ANYONE HAVE A HOMEBIRTH FIRST TIME ROUND???

[KittyLetteMeEatAnEasterEgg]

My sister is,

i had my 2nd at home and id reccomend it to anyone,

but im a bit worried as it is her first, we dont know how she will react to the pain, and as it is a first labour it may be long, unpredictable ect

just looking for first baby homebirth stories really,

thanks xxx

[DaisyMOO]

There are some on the homebirth website if you look at the birth stories section.

First timers are more likely to transfer to hospital for pain relief, but if you were having a hospital birth you'd still have to go in at some stage anyway. I wish I'd done it with my first

[KittyLetteMeEatAnEasterEgg]

ooh thanks ill take a look at that

[lulumama]

great news kitty ! i know someone who did, and it was fab, she had a home waterbirth and loved it ! IMHO, she is likely to have a nice relaxed, more straightforward labour, if she is in her own surroundings supported by her family, especially if she feels positive about the birth

[Indith]

I had my ds at home. It was fab and I'd def do it again. Of course you don't know what to expect pain wise etc at home and but she can have pethidine if she wants it. As for long unpredictable labour I can't say much as mine was 4.5 hours from start to finish but I'd have thought it much nicer when you don't know what to watch for and when to go to hospital to stay home and let the MW come check you out rather than going to hospital and getting sent home again.

[vwvic]

I did! And it was the best thing I've ever done.
I woke up at 7am in labour, and delivered dd2 at exactly noon. In terms of pain relief, I actually felt I had more choices by staying at home. I spent time in the bath, got dh to spray my lower back with hot water from the shower, and best of all, could use a hot water bottle. I didn't feel like I had to ask "permission" to do what felt right for me at the time; I just did it and grunted at people to follow me if they wanted. If I'd been in hospital I just know that I would have been concerned about being polite etc, but that thought just didn't enter my head at home.

I loved being in my bed afterwards, with bedlinen we'd bought especially for that purpose (daft, I know, but sooo nice!). I loved being able to use my own bath and toilet, and not having to worry about cleanliness issues. I loved being able to get a drink or food whenever I wanted- I could go on, but I won't bore you!

Another thing to remember is that whilst second labours are normally easier, this doesn't always happen. My first labour was really easy, and relatively pain free. My second (also a homebirth), well, lets just say that I think I got a bit of payback for the first!

[vwvic]

Doh! I actually meant I delivered dd1 at noon- sorry.

[Celery]

I would urge anyone to atleast try for a homebirth first time around. If you arrange a homebirth, there is nothing stopping you going into hospital at any point if you feel you want to, or if you need to. It gives you much more choice. If a hospital birth is planned, then homebirth is out of the equation. So, planning a homebirth keeps your options open. I planned a homebirth first time around, but ended up transferring because it was a very long labour and I was exhausted and needed more pain relief. It was no big deal. I wasn't to know I'd have a difficult first labour, had it been more straight forward I would have stayed at home. I went on to have two straight forward homebirths after that.

[cheritongirl]

I did! 4 months ago...and i would really recommend it. I had my ds at home in a pool and although it was a loooong (27 hour) labour i am so glad i was at home. I know a lot of people around me thought i was mad to have my first at home but amazingly i got assigned an angel of a mw in my last few weeks of pg who totally supported me.
Of course you don't know how your labour will pan out but i am pretty sure that if i had been in hospital i would have ended up with every intervention going just because i had been labouring so long an i am glad that didn't happen.
I also had a doula who was amazing and probably made all the difference, would really recommend having one if at all possible. If you have any other Q's please do ask! I love sharing my birth story but its a bit long! All the very best to your sister ps sure if it was my sister i would be a bit anxious too!

[monkeymonkeymoomoo]

I did and it was highly sucessful! Had a long labour (28hrs) but found the whole thing manageable... with gas and air and a pool which we hired.

Best thing I ever did

[jollyfolly]

had my ds at home. had always wanted home birth but to scared as we live 30 mins from hospital and was concerned if anything went wrong or i could'nt handle the pain, so planned to go to local birthing centre instaed. Anyway from the time i started labour to giving birth was only 4 hours, the pain was to bad to do the 30 min car trip in rush hour traffic so my wonderful midwife delivered at home instead. Was amazing and i would def recommend it...just need to be organised which we were not as ds can 3 weeks early. Had everyone running round the next day looking for baby grows,towels (which strangly enough we did use during labour!) and paracetamol etc etc. we had not even put the cot together. the other thing as a first time mum was that when the midwife eventually left we were left with a little baby at 2 in the morning having no idea what to do with it!!! but then if you have a supportive family guess thats not a problem for most.
Go for it,she can always use gas and air or be tansferred to the hosp if she needs to be.

[LittleSarah]

Yes! Loved it! (As much as one can love labour...)

Waters broke at 4am, got up at 7amish and contractions started, full labour came on about 11.30am and had dd (on my knees in bedroom) at 4.20pm. Then I had a bath and family and friends came round for champagne and takeaway!

Had a bit of gas and air at the end, highly recommend it!

[Pannacotta]

Me too. Had my DS at home, I was adamant that I would not give birth in hospital, partly because I hate hospitals and also as I thought I would have more privcay and would have the birth I wanted at home, which I did (minimal intervention, I just got on with it).
Labour was around 8 hours, quick second stage of around 15-20 mins, the worst bit was the stitches afterwards (2nd degree tear), mainly because the MW took so long to get round to doing the stitches I got myself into a bit of a state.
Used gas and air and tens as well as a pool for some of the time.
Found bfeeding came very naturally and all went v smoothly and I felt pretty good afterwards.
Would def recommend it, to anyone first time or not.
Was lovely cuddling up with baby and DH afterwards in our own bed...

[cheritongirl]

adding to what i said before, i would echo Pannacotta - it was amazing to just be able to get into bed and cuddle with dh and ds. Also had the issue of second degree tear and mw's hanging around too long so stitching was painful and i howled - maybe (if anyone remembers in the moment!) tell your sis to make sure any tears are stitched asap.
But it was still the best experience of my life!

[Pannacotta]

Yes thats true, if stitches are needed from what I gather it is much better if they are done sooner rather than later, both in terms of pain and also so that you don't get all worked up about it (as I did).
Good luck for your sister....