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Home Births - Would welcome anyones experiences of...

10 replies

allibaba · 02/03/2010 17:27

I'm 34 weeks pg and have seriously started to consider a home birth after previosuly telling the midwife right at the start of the pregnancy that I would go to hospital.

I need to discuss with her whether I can do a home birth or not anyway but would welcome anyone's thoughts / experiences on this if you've had a home birth.

I would like to be guarenteed a water birth and seeing as the hospital works on a first come first served basis with the water pools, a home water birth option seems the best bet to get what I want.

Anyone...

OP posts:

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fruitshootsandheaves · 02/03/2010 17:32

I had 2 (and a half!) homebirths and I was much more relaxed and natural with them than I was with the hospital births. My homebirths were a while ago and nowhere near as popular as they are now.
If you really want your water birth and you can get the support from the midwives then I would recommend it.

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AllieW · 02/03/2010 18:30

I planned on a home birth with DD1. And I nearly got it. I laboured at home right through to the pushing stage but she got stuck so I was taken to hospital for ventouse. HOWEVER, I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Labouring at home meant I was able to pace up and down wherever I wanted (which was a major help). I could go to the loo, have a bath, have a drink, whatever I needed. I coped perfectly well with my TENS machine and then Gas and Air. In fact, at one point they stopped the Gas and Air and put me in the bath and I just sort of zoned everything out. Given that my labour was back to back I was very pleased about that.

Had I laboured in hospital, there would have been a lot more clock watching and I firmly believe that my daughter would have been delivered by caesarean which might have had implications for future deliveries.

I would firmly recommend a home birth despite the difficulties that I had. As someone else pointed out to me, if you get into difficulties in hospital it is still going to take them a good few minutes to get you where you need to be, make sure a theatre is free etc. As long as you are close enough to get there swiftly in an ambulance should the need arise (and it is very unlikely, statistically home births are safer than hospital births) then I would wholeheartedly endorse the option for you.

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D0G · 02/03/2010 18:35

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Caitni · 02/03/2010 18:40

You can check out this thread for some home birth experiences or ask for any advice from women who've had home births. I'm planning a home birth with my first (40 weeks today!)

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SoupDragon · 02/03/2010 18:57

I had a HB with my third. It was fabulous. I had her in a paddling pool on the playroom Well, obviously it was a birthpool really.

Best bits for me were the privacy, the security and curling up in my own bed with her afterwards. And she has our home address as place of birth on the birth certificate, that's pretty cool.

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catbus · 02/03/2010 19:24

Home births are great! I have had 3, the last one 2 years ago. If you can have one, I would highly recommend it! The ease of being able to walk about your own home wherever, sending midwives off to make tea, changing the sheets and going back to bed and having other kids (if you have any) there to see the new arrival immediately.
I don't know what labouring or birthing in a hospital is like, but I couldn't imagine it being anything like home. I have always said though, I want a homebirth but willing to transfer if it looks in anyway to compromise my babies or myself. All the births have been great, and all the midwives up this way seem to feel really privileged to attend; some fighting over who gets it! Good luck!!

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Loopymumsy · 02/03/2010 19:53

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Mumcah · 02/03/2010 21:55

I tried for a homebirth with my DD and ended up transferring and then an emergency C section as I just wasn't progressing.
However I would still recommend a HB to first time Mums.The one piece of advice I would give is to go and have a tour of the labour ward so if you do get transferred you will not be scared by it all.

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honeyapple · 03/03/2010 09:45

all women have the choice of HB (unless medical conditions)- you can also change your mind of place of birth at any point in your pregnancy- so don't worry about telling your MW. They may try and tell you that they don't have a MW who can deliver in a pool available- if this happens go to head of midwifery in your area! You have a right to decide where and how you give birth (this is government policy).

I had a HB with my third and it was great. Wish I had the info with my other births- i didnt get any choice then- simply sent to hospital.

Stats show that it is as safe to have a baby at home as in hospital. HB means you are less likely to need drugs and have medical interventions- resulting in more chance of a normal vaginal delivery.

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allibaba · 03/03/2010 10:15

Thank you everyone!!

I'm seeing the MW this afternoon but reading these and the other threads links some of you have sent, I am definately going for the home birth option , thankks again