Would you consider a homebirth if the hospital was a 2 minute drive / half a mile away?

[Prickled]

First baby, in my 20s and low risk. Hate hospitals. I either want a total no intervention vaginal birth, or an elective section.

Very worried about induction, interventions and instrumental delivery as friends and family have had horrific births with these.
I only know one relative with a straightforward birth in hospital and hers was 10 years ago. I know so many maternity units are in a dire state with poor CQC ratings.

I am wondering about a home birth but don’t know if the risk of that is huge given that I’m a FTM.

Your thoughts please :)

I had two home labours, the first was a water labour, and even though I ended up having both births in hospital I think I had a much better experience having all my appointments at home. The home birth team were brilliant and so caring, compared to the hospital scan appointments where I felt like paperwork on a conveyor belt.

Unfortunately my experience with DC1 in hospital was so terrifyingly awful and downright dangerous I decided on balance as a low risk second-timer 15 mins from hospital I'd be better at home. And wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

I wish I'd had mine at home, being in hospital had no advantages for me, just disadvantages because the food was awful. But I have the benefit of hindsight saying that, two fairly quick, straightforward, drug free deliveries.

No, not for a first baby. Absolutely not. Reconsider for your second. I was low risk too… trust me, I needed a doctor and their capability at the last minute.

For subsequent children, it’s worth considering once you’re more used to it.
Any friends who have had home births for the first time end up in an ambulance.

@DrFosterWentToGloucester23

Giving birth isn't a medical procedure, it's a natural process - unless things go wrong (I'm not naive, women used to die but most women can give birth naturally, our c-section rates demonstrate our attitude to risk not ability to birth children)

For me, no way. I planned to see how it went for the first child and I realised that I wanted an epidural. It was pain like I couldn't imagine before it happened. The second baby I had that epidural before the pain really got going!

For some women it's not so bad or they cope with it easier but I needed the drugs, I was in hell.

I also wouldn't have wanted to make all that mess in my own home.

I would play it safe the first time and you can make a more informed decision for any subsequent births.

I live a similar distance to my local maternity hospital. I didn't even consider a home birth as for me I wouldn't have been able to relax at home. The moment I was admitted, at around 3cm dilated, I completely relaxed. I was in a midwife led unit with a pool in every room - but with the main birthing unit at the end of the corridor. For me that was the best of both worlds. My pregnancy was straightforward, labour was textbook - but my baby was born not breathing and within a minute a whole team of medics were in the room doing resus. I dread to think what would have happened had they not been so close by.

But we're all different and have different approaches to risk. One thing I would consider is how you'd feel having to move mid labour (I know a few people this has happened to who went to a stand alone birthing unit, around half an hour drive from hospital) - personally I would have hated having to travel anywhere once in established labour.

Plenty of 20 something healthy women with low risk pregnancies need interventions and have their birth take an unexpected turn. Being low risk doesn't guarantee anything.

I was 23 low risk and full term and my baby suddenly went in distress, heart rate dropped out of nowhere and had a forceps delivery that happened very quickly. No explanation for why it happened, but it was a dangerous situation.

I'd rather be down the corridor from theatre, not 2 minutes up the road having to wait for an ambulance or be bundled into a car in pain and scared. Being 2 minutes away could still easily mean 15/20 minutes between realising there is a problem, leaving your house and finally arriving and being examined.

Many congratulations OP. I had first baby in hospital, very straightforward natural birth, but I did need stitches afterwards as I sustained a bad tear. Second baby, same community midwife, suggested I had a home birth, but we decided against it, just in case of complications, we were about 30mins from the hospital. Birth isn’t something you can plan IMHO. Good luck OP

My second birth was btw the world's most relaxed birth. Got into hospital in early labour, had an epidural, went to sleep, woke up a few hours later, the midwife said you can try pushing if you like. I gave it a try, no pain but I could feel him coming out, two or three pushes he was with us. One minute later he was on the breast having his first meal. It was honestly a dream birth for me, pure calm from start to finish. Very different from my memories of writhing and screaming with my first child. I understand not everyone wants the same though!

I lived further away and had both my DC at home. I had a very straightforward birth with my DC. Virtually everyone I know who had a planned hospital birth had a horrific time with their first baby (although second time round, things generally went much better). Lots of "I almost died" stories and PTSD. Of the people who planned home births, around half transferred to hospital and while many of those ended up with caesarian or instrumental births, they generally felt that they had better care than the people who birthed in hospital, and were happier with the interventions the received.

I think it's important to look at the risks and benefits of both, and ask yourself like where do you feel and what comforts you.

A lot of people will tell you about their horrific hospital birth to persuade you that home birth would be worse, but I think it's actually more useful to find stories from people (preferably in your area) who had bad experiences of home birth if you want to make an informed choice.

I would being that close to hospital.
I was about 8 minutes to my local hospital and had two home births. All went well and they were very relaxed. I was a lot older than you too. Had two midwives for the delivery and one with me from earlier on but on reflection I could’ve labored on my own with DH for most of it.

I would consider it. I would talk to my midwife about what the risks and benifit would as a first time mum of having a home birth and also be open to going in to hospital if needs be.

I've not read all replies so apologies if I'm repeating anyone. I have 3 children, all were homebirths. Midwife led unit was 15 mins away and actual hospital half an hour. My reasons for wanting homebirth were similar to yours and worries similar. My local midwife led unit was very very pro homebirth and explained in a birth class about how they monitor. She explained how with a home birth they would make the move to move to hospital much earlier in any thoughts of potential issue, whereas the person already in the hospital they would monitor for much longer because there's no need to move earlier, so in the case of those 2 scenarios both having complications, both women would actually reach the emergency room at the same time, due to the way things are monitored. If that makes sense!

I think homebirths should be banned unless you are prepared to go private. No other medical procedure happens at home, I really don’t know why birth is different 🤷‍♀️

You do know that home briths are cheaper for the NHS right? 😆

Yes I would. I had a home birth with my second and don’t regret at all. Both my births have been low risk and without intervention and any sign of things not going well you would be sent straight to hospital anyway. I was lucky that I had a midwife who supported them but it was nearly 15 years ago now!

To answer the question OP, for 2 minutes away I would (and did with a further distance, more than once). Chat to your midwife to talk it all through and see how you feel then 🙂

I laboured at home with my first, and I was over 40! Fit, well, uncomplicated pregnancy.

Long labour and I was fine. Calm, managing well, happy in the pool.

However, we got to fully dilated, and nothing was happening. Long back to back labour. Transferred to hospital for ventouse, which I understood and agreed was necessary and the best thing.

If baby had not been back to back, we could almost certainly have stayed home. I felt calm and Co didn’t throughout and was very happy to have been at home rather than in hospital until the point er needed to go in.

A midwife led pool suite would have suited me too.

Good luck OP

I would. I had DC 1 & 2 in a MLU, both were straightforward births but DC2 came very quickly and was really close to being born en route. As a result, I had DC3 at home so I didn't need to risk another high speed car journey. It was a lovely relaxing experience. I was an hour away from the nearest hospital with emergency facilities but if I'd gone to the MLU I would still have had to transfer to a bigger hospital in an emergency.

I know a few people who've had all their DC at home so I don't think it matters if it's your first.

Go for it, but get your iron levels up and high. Very important for a home birth consideration.

Absolutely consider it and did it twice.

FTM booked and had a home birth with two midwives attending, no intervention and had paracetamol for pain relief.

I was told after I didn't meet the targets and if i had been in hospital i may have had intervention. As i was at home with two experienced midwives who had done my antenatal care and had met me prior to the birth. They were happy to let me continue at my own pace whilst I and baby were both doing fine.

2nd time round emergency caesarian section due to complications with twins. Sadly one died.

3rd time HBAC lovely relaxed home birth, no associations with hospital.

i have absolutely no regrets with my choices.

DH was initially reticent regarding HB but when he asked the MW (hoping to talk some sense in to me) about HB she said "well obviously it's the safest place to have your baby".

Another positive is that DH can take a more active role and not have to leave as visiting hours are finished.

That basically confirmed it to me.

We had had so many hospital trips the year I was pregnant, due to MIL cancer diagnosis. We wanted to avoid hospital as associated with sickness.

We were having a baby and had no need to go to hospital.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do. My only advice is to do what is best for you and your DH.

If I'd had a home birth I would have died and so would my daughter. Not worth the risk.

No other medical procedure happens at home, I really don’t know why birth is different

There are those who would argue that it isn't a medical procedure it is a natural physiological process.

I planned a home water birth for my first. It didn’t happen because I developed pre-eclampsia one week overdue, and was admitted and induced in a panic.

The birth I got was the exact opposite to the one I planned. I had practised hypnobirthing and the pool was up and ready. My hospital birth was chaotic and I was utterly resistant to it all and in denial really.

But it was all fine. Everything safe and good.

So yes, I’d do the same as you. I’d plan the home birth in that scenario. As my midwife said at the time, by the time the theatre was ready if I needed it, I could be there.

But don’t be too scared if it doesn’t happen. I was induced, ended up having an epidural - it was all fine.

Good luck!

I wanted a home birth for my second child, and was labouring at home, until the midwives realised I needed to go into hospital because of possible complications. I was taken in an ambulance, but it was not a blue light emergency. It was probably 2 miles away.

I got lucky with my third child, who was born at home. It was a great experience compared to the other 2, and I would say that if your midwife team agree, then go for it.