ste_noni

 After my post of frustration yesterday, I googled "albuquerque birth center" (since that's where my parents live) and the first link was to an awesome looking/sounding birth center where the midwives will either come to you, or you can use their birth center.  And they take insurance.  I just wanted to cry because it sounds exactly like what I want.

But if I go that route, it almost guarantees Joe won't be there.  I suspect that would be fine with him (he's not home and we haven't talked much since he's pretty busy on his trip), but I know what an amazing experience it was and I think he would want to be there if he knew.  But he's wanted our baby born outside Puerto Rico from the beginning.

The whole thing just makes me mad.  I have two health insurance plans, both of which are pretty good.  I should be able to find a situation in which I can be comfortable and have my baby and yet have a safe back-up option if necessary.  Territory or not, I'm still in the US.  When I'm the most frustrated, I just imagine bending over, having them do the epidural, and just have the baby their way.  And I could accept that, but then I have to put up with 2-3 days in a substandard hospital with limited visiting hours and limited access to my baby and no 3rd party (husband or someone else) who can stick around and be my advocate.  Three days away from Ellie when she could be bonding with the baby seems so wrong.

I need to talk to Joe, I guess.  I suspect he will be all for me going to stay with my parents for a few weeks and will do his best to fly out as soon as I'm in labor.  As for him missing the birth, I guess we will just have to have a 3rd baby so he can hopefully be there for that one.