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 :)

The private midwife only model is the state of home birth in the US and it seems to have really poor outcomes - because there is this polarising effect meaning that a lot of the midwives who do offer home birth are extremely "alternative" with a distrust of "mainstream medicine" - which is absolutely not what you want!! If you're going to birth at home then you NEED someone with a realistic view, and ideally you want joined up care so the hospital has access to your medical history as well if you do need transferring in in an emergency.

Just because your young and low risk doesn’t mean there won’t be complications. First births are usually hard and I personally am glad I had my daughter at hospital as she was in distress during labour and could have died had they not used instruments to get her out quickly. I wouldn’t risk it and you should put the baby first and put your feelings about hospitals to the side and put the babies interests first.

regarding babies position I had an ultrasound a few days before delivery to check babies position and make sure was head down and engaged.

Having been in hospital for my second birth (due to complications) my waters went, baby was in distress and it took over three hours for an emergency section. Staff did a handover whilst I was in pre-op waiting for surgery.

Third birth was high risk as VBAC then throw in the mix a home birth and it was still the best choice for me.

Actually get the facts and. figures regarding each option and make the decision that best suits you.

Statistically home is the safest place to have your baby. Also you get one to one care from two midwives. Usually both quite experienced and often one you have seen through pregnancy.

The only pain relief you can't get in a home birth is a spinal.

I had a home birth when I was in my late 30s. The hospital was about 25 mins drive away.

So yes, I would (though mine was a second birth. I'm not sure I'd have considered it for a first).

To the PP who complained about "hogging resources". What rubbish! I had two midwives, one of whom was a student, witnessing her first birth, with me for about 3 hours. I didn't take up room in a hospital. No one had to clear up after me (except that the midwife took the placenta away with her for disposal). No one had to do any of my laundry or feed me. I did use some gas and air but I don't suppose I had any more than I would have had in hospital!

@Charleymouse I agree with you to a point. For low risk women having subsequent pregnancies, home birth is the safest option.
When you think about it - midwife ratios etc - I do wonder why so many women find this surprising.

Not a chance.
My sister nearly died when she was born at home.

Yes

If you don't plan one, it won't happen. If you plan it, you still have the option for a hospital birth if you change your mind, even at the last minute. I would 100% plan one.

Home births are statistically as safe, if not safer than hospital births and have significantly less interventions and complications.

Equally, it is your birth. If you want to go to hospital you can still decline as many or as few interventions as you want. I refused sweeps, inductions, having my tummy measured and growth scans.

@Prickled highly recommend listening to as many episodes of the Midwives Cauldron as you can.

I did plan one for first child- annoyingly I bled heavily so had to (walk) to hospital in labour, made for a speedy arrival mind.

Second baby thought no point having home birth so of course had a sudden unexpected home birth!

We have amazing hospital facilities i cant understand why people want to have them at home. You may think it will go smoothly but you really never know! I had 1 birth which was absolutely fine then the 2nd one i nearly bled to death. If it wasnt for the emergency team in hospital i would have died. If id had baby at home i wouldnt be here now. Its really not worth the risk. Youll be back home within 24 hours unless theres reasons for you and baby to stay in longer

The main risk for women in childbirth is losing too much blood. Thats the main cause of death for women giving birth. Without the team rushing in within seconds to save me i would have died. If you bleed heavily at home theres no team there to help you

No, every minute counts but I would see if I could do the hiring of a private midwife (is that still a thing) to have someone with me at the hospital to advocate for me

@DaisyDreaming We had an Independent Midwife at our home birth. She was absolutely exceptional.

The leading cause of post partum death for mothers is PPH. But the risk of PPH is lower in women who intend to birth at home vs those who birth in hospital. This is based on a Scandinavian study between 2005-2009.
One reason is believed to be the oxytocin produced in a relaxed environment which is key in helping the uterus contract down after birth.

Anecdotes are one thing, but the evidence shows something else - homebirth for 2nd and subsequent births are SAFER for women than hospital births and just as safe in first births. The risk to baby is elevated in first time births but there is no additional risk to baby in 2nd and subsequent births. This is from the birthplace study done in the UK.

Homebirth is an entirely valid choice, and you're fair to say you wouldn't choose it but please don't bemoan those of us who have - based on our preferences and the evidence available, it is entirely safe.

@scrunchmum Totally agree with everything you have said!
Fellow homebirther ❤️

No , 1st pregnancy was low risk, I was HCP so chose to have in hospital, even then & being closely monitored(i knew the staff!) I had an emergency CS & DS & I were lucky to survive, DH was traumatised by whole experience & took a lot of persuading to have DS2! If we had been at home neither of us would be here .

Edit to add,
I should say very safe - not entirely safe - as birth is never entirely safe of course.

Why would you risk giving birth in an environment where you have no access to doctors and anthetists? It is not worth the risk.

I had my first baby in hospital because the GP at my home birth got cold feet and ended up arguing with the midwives. Other babies all born at home - went for midwife deliveries with a lovely GP on call. Maternity unit for a few mins away, but it wasn't one with facilities for complications, so about 20 min drive away from a hospital. I could have been same distance away from hospital in the local maternity hospital - so much better at home.

You get 2 midwives with a home birth. You only get one in hospital. Hospital births are also more likely to lead to intervention.

Anyway, just go with what feels right for you. If you want a home birth plan for it, but you can always change your mind.

I had my first in hospital but 2 and 3 at home. Have no complaints about any of the births. I was a lot more relaxed at home and didn't need any pain relief, but needed an epidural with my first. Not that there's anything wrong with an epidural, it was great.

Because birth is a natural occurrence not a medical issue.

And widwives are the specialists in giving birth . And they are close to you at a home birth not going between labouring mothers and telling you to ring a bell if you want them

The maternity hospital was 2 minutes from my door. I had all 3 babies in 2.5 hours with no complications. I would never have risked a home birth though.

Absolutely. And the risk isn't at all huge, in fact most recent data says well-supported HB is just as safe for low risk pregnancies, with better outcomes for mum. So many people miss the fact that often the interventions cause some of the negative outcomes. Had 1 drawn out induction and 1 spontaneous HB, the difference was night & day, I would 110% go for another HB if we had a third. Unless you're induced, every birth essentially starts at home :) Good luck!

Wouldn’t be my choice, but I do CPR on people, including infants, so I know just how long two minutes can be.

Everyone’s experience colours their answer.