I had both my babies at home. AMA

[disneylandlover]

Both my babies have been born at home - AMA

Why did you want to?

Just why 🙄

Me too. 2/3 of my kids after a traumatic (unnecessary) overly medical first hospital birth. My home births we amazing I enjoyed every second and would have 20 kids to give birth as I just loved it ❤️

Why take the risk?

All 4 of mine were too 🥰

Lots of reasons!

But primarily:

I'm much more comfortable in my home environment
It reduces the risk of unnecessary interventions

I had complication free pregnancies so the risk of birthing at home was no higher than in hospital

Actually it's safer than hospital birth. Really for low risk women it's why would you risk going into hospital

Bit rude!

I am completely pro- women's choice, and would totally support any woman to give birth in the way that's best for them and their baby.

Me too! Such a special experience and completely right for our family

Statistically for complication-free pregnancies, home birth is safer than hospital birth

Why would you wish to put yourself and your child at risk?

Did you consider how you would live with yourself if your baby was permanently damaged, or worse, by your distance from hospital and thus help for them?

I've come straight from reading an article on twitter about a baby who died after a home birth because of an unexpected breech presentation and then it taking time for him to arrive for cooling.

I get that the birth might be better for you at home, but I could never have lived with myself if anything had happened to her.

Having come very close to totally unexpectedly losing a baby during delivery I feel your self congratulations are based more on luck than judgement.

I am always concerned that these types of threads will end up encouraging women like myself to make decisions that could lead to appalling consequences.

I guess my question is, did you have a emergency backup plan that could have got you to hospital in under 15 minutes?

Statistically, for uncomplicated pregnancies, birth at home is safer for both mum and baby.

There will of course be horror stories of home births that have gone wrong, there are many more of births that have gone wrong in hospital.

Birth experience is a major factor in post-natal depression - it is so important to do everything you can to have a positive experience

So many pregnancies are uncomplicated until something goes wrong.

I'm really sorry that you went through that, it must have been hugely traumatic.

Like I've said above in this thread, home birth is statistically safer for mum and baby in uncomplicated pregnancies.

That isn't to say it's for everyone, but I find people suggesting that I knowingly put my babies at risk very rude and factually incorrect

Both of mine would be dead if I gave birth at home.

Do you not understand how statistics work? The birth is statistically safer for mum and baby when the pregnancy has been uncomplicated.

Would you make the same decision now, given ambulance waiting times?

I had my first at home (couldn't have my second there due to PPROM at 35 weeks), but I don't think I'd do it now.

Have you ever been involved in a serious car crash? Probably not, because statistically they're quite rare.

Now, do you wear a seat belt? If you do, why is that?

Yes, but the outcomes if something goes wrong at home for the baby are clearly worse than if you're down the corridor from a NICU. My question was not about statistics, it was about how you had found acceptance in knowing that IF something went wrong, your choice to be at home would have contributed to your child's outcome.

The point about current ambulance waiting times is very valid and something I would have to think long and hard about if it was pregnant now. I guess it would depend on other factors too eg how close I lived to the nearest hospital

Do you have any references for your claims? Because I’ve just had a quick google and what I can see doesn’t match what your claiming at all. Infact 40% of low risk pregnancies end in an emergency transfer to hospital. That’s huge.

@Potterie that comparison is completely different. There are risks to birth whether you birth at home or in hospital, statistically they are less likely to happen if you birth at home. Let's not forget that many problems are caused by the unnecessary interventions that often happen in hospitals, which do more damage than good in many cases

Thank you for answering. It fascinates me because I’d have hated giving birth at home! I’m glad you had a positive experience.