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 am 14 weeks pregnant with DC2 and am hoping for a homebirth this time. DD's birth had no complications but the contractions stopped the first 2 times I went into hospital and so I was sent home again. I'd rather stay at home this time! I am still researching home births and I will visit the birthing centre at the local hospital in case I change my mind.

I was discharged only a few hours after DD was born- after spending a week in hospital at 20 weeks of pregnancy with suspected appendicitis and getting no rest at all I just couldn't wait to get home again.

I would also really like a water birth this time (the pool was out of order when DD was born) and I think that having a home birth will make this more likely.

My MWs seem very keen on the idea and I've spoken to some other mums in the village that have had recent home births and they had great experiences. I am panicking now about running out of G&A though, I went through loads with DD!

coraltoes-do you realise that there might not even be a consultant in the hospital if you give birth out of office hours?

So the question isn't really how long does it take for you to get from your home to hospital in an emergency but how long it will take the consultant to get there from his.

The baby's heartrate kept dropping when I was in certain positions (although supposedly not dangerously low...) - I ended up on my back where it seemed to be ok - they just said "oh he is not happy in these positions" - in retrospect he was clearly being strangled by the cord every time I moved. I kept saying "is the baby ok" and they said "yes" - my husband who was obviously thinking a bit more clearly than me asked several times "does she need to go to hospital" and they said "no" - he is now consumed with guilt as he feels he should have forced them to take me in as thought it wasn't right - but we trusted them and, being first timers, didn't really have a clue.

Wasn't sure whether to post really as normally avoid the HB threads - don't want to stop other people posting their own positive experiences - obviously what happened to me is rare. And it does happen to babies born in hospital as well. Next time however (if there is one) I will be having an elective C/S.

i have a hospital birth with complications, chances are my baby might not have survived a homebirth, or at least we would have to go to the hospital in the end, i was lucky to narrowly escape a c-sec, my baby's heart was stopping and needed to come out at once but i manage a natural birth (well with cut, ventouse, etc...) that wouldn't happen if we had to wait for an ambulance and the 20 min journey to the closest hospital....
on the other hand, my friend had a lovely homebirth, all natural, no complications and you would need to see her smile when she tells you about her birth experience...

you are not silly, it really is personal choice...

Badkitty - I'm so sorry to hear of your experience and how your ds has been affected. My dd was also born with the cord around her neck twice and became distressed towards the end of my labour. They tried me in different positions which didn't make any difference so the next step was the consultant and ventouse. She was born shortly afterwards and apart from a slightly bruised and swollen head she was perfectly fine. I'm eternally grateful to the hospital and staff and I'm very grateful that I was in hospital when it happened.

I understand the need for home comforts but it's too much of a risk for me.

Foreverastudent - dd1 was born at 20:02 and I had a consultant in my room within minutes, dd2 was born at 00:07 and we had a Neonatal dr there within minutes of her birth. There is no way we would have had access to medical care as quickly if we had been at home.

After the horror stories my friends gave me about their London Hospital births, there was NO WAY I wanted to be in hospital (had also spent too much time in hospital with various health problems). Giving birth at home with my 2 amazing NHS midwives, my DH, quite a lot of yoga prep and reading INA MAY GASKIN's spiritual midwifery made my 13 hour labour the most amazing, spiritual and transcendental experience of my life. The main midwife was fantastic, she did regular monitoring, because of my health, but everything was fine. No drugs ('cept my own endorphines - mind blowing). Can't say the same for the following 6 months with DD but hey ho, you can't have everything. I know I am really lucky, but other people I know who wanted HB, but had complications, ended up in hospital, so they had hospital births - you can start off at home, and end up in hospital, no one is going to put your or your baby's health at risk. Good luck with whatever you decide OP, you will make the right decision for you, whatever you decide. xx

I keep thinking about hb for dc2 after a horrible ventouse delivery with ds. The one thing that keeps putting me off is the fact that the hospital didn't believe I was in labour so I wasn't admitted until I was actually pushing and then they panicked because my bump was small (measuring 33cms but my waters had broken) and did a ventouse delivery straightaway! I'm scared that they might not believe me again and say they are on their way and not come but I'm also scared of going to hospital again . The really silly thing is I've got so worked up about it and I'm not even pg! Totally irrational I know and I can't even blame it on hormones! Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

So sorry to hear your story badkitty, it sounds like you were badly let down by poor practice - all the more shocking that more than one person was involved . Your DH should not feeel guilt... something similar happened to my godchild even though she was in hospital...despite the fact that her mother was induced, they did not bother monitoring the baby (who now has significant SN), and she suffered lack of oxygen. Throughout the labour a number of people saw the mother, but not one bothered to check about monitoring, and like you and your husband, everyone puts their faith in the professionals (first time round, at least )
Like you, my friend has chosen an elective caesaren this time!

PS kitty, your story is equally useful on an HB thread and I wouldn't like to think you felt you shouldn't post, though I understand why you might not - For me, I know that I want to get a balanced picture so that I can make an informed decision.

I think it can be a bit challenging for those of us considering HB, when lots of people plough in with their two pennorth but no understanding of the research, and lots of scary 'what ifs?'..the real experiences of people who have had HBs are really valuable though.

babymutha I hear ya! I recently had my friend banging on about how risky homebirths are, with lots of 'what ifs' based on terrible things that had happened to friends...though she conceded that she knew lots of people with great HBs.

The funny thing was - all the negative examples she gave me were of births that took place in London hospitals! All the HBs she knew of had been great! Go figure...

I agree with having the right to choose but do you know the number of homebirths go wrong? I personally would not risk my baby on giving birth at home. I know two people who wanted to have the whole HB experience and sadly their babies died - one had its first bowel movement and the other had complications and by the time the paramedics arrived it was too late.

I elected to have a c section both times and it was a fantastic experience and one I woudl do again or recommend.

Have just read badkitty's post - so sorry for you and your family BK my friend's son has CP, and she takes him for the most amazing physio in poland (she's polish) - I think the Eastern European's are way ahead of us on CP (sorry separate issue I know).

But wanted to post that my nephew was also born with cord round his neck, at home, and didn't suffer the same problems.

I would only consider a home birth if I was 100% certain that nothing could possibly go wrong during my labour.

You cannot know this.

I had a perfect pregnancy, was a model primip, baby in lovely positions all the way through, no family history, tip-top health blah blah... What did this gorgeous A1 specimen of humanity decided to do after 36 hours of labour? Flip back-to-back and wrap himself up in the cord leading to an emergency transfer to the hospital, spinal block and forceps delivery.

So my nightmare scenario of ending up having my baby in hospital came true. And you know what? I could not have been anywhere more fantastic at that time. They save lives, they take away your pain. Why so many people reject this in favour of taking every risk known to man in their own home, I do not understand.

If everything goes smoothly, of course a homebirth would be preferable, but you cannot know for sure that this will be the case. No-one, absolutely no one on this earth can legislate for your unborn child's whims or the mysteries of your cervix!

It can still go badly wrong in hospital - I'm not disagreeing with you though. I've had 2 hbs and wouldn't rule out a hospital birth for the next one. It's the outcome that's important.

I read the article too, I always read articles like that and having had a traumatic hospital birth with dd, used to feel the same longing you have mentioned for a hb. 13 months ago I had ds and it was an unplanned hb - precipitous birth - there just wasn't time to get to the hospital. But it was a fantastic experience, no stitches, not very painful, just intense. I'm sure it would have been a completely different in hospital because I had been very much scared off hospitals after dd's birth so I would have tensed up and interventions would have ensued.

Your 1st birth went so well novicemamma if you feel interested in hb, research it, talk to women who have done it, long as you're fit and healthy and your pregnancy is also healthy there is no reason not to have a hb.

Best of luck

I had my first baby at home, straightforward if lengthy delivery. Really positive experience, the main drawback being running out of G&A whilst labouring! But loved having 2 midwives all to myself for 24hrs+, having my home comforts, and dh felt useful making tea, and playing music etc! So nice to be at home with the baby straight afterwards too. ANd I did make a lot of mess, but midwives cleared everyting up

My second baby was planned for a home birth, but had to be delivered at hosp in the end. He was very large, and then my bp raised, so ended up going to hosp to have him - and on christmas day too, boo! But I was well looked after, the delivery was much harder due to his size and he did get a bit stuck, so did feel I was in the right place in the end despite being incredibly upset not to be having another home birth. DS arrived 6am, and we were discharged by 10.30, so able to take him home almost straightaway. Never even went on the ward! So maybe if anyone is unsure about hb you can ask in your birth plan for an early discharge from hospital providing all is well with you and baby.

Good luck to you all, whatever your choices.

Hi Happy, yes, I think that you will find that quite a few people on MN have done their research on the number of homebirths that go wrong, compared to the number that go wrong in hospitals.

The sad situation is that, with low risk pregnancies, it would be impossible to predict which mothers' births would go wrong in what way, and therefore predict where they would be best off giving birth.

Thus, for myself, and probably most other people on MN, one has to analyse the research and make a decision on what you think is best in your personal circumstances. As it is, for low risks births, the risk level is similar for home and hospital, so mothers may elect to do what feels best for them

Have just come back to MN as now 13 weeks pregnanct with DC3 - had a home birth second time round and it was amazing. Am very sorry to hear BadKitty's experience, it always good to hear everyone's point of view before making your own decision. Only you can decide what's right for you. I wanted a home birth first time round but was induced and also had no idea whatlabour/birth would be like (often wondered since how on earth I thought I could have managed that at home!?!?) but second time round was very straight forward and was so comfortable being at home, Its a personal choice - and you never know what might happen - I plan to have a homebirth this time and midwife team very encouraging, always have been in all 3 pregnancies.

I dont agree that a homebirth takes 'every risk known to mankind' - that might be applicable if you planned to give birth at the top of Mount Everest but as long as your home is clean, you and baby are healthy and having a 'normal' pregnancy, then it is a common view that many mothers (and babies?) often recover better after a home birth. Certainly from an emotional point of view it was amazing (and didnt get the blues, which I did after DS1 - although one could argue that was just the shock of becoming a parent!). Hospital also very close to my home.

My DH was very supportive, despite his parents thinking we were mental, and waxes lyrical about it now (probably because the Sky remote was in reaching distance the whole time )

But do your research, talk with your partner, and do what feels right for you; and dont feel like a failure if you do get transferred during labour. After all, the main thing is that you and your baby and healthy and safe.

My argument was, hospitals are for sick people, and I am not going unless I (or baby) is sick?

Good luck

I think the article says it all.. it's spot on and as has been said, is not judgemental of others, and still accepts that there are some for who home birth is not right or safe.

I have had a hospital birth (first time) and two home births with my second two. All were different and positive experiences, and as the author of the article said, I know I was fortunate to have had healthy 'normal' pregnancies which made the home birth choice a relatively easy one.

It was a little harder to convince my husband, but he came around once the midwives explained how safe it was, and he is now a big fan..

If you feel confident about your body in labour, supported by your birth partners (whether that's your husband or midwives) and have no reason to expect complications I would definitely recommend it - it is very special.

Hi Novicemum, I'm a little bit in your situation. Last time, with my first I had planned a home birth. however, my DS arrived at 31+4 weeks, so that obviously didn't happen, and he was in special care for five weeks. I am of course being much more closely monitored this time, and having regular scans etc. However, my mw told me if I got to 37 weeks I could be discharged from consultant-led care and have the baby where I liked. To my sheer amazement, when I subsequently saw the consultant and was talking about my last pregnancy, mentioning I'd hoped to have a home birth, she said without batting an eye 'and would you consider that this time?'. I said I didn't think it was possible and she said the same - get to 37 weeks if all is normal, it's fine (and I should point out I'm 39 and have an ovarian cyst too). Turns out home births are one of her specialities in the sense that she is very pro them and is an expert and speaks on the subject for I think the Royal College of Obstetricians to the media here, such a refreshing attitude in a consultant. I'm only 30+4 at the moment, so I have some way to go yet, but I'm really coming around strongly to the idea. I was re-reading The New Experience of Birth by Sheila Kitzinger last night and it was persuading me even more.

Like you, novicemama, my DP is not keen, given I suppose what happened last time, but my labour, despite the circumstances, was fine (admittedly I was giving birth to a two month premmie weighing 4lb2oz - not quite the same as an 8+ pounder I suppose) - that's one of the things worrying him because we've been told the baby's head was measuring nearly three weeks ahead of gestation for size. However, as the consultant confirmed when I asked her, there is only one standard measurement used, and how at 5'8 I can be compared to a woman of 5'0 for example is nonsense. I just think I'm having mine and DP's baby - both tall, he's big built, both got big heads. All I had in labour last time was gas and air, despite the doctor and tbh some of the midwives' apparent keeness for me to have pethidine or an epidural. And that was through a back-to-back labour with no let up in intensity - you don't get contractions that come and go in that situation, it's just "pain" non-stop.

We do have a newly designed MLU at the hospital which I will go and visit too. It looks very nice in the pictures, and they have birthing pools etc. But it's still that thing of going to hospital and I worry that because of what happened with DS, despite me not feeling like this now, it may trigger bad associations of having him taken away from me minutes after he was born. In general I quite like hospitals, as I still have never quite got over my teenage wish to be a doctor, and I'm fascinated with the body etc. But I still think I'd rather be at home.

Just realised lots of typos and and a few erroneous '?' Sorry

Had unplanned HB with DC3. After the shock of his arrival with barely a push straight into DHs hands, no midwives, no ambulance, it was utterly blissful being at home with own bath, bed, food, older children cooing, all cuddles, warmth and love.

But we still wouldn't choose a HB (although we will most certainly prepare for one) with a potential DC4 because if something goes wrong we're still 20 min from hosp at least and also I really don't fancy the other children being around. Everybody always says "oh they'd just gone to bed" or "they watched a DVD downstairs" but what if there is no one to take care of them and they are right there or wailing at the door?

hollyoaks- that was just good luck, even consultant-led units in maternity hospitals aren't obliged to have consultants on site 24/7.

badkitty- what happened to you was a result of bad midwifery not hb.

Why is it you never hear of hospital-birthing mums blaming themselves when something goes wrong as a result of being in hospital?

mummyb23 "If you feel confident about your body in labour, supported by your birth partners and have no reason to expect complications I would definitely recommend it - it is very special."

I have no idea what criteria one would use to asses the capabilities of one's body in labour . Particularly if you've never done it before. Similarly, very few of us expect complications, but they can still happen. To the best of us!

That said, if it all goes well, I am sure it is very special and I am envious of those who've been lucky enough to have that experience.

I had a planned homebirth for DD in April this year. I opted for a HB when I was around 30 weeks. I had been getting more and more anxious as my due date got closer and realised I wasn't afraid of giving birth but I was dreading going into hospital due to my previous experiences there. When I mentioned this to my midwife she immediately suggested a HB.
I was very lucky to have been completely supported by a great team of midwives who treated it as if it was the most natural thing in the world (which it is) and also by my DH.
I would not have considered it tho' if we had lived any further from the hospital - about 5 minutes away max. It was also reassuring to know I could choose to go to hospital at any time, even at the onset of labour if I had changed my mind.
The midwives were happy to answer all my questions and on the day I felt so much more relaxed and in control and they pretty much just let me get on with it.
I was very lucky and my labour lasted just over 3 hours in total with DD arriving 45 minutes after the midwives did. They also cleaned up all the mess and took away all the old sheets that I had delivered on. I was soon tucked up in bed with baby DH and DS and can honestly say it was the best experience.
Good luck with whatever you decide