First baby born at home - next time I'm having an epidural

[ragtaggle]

Only kidding! Although that's what I said immediately after the birth.

I'm delighted to announce that my dd Ruby was born at home after a nine hour labour on October 12th. Here are the gory details for anyone who is interested...

I do believe that the relaxed environment of home (My own music, lighting, food) helped me to dilate quite quickly - five hours - and at first I was finding the whole experience painful but manageable. Was using TENS machine and got into the birthing pool at approx 7 cms. I had half an hour of gas and air to get me through transition. However I then had a long and painful second stage - four hours - without any pain relief whatsoever. I should make clear at this stage that I'm not a pain fetishist but my independent midwives witheld the gas and air from me on the basis that it was best that I do it naturally. (I could have banged their heads together at this stage)

I wasn't very well behaved (Told my midwives who were trying to soothe me to 'shut the fuck up' at one stage) and even tried to walk out on my own labour. It was so frustrating because nothing was happening so I got out of the pool and said 'I'm not doing this any more' and walked out of the room. It was at this point that a massive contraction reminded me that my labour wasn't going to walk out on me. Oops.

Ruby was finally born at 1.15 am - 7 lbs 12 oz - and is absolutely beautiful. I would really recommend a home birth, after all that. It was fantastic to be able to get in to my own bath afterwards followed by my own bed. It was quite magical for me and my DH being in our own bed with our little girl between us. If we'd been in hospital my DH would have had to go home and I wouldn't have been able to bear that.

Plus I do think in retrospect that a hospital wouldn't have allowed me to push for that long. The upshot would have been medical intervention of some kind and - I'm convinced - ultimately a much longer labour. So even though it was fucking painful I'd go for the short(ish) sharp shock any time over the long drawn out medicalised route.

[Northerner]

Congrats Ragtaggle and WEll done! WElcome to little Ruby.

LOL at 'shut the fuck up'!

[M2T]

Aw Ragtaggle - What a lovely story! And Congratulations!

ROFL at the walking out the room part!

I remember saying to my MW "I'm sick of this, I'm just not going to do it anymore!" lol. Like you have a choice!

[Twinkie]

Message withdrawn

[fio2]

Congratulations ragtaggle and LOL at you trying to walk out on you labour!

[ANGELMOTHER]

Well done Ragtaggle I didn't have the confidence to go for home birth with the first but second time round saw the benefits.
Well done you and wellcome to little Ruby.

[FineVintage]

Wonderful and hilarious birth story. Congrats and welcome to little Ruby. I LOVE that name and may try to twist DH's arm when we come to think about child no4

P.S. Fine Vintage is WSM reincarnate.

[ninja]

CONGRATULATIONS!! Sounds great ragtaggle - I remember the feeling of wanting to walk out on my labour too, it's amazing what pain makes you think is possible!

Having had about 6 hours of pushing I can sympathise and I did end up with episiotemy and ventouse so you did really well

Hope you're both resting and enjoying being a family

[mears]

Ragtaggle - congratulations No doubt about it, you would have been pressurised to have intervention in hospital. Next time will be easier

[lucy123]

congrats - great story!

[Ghosty]

Great birth story Ragtaggle ... I remember trying telling my DH that I was going home and someone else could do it for me
Welcome to little Ruby ...

[princesspeahead]

bloody hell, 4 hours pushing! you poor poor thing. but well done, and congratulations on the arrival of Ruby!

[CountessDracula]

Lovely Ragtaggle, congratulations on the birth of Ruby (I wanted to call my dd Ruby but had sadly already used that name for my pup, who is my first baby!) Beautiful name.

[zebra]

So true about the long second stage; you would have been under immense pressure to accept some sort of intervention in hospital.

Congrats!!!!!

[pie]

Congratulations, wonderful story

[Grommit]

Ragtaggle - Congratulations! Love the part about walking out on your own labour - if only!!!

[pupuce]

Great story Ragtaggle.... Like you I had a long 2nd stage and only a handful of us are allowed that (not that we feel it is a privilege at the time!) but the other solution is either an instrumental delivery - or very frequently a section!
So we can count our blessing for being cared for by MW who know their jobs so well.... and don't keep a stop watch !

Enjoy Ruby now

[motherinferior]

I am stunned into uncharacteristic silence. Wow. Well done!

[suedonim]

Congratulations!

[whitewater]

Congratulations Ragtaggle, and hello little Ruby!

[mammya]

Congratulations, ragtaggle, and welcome to little Ruby

[jodee]

Congrats!

[jasper]

ragtaggle, I don't get it at all,and you have convinced me NEVER to have a home birth, but, hey , it's your party!
Congratulations.Hope you and babe are well.

[aloha]

Jasper - my own thoughts exactly (er, weren't you paying those midwives - I wouldn't be banging their heads together, I'd be suing!!!). But congratulations on a lovely daughter. She does sound gorgeous.

[fisil]

Well done