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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Were you born at home or in a hospital?

188 replies

Spangles1963V · 27/02/2018 17:24

And what year was it? I was chatting to some friends a few days ago and I was surprised to find that I was the only one born at home. This was in 1963. Three of my friends are the oldest child,whereas I was the youngest,which explained why they were born in hospital. Back in the early to mid 60s,it was common practice to have your first baby in hospital,then subsequent ones at home,providing there were no health issues or problems with the first birth. Another of my friends said she was born in hospital even though she was the youngest,but then she was born in the late 70s. I remember my DM saying that she didn't want any of her babies at home,she'd rather be safe in hospital,but the doctor wouldn't hear of it! Said she was fit and healthy so it had to be a home birth. I also recall her saying that the midwife who delivered me wouldn't let her sit or lay down while she was in labour,insisted she keep upright and moving around. This seems contrary to what I've heard about a lot of deliveries,where the mother was told to stay flat on her back when she would rather be upright. Any MNers got any stories about when they were born?

OP posts:
cygnet12 · 27/02/2018 17:28

83 at hospital, first born

newtlover · 27/02/2018 17:29

I was born at home and so was my brother (late 50s/early 60s), I don't know much about the births, but my mum told me she was not a candidate for a hospital birth as we had an indoor toilet and running water! There was probably no heating in the bedroom (maybe a 2 bar electric fire) and the 'inside toilet' was downstairs and through the kitchen so not handy for the bedroom.

Lolimax · 27/02/2018 17:30

Army hospital, 1969

FrozenMargarita17 · 27/02/2018 17:30

88, hospital.

My little girl was born in 17 and at home 😊

cadburyegg · 27/02/2018 17:30

1987, hospital. Good thing too as I was undiagnosed breech. Hmm

GinUser · 27/02/2018 17:30

Scotland, 1958, home birth. Was the norm in those days for "normal" pregnancies.

shouldnthavesaid · 27/02/2018 17:31

1991, hospital, consultant/HDU type set up as my mum had seizures throughout labour. But they didn't do a c section Hmm.

x2boys · 27/02/2018 17:32

In hospital in 1973, my sister was born 19 months before me also in hospital., dh was born at home in 1975 I don't think it was planned though.

totallyrasamus · 27/02/2018 17:33

1985 hospital

soundsystem · 27/02/2018 17:33

84, in hospital. My mum stayed in for a week, being shown how to take care of me (which was apparently standard for first babies at the time). When my sister was born in 93, my mum was in and out in under 6 hours!

bridgetreilly · 27/02/2018 17:34

In a maternity hospital.

CMOTDibbler · 27/02/2018 17:35

1972, in a maternity hospital. Mum said it was the height of the era of being induced to have your baby Mon-Fri, 9-5 but that matron in their community maternity unit didn't approve of that. She didn't approve of fathers either, but dad was there for mine as I was born so fast.

Chasingsquirrels · 27/02/2018 17:36

Early 1970's, not first born. At home.

Arapaima · 27/02/2018 17:36

Hospital (only just made it in time apparently!), 1974.

Birdsgottafly · 27/02/2018 17:37

My Sister was born in 1958 and my Cousins around then, all in Hospital. I was born in 1968, in Hospital. Only one of my friends was born at home (fourth baby). As a pp said, your living conditions would be assessed by the MW, many houses wouldn't be passed.

I had mine 1985 to 1997 in hospital. My Grandchildren were born at home.

wendz86 · 27/02/2018 17:38

86 - hospital . I was a planned c section .

Kingsclerelass · 27/02/2018 17:38

At home. 1963. I was number 6 and my mum said she only rang the doctor out of courtesy. Our next door neighbour helped until the midwife arrived.

IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst · 27/02/2018 17:40

I was born in a hospital corridor, it was very busy!

IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst · 27/02/2018 17:42

1969 btw.

CoffeAndCream · 27/02/2018 17:45

I was born at home (1967) my sibling was born at home (1971)

Floralnomad · 27/02/2018 17:46

I was born at home in 1966 , my mum wanted a homebirth , not her first child .

SockQueen · 27/02/2018 17:46

1984, in hospital. First child and mum was a "geriatric primigravida" at 36.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 27/02/2018 17:48

1969

C section...so at the hospital Grin

As was my brother, later obviously

Bluelady · 27/02/2018 17:48

Hospital in 1953.

Phoenix15 · 27/02/2018 17:48

Born 1990, in hospital. I don't think a home birth was even a consideration! My mum was born in a hospital in 1958, due to my grandmother having been admitted in late pregnancy for anaemia. It was a women's hospital and my grandfather didn't even know my mum was born til visiting day 2 days later! My grandmothers 2nd and 3rd babies were born at home in 1960 and 1963. She was "started off" with the 3rd by a doctor at home as she was overdue.