Home birth success stories? (Or disasters)

My 2nd was a home birth. (1st was a really lovely birthing centre.) My memories are of relaxing at home with my new baby almost straight after. I'd do it again.

I decided after hearing of other people's experiences in the hospital and not wanting those 1st memories with my baby. Few things that happen during labour that actually need immediate intervention and, even in a hospital, it takes time to get into surgery anyway. I trusted my midwife to make an early call to transfer to hospital if needed.

My close relative is a doctor and was sceptical about homebirths but she actually had one after mine went so well. She was transferred to hospital after hers (I can't remember what for exactly). A friend also asked me about my homebirth and then had one herself with no issues.

I had a home birth for my 2nd. And even though I was blue lighted in for a massive PPH after the birth (6.5 pints lost) I still love home births and would recommend them to anyone who wanted one.

I felt so relaxed, so in control that my birth felt like a dream. The ambulance came for me very quickly, midwife stayed with me in the ambulance and I was whisked into theatre straight from the ambulance.

If you want a home birth go for it.

It's one or two days for the safety of your child. No one loves being in hospital. Needs must.

During my obstetrics job I saw several dead and brain damaged babies who would have been fine if their mothers had chosen to give birth with medical facilities to hand. They were all thought to be low risk, but that's a retrospective diagnosis. Do you want to flip that coin?

I've had 3!
2 water births.
All went perfectly.

I had a homebirth with my first and I’m planning to do so again with my second. Had a very long first labour at 48 hours but wasn’t under pressure to transfer in at any stage of that. I didn’t have any pain relief, not through design, I just never felt like I needed it. I had a pool and was in it for a couple of hours of active labour but actually gave birth on my sofa. No mess at all - midwives cleared everything up afterwards. It was the absolute best experience and I am so hoping to repeat it this time.

Plenty of people will tell you you’re taking a risk, they’d have died etc etc - do your own research, understand the risks and benefits, speak to the homebirth team and find out all the answers to your questions. You’ll know if it’s right for you.

I had a home birth last feb with ds2.

Incredible experience!

After an awful first birth in Hospital and so much went wrong I wanted to do it completely different this time and it was honestly so calm and peaceful. (Still painful of course but feeling calm helped me get through it)

Went into labour at 9pm, had a bath in the middle of the night and spent the next day pottering at home and getting final bits ready. Things ramped up at 6pm so we called the midwifery unit and they sent out two lovely midwife's who were really respectful and just stood back and let me do my thing because I was really in the zone!

Got into the birthing pool at 8pm ish and ds was born at 11pm! I delivered him myself and he was born in his sac which was very strange🤣 but an amazing thing to see!

Had a 2nd degree tear which was a bit painful but manageable, so got stitched up on my sofa🤣

Midwives stayed for about 2 hours after taking notes and weighing DS etc. when they left we got into bed with baby, chilled for a bit then went to sleep!

Would do it again in a heart beat.

My third was a home birth. I laboured on the floor leaning on the sofa on a shower mat and maybe towels or absorbent mats.

It was really calm and relaxed, as much as that much pain can be! Plenty of fa's and air.

Midwives cleaned everything away quickly. We were having tea and toast before I knew it.

My other two DC got up in the morning to a new sister having slept through it all.

I had two. You don't need to be on a bed. I walked a lot and did have a pool. Cover your floors well though I did ruin a carpet.

I think they sound lovely. I've had friends have great home births. My only concern would be if there was an emergency. Having rung 999 for an ambulance in the past and not even speaking to an operator, instead being put straight on hold.... I couldn't rely on that.

I had a home birth with DC3 because DC2 arrived very quickly and I had an alarming high speed drive to hospital. My midwife agreed it would be safer to give birth at home than to repeat it. I had a last minute scan a couple of days before my due date to double check the baby's position so we knew it would be low risk.

The whole experience was very relaxing and positive and I didn't need any pain relief. At one point during labour I went for a walk in woods next to our house which was magical.

I specifically wanted to labour by myself for as long as possible and the attending midwives left me alone in my bedroom until close to the end when they came in to assist with the actual birth. I gave birth leaning over a large inflatable pilates ball which we already had. The midwives dropped off all the supplies they might need in advance including waterproof sheets to cover the floor.

There was no need for a particular bed. At the time DH and I slept on a mattress on the floor and it was irrelevant as I wasn't in or on it at any point.

Our local hospital had a MLU and I'd had very positive experiences there with DC1 and DC2 so I don't have any objections to hospital births but I didn't want to risk the journey again and wanted to try something different as I knew DC3 would be my last baby.

It’s hard isn’t it? When they go well they sound lovely. My only knowledge of anyone having one is my sil. My nephew is now brain damaged after the cord snapped before he was born. He’d have likely been ok in a hospital setting with getting him out quicker and immediate hospital care. I could never risk it

Just for transparency these were free births, some with very misguided doulas very wrongly assuming the role of healthcare professional. OP hasn't said she's planning a free birth, hopefully she's not.

I had a planned home birth 9 years ago after a terrible hospital birth with my first. I also have very quick labours. Set up birth pool when contractions started at 6am, cracked on then called the midwives who turned up very quickly. Checked me over, dilation etc then I got in the pool.

Within 10 minutes my waters went while in the pool and there was loads of meconium in the water so I had to get out. When examining me they realised that I had a prolapsed cord and we needed to get him out asap as he was receiving no oxygen. Ambulance called and told to lay on my side and try and get him out. Lucky for him my births are quick and he was out before the ambulance arrived (he was out before 9:30 - quite proud of that!)

He was fine but I’d received a 3b tear due to my panic and pushing to get him out fast. We went in the ambulance to get me patched up in theatre and baby checked over. Didn’t stay overnight so was lovely to spend first night in my own bed!

They told me he may have learning difficulties due to the time he didn’t have oxygen but glad to say he doesn’t have any whatsoever. I had my third child in hospital via elective c section to try and avoid tearing into my rectum (nice!)

If planning a home birth I would look at lots of factors, what the local service is like, speak to other local mums who have had a home birth in your area. How close the nearest hospital is should you need to be blue light transferred due to complication. If you’ve given birth before, how that went, how long in labour etc.

When researching home births they said there was only two things that could go terribly wrong in a home birth scenario, what happened to me and the shoulder getting stuck. I thought that was pretty good odds, but it still means that could be you. I had a very long time afterwards quite unwell with ptsd, intrusive thoughts ‘what if’ and how I’d never have been able to forgive myself if he hadn’t made it that day.

Home births can be wonderful - my neighbour had 3 no issues. In hindsight would I have made a different decision? Yes I would but that’s hindsight for you. Congratulations and best wishes whichever birthing choice you make.

My second baby was born at home. I didn't go near the bed, it didn't cross my mind to go in the bedroom. I was kneeling on the floor leaning over the sofa. I wouldn't get a blow up bed, sounds like a pain.

I think you just need to think practically and rationally about a home birth. Do you live close to a hospital or very rurally? Do you have any risk factors? An ambulance can be called but we’ve all seen in the news about huge delays- what time of year are you due? If you are close by, no risk factors etc then go for it.

Always prepare for a hospital birth though, in case the home birthing team cannot accommodate you. Never free birth. I know people will say they had a good experience etc but I work in bereavement and in 2 years of working there have seen 2 babies dead in a freebirth that died from complications of birth (otherwise perfectly formed and healthy babies.) I cannot understand taking that risk. Always have a midwife (or someone medically trained/experienced at the very least.)

Oh yeah we hired a pool but it didn't really work for me. I was on the sofa most of the time and actually gave birth on the (wooden) floor.

I had a home birth.

It was my second baby and I'm fairly close to an excellent hospital.

It was all fine, but I was absolutely begging to be taken to the hospital for an epidural and at that point it was too late. She was a pretty massive baby as it turned out. In spite of the lovely situation afterwards being able to get into my own bed, and the wonderful midwives, and the gas and air - I would go to hospital next time personally.

I planned a homebirth for my first but it didn't happen (thick mec and horrible CTG). Second birth had baby at home but had to transfer in by ambulance for a nasty tear which caused a haemorrhage.

Agree you don't need a bed but do need waterproof sheets down wherever you do plan to birth

Also agree that so much depends on your circumstances! Discuss it well with your midwife

Btw at least 1 of the 3 Irish maternal deaths at home was a free birth which is a whole other kettle of fish to birthing with midwives in attendance!

I had 2 home births both went fine. First one was to a 10lb baby whose shoulders got stuck but quickly resolved. Second was to a 8lb8oz long skinny beast. Both were born in my bedroom.

id never describe them as lovely but it was certainly better for me. Babies die in hospital births too, sadly.

Can you still do a domino birth where you are? I did with my second but that was 25 yrs ago. Stayed at home as long as possible (we only lived 20 mins drive from the hospital) and then all going well you go home 6hrs after delivery I was only in for 11 hrs in total, then home to my own bed. No mess or disruption at home but delivered in the hospital in case of any issues. It was perfect.

I had two home births. You really don't need a bed, both of mine I spent most of the time kneeling over the sofa. Just get some absorbent pads - although the midwife brought loads as well. I lay on the sofa for any examination but I asked for these to be only if really necessary so wasn't often.

I had a home birth with my first. No problems, it was as uneventful as births go, and I was tucked up in my own bed with my baby, tea and toast in hand in no time.

I had my 3 at home, we had plenty of towels and a shower curtain for the bed. Everything went perfect and the best bit was, I was in my own home and bed straight after.
The midwife left as soon as I'd been to the loo and that was that.
If I ever got pregnant again which I'm not planning on doing I would definitely plan a homebirth again