Has anyone had a home birth for a first baby?

[HBStowe]

And if so, what was it like?

I don’t know if IABU to even consider this...

(Also not actually pregnant yet, just trying! So have no idea how I will feel when actually pregnant)

I had a pain relief free home birth with my first. Three midwives at one point. Was great. Dd loves that she was born in our living room. In a pool.

I had my second, as a compromise, at the birth centre. I wanted a hospital
Birth as i felt from the atart i needed to be in hospital this time, but the mws couldnt understand why. Anyway, my second child was born quickly and easily, but then it all went down hill. I was still having contractions but it took them an age to believe me. It wasnt until the head mw who had seen me the previous day said this wasnt a normal Reaction for me and then they realised some placenta was missing. I couldn't sit up or hold my baby and eventauilly lost consciousness while on the toilet. I woke up in the bed with paramedics inserting canulas and then i was blue lighted to hospital two towns over. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if i had been having a home birth they would have transferred me to hospital much, much sooner. They dont take their time deciding to transfer with home births.

I disagree. I didn't need an intervention because I was in hospital, I needed it because the baby was stuck. And he would still have been stuck if I'd been at home, except there would have been very little the midwife could have done about it (other than transfer me to hospital).

And he would still have been stuck if I'd been at home, except there would have been very little the midwife could have done about it

Have you actually researched this or is this your assumption?

I had an obstetric hemorrhage after my first, would probably have died if I’d have been at home. Had to have the ‘Rouge Balloon’ procedure to stop the bleeding.

To be fair, it's an assumption. There's no way to really know. I guess my overriding point is I personally wouldn't risk a home birth for the first baby when so much is unknown (maybe for later ones if the first went to plan).

And that’s absolutely fine, it’s completely your decision to not want a home birth. Very few women do. Equally it’s a valid choice for those who do want to, who have researched and educated themselves and feel that is the best option for them and their baby. Women’s choice at all that

Glossing over very serious risks and insisting all is fine is disrespectful and dangerous.

This is such an unfair characterisation of the very thoughtful and detailed research I am doing to help me make this decision.

Word of warning:

Had a low-risk uncomplicated birth with first.

Second was predicted the same. I ended up nearly dying (haemorrhage due to large baby, followed by sepsis from an ongoing threat infection and triggered through blood loss and general strain of birth... so the doctors think).

I would be dead if I hadn’t been in hospital; it was absolutely that urgent.

Medical intervention in birth has saved the life of countless women and their babies. My opinion: It isn’t about the experience. It’s about safety.

Throat infection not threat infection!

I had one planned for my second but sadly had to go into hospital due to growth issues picked up in a scan.
I'd planned one after my next door neighbour had her first at home. It seemed like an amazing experience. She had her daughter in her living room in a pool. She was able to get into her own bed with toast and tea afterwards. She did tear but the midwives were able to deal with stitching her there and then and she did not need to go into hospital.

Another thought OP - go and see your hospital birth centre when the time comes. I found mine a lot more 'homely' than I had expected, it didn't really feel like a hospital (although the labour ward certainly did!). Birth centre is a bit of a half way house.

You've had lots of people for and lots of people against. I'd say go with you gut, you'll likely know when it comes what feels right for you.

You've had lots of people for and lots of people against. I'd say go with you gut, you'll likely know when it comes what feels right for you.

Very sound advice!

For people saying "I wasn't ill only pregnant " ... pregnancy/ labour are carry one of the highest risks of mortality/ morbidity in a woman's life.

Thats why we have medical science.

If we did not have medical science babies & mothers would still have the mortality rate of the victorian era .

I would certainly be dead , my 2 children would be dead , my mother , my sister , and my 2 nephews would be dead without hospital maternity care.

They only promote home births because the NHS cannot afford to not promote them.

Yes and I loved it. Small amount of nitrous. Dry birth in the living room. Was my benchmark for my second birth. Really recommend. If you plan for home you could transfer in if you wanted. You have a MW with you all the time. In hospital they keep disappearing.

Having a home birth is not 'having a baby without medical science'

I think some people think having a home birth is basically the same as asking the local wise woman to deliver the baby, armed only with some hot towels. If you're that ignorant on a topic it might be best not to comment on it.

The thing that I don’t understand in these discussions is just how angry people seem to get about where other people give birth!

If we did not have medical science babies & mothers would still have the mortality rate of the victorian era

It’s a home birth, not a trek into the wilderness to give birth in a cave with nothing but a she-wolf for company

Why would you risk it? Yes sure some people were transferred successfully, but also some people aren’t and their baby dies. I assure you this will fuck you up for life. Please don’t do it.

Why would you risk it? Yes sure some people were transferred successfully, but also some people aren’t and their baby dies. I assure you this will fuck you up for life. Please don’t do it.

Why do you risk leaving the house during pregnancy? You could have a car crash and lose your baby.

Why risk going into hospital? Your baby could catch norovirus and die or die from negligence.

If we did not have medical science babies & mothers would still have the mortality rate of the victorian era

Well yes but medical science and ante natal care is why homebirth is also relatively safe. Y'know women have scans so they know where the placenta is etc, homebirth midmives carry in their cars what is needed in emergency.

The replies to this thread really are getting more bizarre and irrational. Evidence shows for subsequent births homebirth for low risk pregnancies carries equal risk to hospital. And for first pregnancy there is an increased risk of some outcomes (but not so.much so that the nhs doesn't recommend it).

There are not mothers and babies dying everywhere, I doubt any of the people on this thread claiming they would have died actually would have in reality as the monitoring is so careful and they do have procedures for pph/ if baby doesn't breathe etc. But it is quite simply impossible to prove either way.

You've had lots of people for and lots of people against. I'd say go with you gut, you'll likely know when it comes what feels right for you.

^^ exactly that. And to some extent as you said at the start you need to go with the flow because there may be a reason you need to be in hospital.

Listen to your gut instinct... Once you're pregnant, and continue to stay open minded is my best advice.
First baby... Induction lasting three days and forceps. Made me REALLY not want to birth in a hospital ever again.

Second baby... At home, absolutely AMAZING experience. So many positives and totally empowering.

Third... Hospital birth a week ago. Planned a hb but I wasn't as rigidly set on one. Easier induction and a totally cathartic experience. Top notch care, fabulous midwife but so glad we were in hospital as my son was a shoulder dystocia. Easily resolved but my gut this time was right.

I honestly think our instincts are often so right but tuning into them can be tricky. Obviously listen to your MWs etc and read stats too.

*but also some people aren’t and their baby dies.

Some babies die due to poor care in hospital. I’m sure that fucks them up too.

I would be dead if I hadn’t been in hospital; it was absolutely that urgent.

The point that people are making on this thread is that it’s likely there would have been indicators, not shared with you in a hospital setting, that would have been picked up by a midwife and home and prompted a transfer long before it reached crisis point.

I'm planning a home birth for my first in 6 weeks (ish).

We spent a long time researching the options and risks and also had a chat with the homebirth midwives. I asked about transfers, ambulance availability, our location etc and they were great at answering all our questions with no pressure.

Interestly the statistics in our area (rural) are very different from the national average. About 8× as many women have home births and the transfer rate is less than half the average for first time mums.

They reassured me that if I needed emergency care, I'd be in the hospital before theatre would be ready for me.

For us, we prefer the idea of 2 or 3 midwives monitoring just me, rather than the busy labour ward with midwives rushed off their feet. We'd also like to avoid unnecessary interventions. If I need, or want, to transfer that's fine, but a home water birth in my own home is my preference.

Yes I did, it was great. I refused induction and went into labour the same day they wanted to do it so it felt like a proper 'yesssss' moment