The Midwife's Take on Homebirth

[WoTmania]

Sorry if this has already been done but this is rather interesting re: homebirths

I love Mary Cronk. She can do no wrong in my book. She's always wise and measured.

Thanks for that. I'm 38+4 with DC2 and planning a home birth. Feeling anxious about it and this has cheered me up.

I had a homebirth after an emergency section and a vbac in hospital.

If I'm low risk again, I'll always go for home birth. There is nothing better than getting into your own bed, with your baby, with your tea and your toast and snuggling down.

But I'm a firm believer in birthing where you feel safest.

To clarify I am anxious about birth again full stop whether at home or hospital.

Allegrogirl - I think I was more anxious with DC2 as I knew more what was coming. And my first birth had no complications, just that labour is hard work!

I had both at home, 2nd time around was much quicker and I was really pleased that I was at home as I'm not sure at what point I could have managed to get into a car and go to the hospital.

Thanks Rhinestone. I was induced with my first and had an epidural pretty early on so I don't really know what's coming. My MW seems to have every confidence in me and I hope she's right.

Allegrogirl, I was in a similar situation to you with my second. I also didn't know what happened to me during my first labour. I had a wierd and terrifying labour which I have discussed before on MN. One thing I knew deep down inside was that this one was going to be much much better and it was.

My first labour was really upsetting and hard work.

My second and third were an awful lot easier. I put this down to several factors but as it's hardly a scientifically controlled test it probably might be dismissed:

• I used a TENS machine from the off. The very first twinge of labour.

• I kept upright and moved around as much as possible.

• I would not be forced into positions that didn't feel right to me i.e. lying down.

• Gas and air gave me something else to focus on during contractions.

• I knew there was an end to because I'd done it before.

Have you investigated ways of coping or pain relief that could help you feel more confident this time around, Allegrogirl?

I have no real reason to worry, I'm just an enormous wimp. My first was induced by drip 4 days after PROM and the contractions weren't that bad before I had the epi. The MWs were predicting very long labour or section which is why I went for the epi. As it happens it was all over within 7 hours. I did tear a fair bit and had back pain afterwards for a couple of weeks due to pushing. I'm staying at home this time to avoid that.

I hated TENS last time but will give the gas and air a go plus labouring in water.

I was pretty lucky with the birth last time and I've been really confident until last week when I had my presentation scan. Baby is on my right hand side and 'a bit' back to back. I guess there's still time for it to move. I'm doing all the right things to get it in a good position but it keeps flipping back again.

have you seen the website called spiningbabies.com? it is all about optimal foetal positioning (and keeping them that way).

Like you I am a big wimp when it comes down to pain. I did the Natal Hypnotherapy CD (the one for labour and birth I think) and in reality I had nothing else as from the first contraction, labour was full on.

The only pain relief I had was vocalisation shouting bellowing but I think the mindset I learnt while doing the hypnotherapy gave me the confidence that I could do this.

By the time I got into the pool, the baby was already descending and she was out with 3 or 4 contractions (and no pushing). I didn't even feel her crown.

In hindsight, I would do that labour all over again but I dread ever being pg again.

Erm, being worried about labour pain does not under any circumstances make you a wimp in any way!