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Childbirth

Home birth - noise disturbing the neighbours

54 replies

bafty · 14/06/2007 12:05

Hi there

I'm planning to have a home birth for my second baby. Our small flat isnt the best for sound proofing.... Has anyone any experience/advice on how to handle the fact that your neighbours are likely to hear load 'primal' moans and possibly screams coming through their walls/floors?

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maxbear · 14/06/2007 12:08

I only got around to warning one of the neighbours, and since I delivered in the middle of the day they were at work anyway. I was quite noisy for the last fifteen minutes or so and the other neighbour said that she didn't hear anything as she is a childminder and her house is always noisy anyway! Not sure she was being entirely truthful mind you... One of the midwives who came had had a homebirth herself and she said that her neighbours thought she was having sex!!

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SoupDragon · 14/06/2007 12:10

You won't care when it comes down to it. I am a "quiet birther" but it never crossed my mind to warn the neighbours or even that the noise might disturb them.

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MarsLady · 14/06/2007 12:14

bafty... don't worry honey. If they come round to complain about the noise have someone mention placenta and they will leave rather quickly! lol

Really though... don't worry babe.

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ThomCat · 14/06/2007 12:15

I didn't get round to telling my neighbours.
The day after the birth there was a knock on the door and my neighbour was standing there with a bunch of flowers. I said 'ohhh wwo, oh, err how did you know...?" and then it dawned on me !!
She said @Don't get me wrong i know you're not like this but at first I wondered if I should call the police! and Then I said to my DH 'someone give that poor girl some drugs'!

I've given them about 6 months notice this time!

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beckmo · 14/06/2007 12:18

LOL @ Thomcat-can you imagine the police turning up mid birth to arrest you for disturbing the peace!

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Flower3554 · 14/06/2007 12:20

Totally agree with the "you won't care" idea.

I was so embarrassed every time I had to have an internal when I was having my first, I was dreading the indignity of actually giving birth

By the time I was in full labour on the ground floor of the maternity unit with the window {frosted for privacy} open, I couldn't have cared less if the queen had walked in let alone how much noise I was making.

Lol at the midwifes neighbour thinking she was having sex.

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ThomCat · 14/06/2007 12:25

I know that's what me and DP said re the police! Would have been bloody funny and really embaressing for the neighbour.

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bafty · 14/06/2007 12:43

Ah cheers guys, you have reassured me.

In my last labour I was practically giving birth in the waiting room of the hosp (all the labour rooms were taken). I did actually finding myself apologising between contractions (they were so intense I was on the floor!) to this freaked out girl sitting there reading a mag. Mind you I doubt I would have in the later stages, I was too high on gas and air...

I also love the midwife's neighbours thinking she was having sex - what kind of sex are they used to??!!!

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fannyannie · 14/06/2007 12:46

that's one thing that put me off the idea of a HB a bit - especially as we live right next door to the school - and I figured if I can often hear the children playing outside the classrooms during the day - they would have heard me screaming and grunting in the house

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Spider · 14/06/2007 12:47

I make a right old row. I've had four home births now in two different homes and I always make sure I warn them or get dh to warn them.

My neighbours in this house found it quite exciting.

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motherinferior · 14/06/2007 12:50

My home labour was about the only time in my life I've actually shut up

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bohemianbint · 14/06/2007 12:53

My homebirth happened around lunchtime and I don't think the neighbours were in!

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flightattendant · 14/06/2007 12:56

Not as such...lucky to be detached here, and it wasn't so hot that we needed windows open at 10.30am or they would all have been totally freaked I think, I've never screamed before in my life, but the other day I suddenly knew how
Funnily enough one of the neighbours thought they heard the baby crying at the time he was born, which makes no sense as he didn't cry...
And they still didn;t hear me.

Good luck!

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CarGirl · 14/06/2007 13:08

you won't care, they will think you're pretending to be a cow as you will probably "moo" rahter than scream!

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Spider · 14/06/2007 18:12

I agree that you probably won't care. And if you do you'll labour quietly.

I also agree with Mooing as a desiable home birth soundtrack. Also donkey-type braying at the more intense, later first stagers.

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ShowOfHands · 14/06/2007 18:18

I wonder what my neighbours heard. I really must ask.

Perhaps they heard me barking 'stop dangling that wet, soggy flannel near my face or I'll bite you' and also assumed we were engaging in a bit of the other. Heaven only knows how they thought the uniformed midwives fitted into it all. Actually I don't want to know.

They must have heard something as we can hear them screaming sweet nothings across the boudoir. They're old and mildly deaf but randly old buggers nonetheless.

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Loopymumsy · 14/06/2007 19:53

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twelveyeargap · 14/06/2007 19:55

My DD (12) slept through the whole thing... fwiw.

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maxbear · 14/06/2007 20:35

I was with loopymumsy when she gave birth, have been a bit hard of hearing ever since...

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bafty · 14/06/2007 20:39

Yes well I'm due in August so I guess our windows will be wide open. we are going to warn the neighbours so as they dont call in the police! I do seem to remember making loud gutteral mooing and braeing noises. My husband said that I 'was er very primal..' We will pop our DS round to a friends house as this flat is so small he seriously would be a little too involved for comfort. our flat gets really hot - i should think about getting a fan.

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Loopymumsy · 14/06/2007 20:42

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bafty · 14/06/2007 21:05

Thanks for everyones feedback. Today is the first time I've joined the chat room and it really is great.

I'm now looking at birthpools. Has anyone ever laboured in the bath instead?

I've seen some small birth pools for sale but I dont think I could stop DS1 having a splash before hand - we dont have a spare room for it to be hidden in and I think the balcony may be a tad cosy.

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WestCountryLass · 14/06/2007 21:05

Both times I have had HB, the neighbours have been astounded to see the baby the next day as they had no idea

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lazygirl · 14/06/2007 21:14

I had both mine at home and neighbours never noticed, and I made some pretty weird noises the first time round I can tell you! As for labouring in bath - fine I'd have thought not sure about actual birth though TBH you might want a wee bit more room. I tried easing contractions in bath first time round and hated it - wanted to move about more but I know some folk who've practically spent entire time there, so each to there own. BTW I planned pool for second one and didn't have time to inflate and fill which is worth thinking about...

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Loopymumsy · 14/06/2007 21:16

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