almost convinced by homebirth article in the Guardian this weekend...

[elportodelgato]

I don't know if anyone else saw this article by Sali Hughes about homebirth on Saturday in the Guardian Family section? probably there is a whole thread about it somewhere but I can't find it...

I've never considered homebirth before but this article has really made me think again. I had a straightforward pregnancy with my DD but she was induced at 41+3 so I was in hospital so they could monitor the induction. Besides, it was my first baby and I would not have wanted to be anywhere except hospital. The whole labour was 7 hours in total and I did without any pain relief (not out of choice btw, would have loved something to take the edge off) until G&A for the pushing stage - I tore and had stitches but otherwise all was normal. It's entirely possible that I will be induced this time around too but if I'm not then I am really considering homebirth - can someone come and tell me if I am being silly and it's my hormones?

I almost cried when I read the bit about her being tucked up in her own bed in nice clean pyjamas with her new baby. It has made me really realise that my hospital experience last time was 'OK' but not amazing - busy London hospital, laboured for the most part behind a curtain in a ward which was not at all private or pleasant and I remember being hugely embarrassed when my waters broke on the floor. In the night following the birth the call button in my cubicle didn't work and no one came to help me. Because of my stitches I needed help to get to the loo etc but no one did this. I'd like to avoid all these downsides if possible and suddenly homebirth looks attractive. Can anyone offer a view?

I had hospital birth (big London teaching hospital) with DC1. Was ridiculously quick and easy and yet they wanted to interfere with me and process and I didn't like that (they wanted me to birth in accordance with their procedures I felt). We only just got there in time and I was advised to consider homebirth in future as it might happen more quickly. So I started looking into homebirths with second pregnancy, I felt out of necessity not because that was what I necessarily wanted. I had DC2 at home in pool in front of a log fire exactly as I wanted it and it was fabulous. I had the same midwives for DC3 and did it in the bath! And like you say I was tucked up very shortly afterwards in my own clean and cosy bed with subtle lighting and tea and toast with lots of honey and with cuddles from my other children. Everything was just as I wanted it and so cosy.
I wouldn't recommend it for a first timer (but I know first timers who've done it at home). Good for inspiration I found was the Rikki Lake film on Birth - The Business of Being Born I think.

I agree with duchesse that sometimes perfectly normal events can be whipped up into something scary and dangerous. When I say that my first baby in the MLU started to show signs of distress and decelarations, that sounds terribly dramatic, but the wonderful and experienced midwife said it was a totally normal reaction towards the end of a long hard first labour. Personally I'm glad I had her managing my birth rather than some less experienced (in normal births) doctor flying in and panicking and sticking on a foetal scalp monitor or suggesting a Caesarian. So many invasive procedures are carried out which could be avoided. Like duchesse, I had a later birth which DID need all the wonders of modern technology- monitoring through last weeks of pregnancy, CS and a long stay in NICU. I think perhaps when you've experienced both types of birth, it makes you even more aware that the majority of births are actually really straightforward and don't require medical intervention.

For lots of reasons I chose to have ds1 and ds2 hospital, and for medical reasons will have to have dc3 on labour ward.
Personally I am quite comfortable on labour ward - doesn't stress me out.
But what I really want is a teleport button home immediately afterwards. At least after ds1 I knew to take my own paracetamol, drinks and food...
(london hospital post-natal "care"...)

Apparently it was too tight to just be slipped off so cut air supply off completely IYSWIM. Was followed by a stay in NNICU and then a long stay in SCBU in any case. I know a lot of this is not logical and I know the problems i had are almost certainly down to being very premature but it still feels much safer being in the hospital to me. From what i've read most of the benefits of homebirth are being in your home environment/feeling more relaxed etc. I would be utterly terrified so definitely not more relaxed! I know logically the chances of this happening to any of my DC are very small but logic doesn't always come into emotion IME. I can see why some women would love a home birth and i was actually at the homebirth of my best friends DD after her asshole of an XP walked out on her at 34 weeks pregnant so i can see what an amazing experience it can be and definitely think that anyone who wants one should be able to have one barring unforseen circumstances but it just isn't something i have any inclination to experience for myself.

I don't want to worry anyone but I thought I should add something to the homebirth thread as unfortunately it doesn't always go to plan. For all the reasons listed above I chose to have a home birth with my first child, I had had a brilliant pregnancy with no complications what-so-ever, had been attending active birth classes and felt calm and prepared for the birth, whereas if I had needed to go to hospital I knew I would freak out, so having the baby at home seemed the natural choice. I hired a birthing pool and prepared everything possible that I could possibly need. I went overdue and became totally obsessed with natural methods of inducing labour so that I didn't have to go to hospital. Two days before I was due to be induced I was relieved that my contactions began. Labour at first progressed really well (if a little slowly) and when the midwife came and examined me she was amazed to find I was 7cm because I seemed to be so calm. I got into the pool and two more midwives came, who were chatting between themselves. When it came to the pushing stage I had difficulty pushing the baby out, despite trying many positions and techniques, and the midwives were arguing as to whether I had been pushing for 2 or 3 hours. The baby's heartbeat was lost (and I think they may have mistook my heartbeat for the baby's at one point) and they did an episiotomy to deliver the baby. He wasn't breathing at birth and the midwives quickly tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail, an ambulance arrived in about 10 minutes and took my partner and the baby to our local hospital, but according to my partner they seemed in no hurry to get there. The hospital staff were absolutely brilliant and eventually managed to get a heartbeat, but unfortunately by this time it was too late and the baby died at 8 hours old when his support machines were turned off. I am now expecting my second child, and again have had a very easy pregnancy, and although I still have a fear of hospitals (this is getting better...) I am planning for a hospital birth this time around and hoping for a better outcome.

Tragically some babies do die at birth or shortly after resuscitation. This can happen in hospital too. Sometimes babies are damaged through the cascade of interventions too, such as epidural leading to forceps or CS.

If I had lost a baby at a homebirth, I would quite probably be more likely to deliver in hospital next time. If I had lost a baby in hospital, through some tragedy which was avoidable, such as unecessary interventions, incorrectly used forceps, post-birth infection etc, I would probably be more likely to want a home birth next time. On a personal level we are all going to be affected by our own experiences.

However, the key point of the thread is that overall, statistically, HB and MLU births are as safe as hospital.

genghiscat- sorry to hear that.

My DD had to be resusitated after HB and ended up in NICU but I would definately want a HB again. What 'went wrong' in my HB wasnt the fault of it being a HB but poor midwifery. Unfortunately this happens at hoem and hospital.

It's like the earlier analogy to flying vs driving. If you survived a plane crash you would probably never want to fly again. But that experience doesnt make driving safer IYSWIM.

I've had a terrible hospital birth for my first baby and 2 homebirths subsequently and would have a homebirth again in a heartbeat if I had another baby (not that I would though, I think 3 is enough for me.) However I think it was a bit hit-and-miss with the NHS midwives for me. The one I had for DD2 was iffy and ended up not letting me birth in the pool (long story but basically I didn't know I didn't have to listen to her but I did, and she was ill-informed about the suitability of water temperatures for waterbirths)). But I did give birth to DD2 at home on dry land and it was a very smooth delivery and a wonderful experience despite the midwife problems.

The one I had for DS1 was fab though - she also happened to be the Supervisor of Midwives, so perhaps that was a factor, but she really did know her stuff and let me have my waterbirth, physiological 3rd stage and keep my placenta, without giving me any further problems. Absolutely loved her.

Even if problems did crop up during a homebirth that ends up with me and baby in hospital, I'd still feel that booking a homebirth in the first place was worthwhile. The calm and relative peace that one gets from labouring in the familiar surroundings of one's home for instance, and having access to all your homely comforts. Can't beat that. Having 2 midwives come to your home and give you that full one-to-one support that you can never get in hospital. You will never feel like you're labouring "alone", and you will never feel like your midwife's attention is always split. Its not all about control really, for me its more to do with feeling like I am getting the medical attention I need.

From what I know, it seems that there isn't that much different that medical staff can do for you and your baby whether you had a homebirth or not... but perhaps faster access to an operating theatre if you did labour in hospital right from the start.

I really think homebirthing is much better compared to hospital!

genghiscat, thankyou for telling your story. I'm so sorry that you lost your dear baby. It must have been a horrible, horrible day for you and your partner, after all your positive hopes and expectations for a straightforward birth.

Just wanted to add my best wishes to the many others here for a healthy and safe birth next time round. I'm sure the midwives and doctors will take the best possible care of you and your baby, knowing what a sad time you had with your first beloved child.

Gosh I am confused.
Currently 13 weeks pregnant with my first, so plenty of time to choose yet, but...

I have heard lots of people talk about pros and cons of both home and hospital births, though mostly by people strongly in favour of either one or the other.
But can anyone point me in the direction of where I can find the "full, impartial advice" that many of us could do with?

At the moment I think I will want a hospital birth but I would love to read more about all options first.

any of the books by sheila kitzinger

So sorry to hear your devastating story Genghis, and wishing you all the very best for your coming birth. Thanks for sharing with us, it is helpful to building up a good picture.

Superpenguin - you could have a look at the midwives online site, also the Royal College of Obs & Gynae.

midwivesonline

rcog

NHS Direct here: link

Love Sheila Kitzinger, but wouldn't necessarily describe her as 'impartial'

I haven't caught up with the whole thread but just wanted to say I can't believe anyone, in this case violethill, would start their post with the incredibly trite "Tragically some babies do die at birth or shortly after resuscitation", following genghiscat's heartbreaking and brave recounting of her experience. And then go on to use it as a platform to negative hospital births and promote home births.

Show some respect!!!!

Genghiscat I am so sorry to hear of your loss, that is a truly terrible thing to happen. I wish you all the best for the future.

I have to say I think homebirthing is a silly idea. That is purely based on the experiences of the friends etc who have chosen to do it, all of whom have been blue-lighted, and sadly they all have not ended well. But if the other choice is a London hospital delivery ..... move to Kent?

"I have to say I think homebirthing is a silly idea"

It's comments like this that polarise this issue.

Please - show some respect!

If the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives have released a statement describing homebirth as 'safe' for low risk mothers and offers 'considerable benefits' then I think it's a bit rich for people to dismiss it as a 'silly' choice.

I appreciate that your friends might have had difficult experiences (out of interest, how many people do you know who've had homebirths - nationally the homebirth rate is only 2,% so I'd be surprised if you knew many people) but this is in no way representative of the VAST MAJORITY of homebirths, which have a much, much higher satisfaction rating than hospital birth.

I made the comment clearly stating its what "I think", and that it was based on the experiences of people close to me who made the decision and now deeply regret it - in number, they are four.

For heaven's sake deliakate - agree with tittybangbang about such a sweeping comment polarising the whole debate. That's like me referring to my home birth, and my 3 friends who have had 5 home births between them. None of which were blue lighted to hospital and we delivered 6 healthy babies without complication between us - so therefore everyone should birth at home

Planned homebirthing is a decision that is taken by parents after careful consideration of all the facts and factors individual to their specific pregnancy. I researched the subject thoroughly, and this combined with my previous straightforward birth, a second complication free pregnancy, proximity to hospital and midwife support, led me to plan to have my 2nd baby at home.

Great. Maybe I haven't done as much research as I ought to have. But counselling close friends who have experienced what some of mine have, and knowing the resultant difficulties just might have been avoided had they been nearer to emergency and high dependency units.... well, it has led me to form my own opinion, which is certainly not fact.

I'm with tittybangbang and detoxdiva

The main thing about that article is pointing out how homebirthers are seemingly not allowed to defend their decisions...I had my DS at home (1st baby), another massive advocate. Since then though I have had to leave the room on several occasions in discussions with my aunt who has called me selfish and stupid for having a homebirth - I would NEVER say anything like that to her about her decision to have her three DC in hospital.

I've a few friends who've fallen pregnant since I had DS and have been involved in conversations with them about labour with another woman (often also a friend) who has had a hospital birth and again somehow it's ok to ridicule my choice, roll eyes as I talk about my experience (despite my experience of birth being often much better than theirs). I'm pro-choice but it really upsets me when sweeping statements are made about silly women choosing to homebirth, because I would NEVER undermine a woman's choice of where she births.

It's the same 'battle' of breastfeeding.v.formula, I constantly am made to feel I have to apologise for my choices (or maybe I'm just smugly thinking 'poor women in their hospitals, methinks they protest too much' )

Would be very interested in the details of your friends' experiences Deliakate. Maybe there is more to this than meets the eye. Do you think the problems your friends had were the result of labouring at home (assume that most of them were transferred during labour and therefore actually gave birth in hospital)? What do you think happened to them at home that made their births (in hospital) more complicated than they might otherwise have been? Assuming they were all low risk to start with, how would their care in hospital during labour have been any different?

On a personal note, I've been a homebirth support contact in my area for the last few years and have spoken to dozens of women who've planned (and usually had) homebirths. I've had one myself, and one which ended in transfer to hospital. I've actually not come across ANYONE who has planned a homebirth who has regretted the decision, including those who like myself transferred in labour, some of who ended up with c/s's and assisted births.

ps I'm fortunate enough that none of my friends have ended up with sad stories from their labours, all now have healthy babies but out of 6 hospital births and 3 homebirths, the resounding decision has been that those in hospital had more intervention than neccessary, were kept in for days or thrown out in hours and all would want a homebirth the next time round....so based on MY experiences everyone ought to have homebirths....sweeping generalisations are utterly unhelpful and complete scare tactics for those looking for impartial viewpoints

Don't leave the room when someone disagrees with you. People are allowed to have strong opinions, there could be lots of reasons your aunt feels strongly about homebirth, and only by talking to her about them will people ever understand one another.

there's a big difference between disagreements and being insulted by someone who won't listen to your side and get defensive when you try to list the pros of homebirthing, seeing it as an attack against their choice of hospital births...maybe I'm just super sensitive to it because I battled against so many people during pregnancy and in essence feel sorry for those who had less than perfect experiences in hospital. All homebirthers I know had good experiences and that does a little bit make me feel guilty for the hospital births that I know having a bit of a shitty time all round.

Deliakate, you are overlooking the fact that someone who calls you 'silly' or 'selfish' for choosing to have your baby at home is implying that you have put your baby's life at risk for reasons of self-gratification. It's very hurtful and personal. I have had difficulty responding tactfully to people who have said these sorts of things to me, even though I accept these comments often arise from prejudice, fear and ignorance and are said in an unthinking way.