WWYD re home birth in these circumstances?

[iamdivergent]

DC1 born at hospital after 6hr labour, gas and air with no complications - was home within 8hrs of arriving. DC was 6lb 13.

DC2 was an unplanned home birth, I woke up 1:30am and she was born at 3am, no pain relief or complications - i had a very tiny tear due to the speed but no stitches - she was born after two pushes and we were able to stay home. DC was 8lb 4.

I'm low risk with dc3, who is measuring bang on for my date. I'm only 10mins drive each way from hospital / ambulance depot. DH and midwife both very supportive of the idea of a home birth. My only concern is that I've heard third labours can go either way, either be very fast or be more difficult so I'm quite concerned in that respect but I think that's my only concern.

WWYD?

[Fourormore]

I haven't heard that about third births. I had DC2 and 3 at home, all was fine. If you're ten minutes away then you're about as good as being in hospital anyway (if you needed surgery it would take 10 minutes for them to set up, and you'd be taken in by ambulance) and if things were starting to look like they might not go well you'd be taken in early - they don't hang around.

[LadyLuck81]

I'd plan to stay home and be prepared with a bag for H to grab just in case as I'm a planner by nature.

[iamdivergent]

Four it's probably one of those urban legend type stories!

Lucky I think that's a good plan, that way we can just grab the hospital bag if we have to leave under any circumstances

[Lj8893]

I would have a home birth. Your close enough to get to hospital quickly if anything were to get more complicated.

Good luck

[Mummyme87]

Third babies can be a bit hit and miss but not necessarily more difficult just not necessarily as quick as a second. However, don't let that put you off a home birth

[JasperDamerel]

In your situation, a home birth is the safest option for both you and the baby. Generally a home birth is a bit safer than a hospital for both mother and baby if you have already given birth and your pregnancy is low risk, but there isn't enough difference to make a hospital birth unsafe. But if you have a history of fast labours, then home is a lot safer because it means you are far more likely to give birth with a midwife in attendance. If there are problems with the labour, this will become apparent and you can move to hospital at this point.

[ohforfoxsake]

Can't really see why you wouldn't have a HB. I do think the third birth thing is a bit of a myth. IME births get easier. I was a little panicked about DC4 as it was a bit quick, like you only 10 mins away from hospital but she was 2 weeks late. I found my births got better and better.

[CheshireDing]

As others have said I can't see why you wouldn't have a HB for DC3.

We are about 40 mins from hospital in traffic and at best 20 in an ambulance.

DC3 is due in April and will hopefully be a HB.

DC1 should have been but everything stopped and we had to go to hospital to re-start contractions.

DC2 was HB.

My theory being the MW have supported me everytime for HB and I trust them and their opinion.

[YouMakeMyDreams]

Had my third at home and glad I did. Local maternity hospital would have me put in three hours anyway all being well so went for hb.
I was advised to have a bag ready just in case I had to transfer and after the birth was handy to have everything in one place to just lay my hands on.

[iamdivergent]

Think I'm just a bit apprehensive about a home birth as it wasn't meant to be for dd2 so it was all a blur iykwim. I'm seeing midwife in a couple of weeks and will have a proper chat with her about it, ie what will happen/what do we have to do to prepare but I am keen on the idea.

[Goatcoat]

I've heard the same re third births. The midwife said my labour with DC2 was more like a third than a second - it was very stop start for the 48 hours from my waters breaking to DC2 arriving.

Personally, both times I felt that a HB would be the most chilled / me in control so that's what I hoped/planned for - and had two amazing home births.

[ohforfoxsake]

You can go in at any time can't you? Prepare for a HB, have a hospital bag ready. You'll know at the time. Plus, the MW who comes to you at home will stay with you for the entirety so you'll have continuity of care (unless things have changed in the last 8 years).

[CountessOfStrathearn]

I would (and did with a similar sort of history and similarly close to the hospital). You can always book a home birth and change your mind, or start at home and then change your mind, but it is much, much more difficult to do it the other way round.

Put all your birth stuff in a suitcase then it will be handy whether you stay at home or decide/have to go into hospital.

The stats are definitely on your side and if it is all booked, you don't need to decide until the day or even halfway through. Even if you are transferred halfway through, the stats suggest that you are still less likely to have complications from starting at home. Obviously, stats are just stats and don't make any promises but you've got everything on your side.

[iamdivergent]

Thank you. Have the midwife next week so going to have an in depth chat with her then

[Scattymum101]

I would go for a homebirth. I had a planned homebirth for dd2 as my active labour with dd1 was less than 3 hours. I'd have ended up with an unplanned home birth had I tried to get to hospital. I'm not planning another baby but I would definitely have another homebirth if I was. Being so close to the hospital as you are I would go for the homebirth.

[Alanna1]

I had really easy labours as did all my family. Even with my first we only just got to the hospital on time. But I also have a wide range of friends who have had complications of one sort or another on otherwise risk-free births. I'd always want a hospital. But each to their own.