivered by the nurse. Although I had chosen to use a midwife that time, she did not have enough time to make it to the hospital.
I had great birthing experiences both times, but I wanted to make sure this baby is delivered by someone who at least knows me.
I’ve chosen to have the baby at The Allen Birthing Center. It’s a very cute old home with two delivery suites upstairs. If you want to know more, take a look at their website and check out their pictures.
I first learned about the birthing center from my friend, Amy. Her husband was one of my closest friends in high school. Now, I’ve traded him for her! Haha! We have become such great friends in the past 3+ years. We had the same due date with our first pregnancies and I knew all along that she was having her baby at the birthing center but honestly, I thought she was crazy, but very very brave. {Love you, Amy!}
Why in the world would you not want to deliver in a hospital where they take total care of you and your baby for more than just your delivery day? Not only that, but if the pain is too unbearable, you can get medicine to help it!
Nevertheless, I was intrigued by Amy’s birth story and the fact that she had a completely natural delivery and was home just a few hours after. Wow! She has also, since had her second child at Allen Birthing Center and was able to have a water birth to deliver him. Check out her pictures, it makes me tear up.
Well, after having Langston, I still wasn’t sold on the whole idea of not having a baby in the hospital but I was sold on the idea of using a midwife and having a natural delivery. Let’s face it, the doctor comes in when it’s time to catch the baby, other than maybe checking on you while you’re in labor. The nurses do the majority of the work from start to finish. With a midwife, once you get to a certain point in your labor, they are there with you to help you to the end.
I thought it was a great idea!
I got my natural delivery with Riverson and though it wasn’t what I had planned, exactly, (I wanted a water birth) it was great, and I felt so much relief after he came out. I was floored at the fact that I could get up and walk to the bathroom on my own after such a short time.
We were in the hospital for maybe 36 hours and we hardly used any of the services.
I felt like I could have had him at home.
So, this time, I’m going to do the next best thing. I WILL be having the baby in a home, just not my home. There is a birthing tub that can be used and I’m hoping that will be where I deliver.
Many people have asked me about what if something went wrong and trust me, I asked that same question on my first visit. The birthing center has a station set up for oxygen and they have everything a hospital would use. The ambulance bay is only a block away and the birthing center is located right across from the same hospital Riverson was born in.
I really feel like we are going to be in good hands.
The other main reason we are using a birthing center is $$$. When Langston was born, I had been teaching and was on a group plan for insurance through my school district. That insurance covered a LOT of our expenses.
Because Jeff is self-employed, when I started staying home, we were on an individual plan. It wasn’t until several weeks into my pregnancy with Riverson that I learned we had absolutely NO maternity coverage. We learned after we had already had our first sonogram, which cost us $400. It was almost like we had no insurance, which we do. It was really upsetting and something I still don’t really understand. I was actually interviewed by a TV station about our insurance situation because they were curious to know why individual plans did not have maternity coverage. The insurance companies told the TV station that by 2014, there should be maternity coverage built in to individual plans. You know, long after I’m done having babies. Awesome.
I tried to cut every corner I could once I became aware of everything and it was probably the main reason why I wanted to try so hard to go without the epidural. It’s EXPENSIVE!
The birthing center route will cost us less than half of what we had to pay for the hospital birth and all of it will be paid before the baby is born. We will not have any unexpected bills coming to us after we get home, which will give me so much more peace of mind. Honestly, I freak out about money and lack there of.
You might think I’m crazy and maybe after I’ve actually done it, I will think the same, but I have yet to talk to anyone who had a bad experience with the Allen Birthing Center. I’m excited!!
I really want you to read Amy’s birth story and see all of her pictures because they are awesome, but I stole these two from her since I know she will forgive me.
It’s amazing.
It’s exactly what I want.
——————————–
UPDATE: I had an amazing waterbirth experience at Allen Birthing Center and I can’t sing their praises enough. Check out my natural childbirth experience. If nothing else, you will love the pictures.
Twitter: heyjade
says:
That is EXACTLY what I plan to do with our next baby! I wanted to with my second but loved my OB so much and she had just moved to a new hospital so I thought our experience would be better. It wasn’t. So, I do not want to do a hospital birth again if I can help it. We have a great facility here in Grand Prairie that several of my friends have used to either birth there or at their home, and a friend of mine works there when she’s not in Liberia setting up a birthing clinic there (!). So, I am also very excited to use this place, when the time comes! Yay for you!!!
Jade Clark´s last [type] ..Praising God for Our New Van!
Twitter: Jmroubinek
says:
I can’t wait to hear about your baby #3.
I love the moment captured in that last photo. So sweet!
Twitter: Jmroubinek
says:
Yes, that’s my favorite one, too. Caleb’s face is pretty priceless.
Birth centers are awesome! I had our first baby in a birth center (in Minneapolis) and would definitely do it with any other babies in the future. We are moving to Dallas this summer, so I’ll be curious to read more about your Texas birth center experience. You can read my birth center story here: http://www.minikonomia.com/p/birth-story.html
The birth center setup we had seems similar to what you described.
Twitter: Jmroubinek
says:
Loved reading your birth story! I’m very excited to use the birth center, even though it’s all brand new to me. You will love Texas.
One of my friends had her second baby there. She loved it. Having had many c-sections I obviously can’t do birthing center births, but I think it is a great option. I hope you get the delivery you want. And the insurance situation is so frustrating. We started our sixth pregnancy with really crappy maternity coverage. Thankfully we got on a group plan before the baby was born. We still paid more for him than any of our other kids, and that was with my doctor being very generous. Anyway, hope pregnancy continues to go well and you get the deliver you are hoping for!
nicole´s last [type] ..My Legs Are My Favorite
Twitter: Jmroubinek
says:
That insurance business is beyond frustrating! I truly hope this delivery ends up being what I’ve been wishing for, too.
Very excited for you and can’t wait to hear about your experience at the birthing center!
Twitter: Jmroubinek
says:
Thanks Mollie! I’m so excited, too!
I came across your blog through The Wiegand’s link up. I am so happy for you that you have chosen this route. It hits close to home with me because we just had our first baby at a birthing center in December and it sounds like yours will be a similar experience to ours. I cannot say enough how over the moon, happy we were with our experience. You can read my birth story here: http://allycer.blogspot.com/2011/12/birth-of-our-daughter.html. It sounds like your last birth was as close to a birth center birth as you can get without actually being in one so you will be very pleased with your decision, I think. Good luck and I really enjoyed this post!
Twitter: Jmroubinek
says:
I’m so glad to hear of another birthing center delivery! I’m off to read your birth story now. I love them!
I wish you all the best. I hope it goes well and closer to the plan. I heard of all the advantages of the birth center and as long as you are happy and okay with the plan, it is all that matters.
I almost had a c-section with the first one, I managed to ask for forceps and miraclesly it worked. I had a midwife and a doula. So, I hope the second one is easier and better.
Mama and the City´s last [type] ..Let’s Go Big
I am so excited that you are using the ABC this time! I know you’ll love it. And, you’re not the only one who thought I was crazy going that route. =) I’m glad you liked my story/experience so much, though, that you’re choosing to be “crazy” with me! haha.
Twitter: Jmroubinek
says:
Yes, the crazies unite! I guess that’s why I like you so much!
So glad I had you to open that world up to me!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I, too, am doing things differently this time! I had an awful delivery with my son. It was every medical intervention possible, then I ended up with a Csection where we both almost died. It was horrible. So this time, I’m planning on doing everything as natural as possible. I would love to do a water birth at home, but since it’s a VBAC, I feel safer in the hospital…. Just in case anything goes wrong. But my goal is to have it be like your second birth. Not having any interventions and acting like its happening at our house. I’m jealous of yours! I hope mine happens how we would like. I can’t wait to hear about your birth center birth. If all goes well with this one, I plan on doing a water birth next time!!