To everyone, thanks for your responses! It was so great to hear from everyone. Homeschoolers are a different "breed" so I thought there would be a lot from Countryside.

The homebirth question just popped in my head while I was writing. I don't really believe one method superior to another. It is what is best for the individual and baby, and having qualified, compassionate help. I have know incompetent baby-catchers, both doctors and lay-midwives, and have known fabulous and competent doctors and lay-midwives.

I trained in Russia through The Russian Birth Project (an excellent program, I might add) as a homebirth midwife, and do it once in a while only while the kids are still young (stress on the family) but truly believe that each person needs to birth where they feel the most comfortable and have the safest practitioner. "Trusting in nature" is not adequate when it comes to delivering a baby! I just got curious......

Again, thank you all for responding!

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), December 13, 2001

Answers

marcee: I had my second kid in a birthing center with the help of a doula. Then of cause the doctor came in at the actual time of delivery. I would definately have a doula again, she was a great help, very supportive, gave me massages and I was able to have natural child birth.

-- anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), December 13, 2001.

I went halfway by delivering in a hospital but used a certified nurse midwife for all 4 of them. Wouldn't have it any other way - she walks on water as far as I'm concerned!

-- gita (gita@directcon.net), December 13, 2001.