Were you born at home or in a hospital?

[Spangles1963V]

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?

When I had my first two in the 1986 and 1987, after a couple of days the hospital offered to let the mum go out for an evening meal with her husband while they looked after the baby. She would then come back to the ward and stay with the baby for another couple of days before being discharged. Then when I had my third in 1989 they introduced 48 hours stays. When I had my fourth in 1991 you were offered the Domino scheme...domicillary in and out was what it meant (6 hours). A midwife you knew went in to the hospital, delivered the baby, then gave you postnatal care at home. Unfortunately the closed the maternity hospital shortly after that.

My brothers and I were all born at home, mid to late 50s- early 60s. My mum and her siblings were born in the same room (1920s). It was a bit sad when I had to pack up and sell the house, thinking of us all starting life in that very bedroom.

My mother was born breech in a lift in a maternity hospital in 1937. She was the youngest of 6.

My sister was born in hospital in 1963.

Mum had high blood pressure and was due to be admitted to hospital the day I was born in 1966. She was supposed to take a bus and a half mile walk to her mum's with a 3 year old, then catch two buses to be at the hospital by 9.30am. She had just finished cleaning the kitchen floor, before setting out, when her waters broke on it. I was born at 9.20am at home.

DD was born in 1992 at a maternity hospital. As I was low risk I was supposed to give birth in the GP unit ie with a midwife but my GP would attend delivery, but as it was February and the funding had long since run out and there would be no more money until the new financial year in April, I was sent to the labour ward and was told I would be looked after by midwives. A consultant did pop in whilst I was in second stage labour took one look at the business end declared I wasn't one of his (patients) and walked out - even at the time I found it hilarious that he could make that comment without ever looking at my face!

1964 in hospital. They had waited a long time for me to come along, in fact had given up hope and then it happened. I guess they weren't taking any chances. I was a forceps delivery.

My sister and I were both c-sections, I was an undiagnosed breech and my sister was a section because I was, not many vbacs in the 1980s I don’t think.
I had dc1 in hospital and DC2 and 3 at home.

At home in 1969.

1996 and at hospital.
My nan however had all her children at home. She had a stillborn with no intervention and threw the baby onto the fire. I couldn't ever imagine doing it. It's strange how things change.

1998. Cord wrapped around my neck.

Out cold for half a minute, then screamed and wanted food

^Whitechapel Hospital, 1998

Me: 1981 hospital (induced on my due date as “it’s a good size” and my mum at 43 was “so old”!!)

Brother: 1967 home and the doctor came on a house all at 11pm to stitch!

Sister 1965 hospital

Born in hospital in 1996, I was the 4th and last baby.

1980s, oldest, in hospital. My younger sibling was also born in hospital.

82 hospital (I wasn't the first born either)

Just for variety, I was born in 1948 in a private nursing home (despite the NHS having been in existence since July). Mum was kept in for two weeks - with bed rest for the first week.
My children were born in !974 & 1977 - both in hospital, and I was kept in for a week each time.

Born at home in 1967. My 3 older siblings were born in hospital.

1977 hospital. Brother born 1983 also hospital.

We were all born at home east end in the late 50s and early 60s. I was named after the nun who delivered me. Very call,the midwife!

1966 at home. The three of us all born at home.

87 in hospital

Brother 1989 also hospital

1992 in a hospital
My brother was born in 1985 in a hospital
The main difference my DM has commented on is that when she had my brother it was standard practice in the hospital to be given an enema/suppository to clear out your bowels. She says she preferred that and doesn't understand why they don't give you the option anymore.
Other than that I think the hospital stay was also a bit longer the first time round.

Also 1963. Home. Not actually my parents' home: that wasn't ready to be lived in yet. It was my aunt & uncle's home.

1985, hospital. My DM was in for a month on bedrest before I was born, probably pre-eclampsia.

1978 in hospital. Mum did consider home birth, but I was first baby so decided against it. Also they didn't have central heating at the time and she worried it would be too cold (winter baby)

However 2 yrs later my brother was born at home, because he came so quickly there wasn't time to go to hospital.

Youngest bro in 1985 was hospital again, very overdue and big baby.