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FYM's home water birth success

10 replies

fymmumoftwo · 12/02/2009 20:53

The home birth idea was first suggested by the midwife ? I was very surprised as have heard a lot of negative stories about home births being actively discouraged?

DS1 arrived without too much fuss so I was a suitable candidate?

I was quite unsure but felt I wanted to stay away from hospital (potential for infections plus a less medicalised process) also the journey to hospital was quite painful and I quite wanted to avoid it again!

Both DH and I decided to go along with it on the grounds that we could always transfer into hospital if we wanted to!

Really surprised by the fact that I seemed to start having tightenings and pains a month in advance of my due date ? I was convinced I was going into labour early particularly as the baby has scanned on the large side.

Anyway a week past my due date and all the tricks were in play to bring on labour. In the end I bought a hypnotherapy CD and started having contractions plus a big show whilst listening, at about 8pm I didn?t even get to hear the whole thing!

Paracetamol and rested and the labour started with regular contractions at about 6am. Called the midwife at 8am although nothing serious seemed to be happening to check I could have the homebirth (only one allowed at once in the borough!). Still unsure whether to go ahead with the home birth

The midwife turned up a short while later with a student? I said I wasn?t ready but after a quick exam found I was 6cm ! (especially given it took me 18 hours to get to 3cm the first time round!)

2nd midwife then arrived ? also with a student ! Good job I have a big kitchen was feeling more and more comfortable with the way thing were going despite the audience and decided to go ahead with the home birth.

DH put the pool up which took ages and kept him occupied for quite some time.

At 1pm was examined again ? still 6 cm , however the midwife said my waters needed to go and then I?d be quite quick.

I really thought I?d be going into hospital at that stage as my waters only went when DS1 was born but got a big surprise when they went all over the floor.

Contractions then got much stronger and moved into the pool.

Kept going with the G&A and a mere 47 minutes later DS2 arrived into the pool. He didn?t cry at all and looked very placid, breathed straight away and sat on my chest while I recovered and had the third stage. Placenta didn?t want to come out, took another hour (think my body had had enough pushing at that point!), but not too bad overall.

DS2 weighed in at 10lb 5oz and is called James.

Very small tear which took 1 stitch - definitely would recommend a water birth.