Hi justine09x happy to share! Can't begin to imagine how scary it must have been to deliver your own baby solo. Well done you.
I had a home birth with my DS, and couldn't have been happier with how it all went. We went for home birth as I was low risk, we liked the fact that the birth would be very private, DH wouldn't have to be separated from me and baby after the event, and we thought it would give us the best chance of having as non-medical a birth as possible. Don't get me wrong, I'm a pharmacist so am all in favour of drugs when they're needed, and always knew that there was a 50% chance we would have to transfer to hospital so we kept a very open mind. We would never have had an issue with a hospital transfer if it was recommended but as far as "setting the scene" for the type of birth we hoped for, beginning at home seemed like a good place to start.
Practicality wise, up here (Edinburgh), there is a home visit at around 22 weeks to have a chat with the MW about what's involved in HB. Then the birth box (various bits and pieces that MW need so they don't have to cart them to every birth) and gas cylinders (entonox for you and O2 for baby although hopefully never required) get delivered at 38 weeks and from 38 to 42 weeks the MW are on call for you. You phone triage to say you're in labour, they phone the on-call MW, who then phones you and it goes from there. The plan is to have one MW for established labour/whenever you feel you need support and then a second one that will come for the 2nd stage/pushing so that there is one MW for you and one for baby when it arrives.
My labour was v straightforward and pretty quick for a first-timer (5 hours start to finish) so the second MW didn't actually arrive in time - I'll be flagging this next time around when I phone triage! It was v calm and relaxed and exactly what we had hoped for, and so we're keeping fingers crossed that this pregnancy progresses in similar low risk fashion and we can have a stab at a second HB.
It's prob worth looking into whether there are any support groups in your area, or whether your MWs run HB groups so that you can get an idea of how the service works where you are (think it might vary slightly around the UK) and talk to other ladies who've been there.
Oh, and most people worry about the mess - really not an issue (a few Asda value shower curtains and bob's your uncle), and the MW clean everything up afterwards!
Top tip is to use hypnotherapy, I listened to the Natal Hypnotherapy CDs, really helps to relax and focus on breathing. I was so relaxed I completely forgot there was gas/air there that I could use so ended up doing the whole thing with TENS and the hynotherapy.
At the mo it sounds as though you are reluctantly going for HB because of the previous quick labour but hopefully you can turn it around and feel positive and excited about the prospect of staying at home, making yourself comfy and not having to worry about seizing the right moment to jump in the car. Any questions do just ask!