I had a friend who had her first two children at home with a midwife. While I am a firm advocate of alternative medicine, I was a little hesitant about going all the way "natural" for my childbirthing experiences so I opted for a midwife who operated through a hospital. My second and fourth children were born in this way.

While not the complete natural experience, it was close enough for me. I was able to walk around during contractions as opposed to being forced to stay in a prone position which was a big plus for me. The room was more conducive to delivery. The approach was much more humane than the dryness of a doctor popping in and out. It is an experience I would encourage all expectant mothers to at least explore.

I am still debating this if we have another child or not. I am not really sure I want to be all natural myself but I guess only time will tell. :)

When I had my first (almost 23 years ago!), it was strictly labor room then delivery room with no options or choices for moms. Just 2 1/2 years later when I had my second daughter, you didn't go to the delivery room anymore but stayed in one room. By the time my son came along, five years later, you had the baby in the room you were staying in for the whole hospital stay and the baby stayed with you. In fact, the rooms were then called "birthing rooms" instead of labor rooms. I'm sure nowadays it's even more conducive to a natural birthing process.

Was this like IV drugs? that's what I have had with my labors, up to around 7 or 8 cms, then I got the epidural, except with my 3rd, because it went to fast. I went from walking around to ready to push before the anesthesiologist could give me my epi! the doctor almost missed the delivery!

I was blessed to have my choice of a couple local midwives. I can't say its for everyone and many people are probably not comfortable with an all natural birth, but it was important to me. Lots of them will come to the hospital as a nice midway between natural and technological as well.

Me too organicmum. Having an all natural birth was very important to me. I had both my 2 at home, and will have any future children at home too. Really, the pain, while intense in the moment, is so fleeting. And I loved not having anyone telling me when to push, or that if I didn't have that baby by such and such time they'd do a c/s.

I wish I had the option. Where I live there isn't a single midwife. I'd have loved to go that route though. I did the hospital births. The only good thing is I knew what I wanted and wouldn't take no for an answer. It wasn't bad, except I wanted to go home by 24 hours and here they keep you 2 days.

I have never had a midwife but have seriously considered it for when we have baby #2.
I had my first in the hospital and I have to say my L & D nurse was fantastic!

I had my girls in a birth center with midwives. Both times I gave birth in the tub. It was wonderful! We're planning the same thing this time.

My brother's wife is a mid wife. I would have used her with my last baby except, at the time she and my brother were living in Alaska. :p

I would love to have a more natural childbirth next time and considered the possibility of a midwife last time. My only worry to this is how do they prevent complications? I am referring to the really bad life-threatening complications that can occur from a cord wrapping around the baby's neck, from the baby not being able to handle labor, or from the problems that sometimes a woman can have during or after labor such as excessive bleeding.

With my second baby, a midwife delivered her because she worked with my doctor and he wasn't there until the delivery. He stood and talked with my husband about fishing, lol, while I finished having the baby.

Kay, I had my 3rd baby at home with a midwife, and then I worked as her assistant for awhile. I can tell you that with most complications there is ample warning to get to the hospital. My midwife was well trained in how to handle anything that came up, plus she had oxygen for both me and the baby if we needed it, plus drugs to control bleeding, etc.

I had a very natural birth at home, and the hospital was only 10 minutes away if we needed it.