Anyone out there planning a home birth?

[Fugitive06]

Hi.  My husband & I are planning to have our baby at home in May.  I've been reading a lot of natural birth books - 'Bradley', 'Calm Birth', 'Birth Space, Safe Place'...

'Ina May's Guide has been excellent as I work through all the birth stories.  I can't wait to get to the nuts & bolts.

I feel that childbirth is a very spiritual event - possibly even transformative.  Even though I want our whole family (small) to be a part of it, I am having some questions about how to keep the attendance under my control & certain participants at arm's length.

Has anyone else been through this?  Although I want my MIL to be involved, she can be a bit demonstrative & overbearing at time & I'd like to keep her sequestered in a designated part of the house as I roam freely.

Any ideas?

Fugitive

[Fugitive06]

Yea.  I might give her food duty.  Making sure that we have the groceries & supplies we need for the next week & what needs arise during the labor.

Good call bluegenie!!  Thanks!

[bluegenie2003]

Maybe you could give her a certain job to do during labor and delivery?  She would feel like she's involved, but you could make it something that's not completely hands on with you.  If I were attending a home birth as part of the family, I think I'd want something to do anyway, so that I could feel useful. She might not need to be so overbearing then.