Homebirth after ventouse/episiotomy - experiences?

[AlisonOrdnung]

My DS was born by ventouse - second degree episiotomy. I'd run out of steam after being at pushing stage for two hours and not knowing! I'd really like a homebirth this time, now I know what I'm doing. Does anyone have a similar experience? How did the midwives react when you requested a homebirth?

Oooh - thanks for posting this. I'm in the exact same position as you... I'm due a homebirth this time, really don't fancy going into the horrid hospital this time round. I'm 39 weeks, so could pop any minute - everythings ready for homebirth anway. I'll be following this thread!

Sorry - should have said that I had the nasty vontouse as well, horrible.

Hello Bessy! Did you have any problems when you requested the homebirth? Did the midwife try and put you off the idea? I'm only 16 weeks and am hoping that I won't have to argue about it!

I had ventouse,forseps, episiotmy etc with dc1, dc2 was born 15 mins after reaching hospital and would hve come out quicker if I hadn't been so worried about tearing(I thought my scar would 'unzip' - it didn't!) and the mw got me to take it as slow as poss.DC3 was born at home 7 weeks ago, it was very calm despite a 5 min 2nd stage. I was calm because i was at home and the mw was my community mw I'd seen throughout my pg.I was offered a homebirth for dc2 but DH was a bit freaked out by dc1's birth still. Good luck bessyboop and hope you get what you want AlisonO.

My friend was the same - ventouse and episiotomy first time, homebirth second. Absolutely fine, much easier/nicer second time (she did hypnobirthing too, recommend that), midwives didn't bat an eyelid (and nor should they for you).

I did - it was fine. I also had dodgy blood pressure first time round so added complication.

Midwives were fine with everything - first time assisted birth is not a contraindication for my hospital at all - they asked about it in their questionnaire thingy but the lovely midwife said that 90% of women go on to birth fine second time and she was absolutely right in my case.

Anyway all went well, I had a little graze along the episiotomy scar but it healed without stitches and the homebirth was laaarvely in comparison to the hospital experience.

I seriously doubt they will be fazed at all but why not ask about their criteria and you can see?

Good to hear posotive stories! I asked for a homebirth right from the beginning, and my community midwife was over the moon, because she perfers homebirths! :-)
I'm a bit worried that I won't cope, but I really feel that I'm more prepared second time round - and the midwives can still give stiches if there's a tear etc.
I've got really bad SPD this time round as well, so my midwife and DP knows what my limits are. Hopefully I'll have a water birth at home - depends on how long the labour will be.
I hope you'll get what you want Alison - if you've got decent midwives, you should cope with a homebirth. Are you nearby a hospital just in case of an emergency?
I'm half an hours drive away from mine... I still get nightmires about the vontouse, the huge tear - and the stitches (I had an ifection on my stitches afterwards as well - not nice!)

I am expecting my 3rd and had a ventouse and episiotomy for my 1st but 2nd was so easy I could've easily had him at home, I was in hospital for 1/2 before he was born, completely natural birth. I am at home at the moment waiting for a home birth for my 3rd. If you are close to a hospital they can always take you there quickly if there's complications. Good luck

This is all brilliant, thank you all so much. I feel much more confident about having the conversation now! I'm shortly to be moving to a new town, so I think the uncertainty of that is adding to my nerves - I don't know who will be caring for me etc etc. It's a town with a nice hippy vibe about the place, so with any luck home birthing will be more commonplace than where I am now. I'm definitely going to try hypnobirthing, I've had lots of positive reports. Thank you all again, you've really calmed me down! xx

Hi there - just wanted to tell you Alison that I managed a homebirth after ventouse! DD2 arrived early yesterday morning, after only a 2 hour labour, and 15 mins of pushing! Everything happened so quickly. I coped really well - and after the horrid experience the first time round, I seriously recommend a homebirth! Due to the quick birth, I didnt have any painkillers - I just got on with it. :-) Everything fine - midwife told me that I may need one stitch, but am going to leave it to see if it heals by itself. So go for it Alison! It was a breeze this time round.