Homebirth??? honest advice,tips and ideas please??

[raspberrysanmurraspberrys]

Hi all, so im 35wks and 5 dys with my first baby,have had no complications except for serve HG for the first 18 weeks,which shold not effect my labour and delievery as it has been well under control since then.

After going to birthing class with my DH, we have asked to be booked in for a homebirth,i hav hired a birthing pool and TENS machine,but still feel torn between the idea of a homebirth or going to the MLU at the hospital?

i like the idea of being at home,surrounded by my familliar things,and am hoping that it will increase the release of oxytocin to speed up my labur and also think that im likely to feel less like a "patient" at home and more empowered,but as it is my first baby im not sure what im getting myself into? any advice on what i should be dong to prepare for a home birth??

This is really interesting to read, so many lovely birth stories.

Can I slightly hijack the thread and ask a question?

I am 32 wks with my first and would like a homebirth. Both my midwife and GP are supportive but the midwife has warned there may not be the staff to attend me and I may have to go into hospital if I start labour at a busy time.

This would be so disappointing, especially if I was comfortable and coping at home. Any advice?

chloesbaby they can't make you go into hospital. If you want a homebirth they have to provide a midwife.

See AIMS website here section on left about trouble getting a water or home birth & scroll down to section about bullying.

I don't really believe in 'homebirths' as such. I don't think it is helpful to make a decision at this point.

Make the decision that you are 'starting at home and will see how it goes' but make plans to ensure that everything is in place should you, when the time comes, choose to deliver at home.

If you look at it like that you can be more laid back and if you do transfer in you haven't changed your mind/let anyone down/'failed' whatever......you have simply gone with your instincts, which is what a woman in labour SHOULD be doing.

Our homebirth with DD went really well. Baby coped well with labour and there was no stage at which I wanted to transfer to hospital. If I was doing it again I'd only do two things differently:

• Take the phone off the hook. DH answering a long call from his mother during my labour was the only thing that made me lose my temper and shout at him.

• Try the TENS machine. I had back labour and regretted turning down the offer of the TENS early in labour before I was far along enough to go in the pool.

Looking back, I'm glad that I wasn't in hospital. Judging from hospital protocols and the experience of others on here, I think that I would have had a stressful time fending off induction and other interventions because my contractions stopped and started a lot over several days and dilation to 6cm was very slow. (Waters hadn't broken and baby HB was fine throughout.)

Instead we ended up having a low-stress, positive birth experience with no physical or psychological injury to me or DD and v. quick recovery.

In terms of preparations...

We had hired an excellent IM and I practiced relaxation and breathing techniques with some of the hypnobirthing CDs. We also hired a birth pool and set it up in advance, got out a pile of old sheets and towels and that was about it in terms of practical stuff.

MW brought G&A, pethidine, syntometrine (none of which were used in the end - I wanted a go on the gas and air during transition but it was over too quickly after that) and a bag of other equipment.

'Make the decision that you are 'starting at home and will see how it goes' but make plans to ensure that everything is in place should you, when the time comes, choose to deliver at home.'

I agree with this ie pack a bag and stick it under the bed, just in case.

Also chloe is right, sometimes there isn't the staff available to attend a homebirth, so don't be too disappointed. I was lucky, I called the MW just before another lady who ended up having to go the hospital.

I had a home birth with my 3rd and it was a really positive experience. I had 2 midwives who were really laid back and hardly interfered at all - one rubbed my back when dh had to go downstairs to sort out my shopping delivery .

I wanted both at home but only managed one. It was great, but be realistic and prepared that you may have your baby in hospital. I wasn't prepared for this eventuality and was fairly astonished that it had not gone to plan and it took some getting my head round.

All best.

From AIMS.org.uk:

The Director of Midwifery has a responsibility to provide a midwife and if you have any problems making these arrangements do not battle alone, contact AIMS.

Many women expecting to give birth at home are subjected to a variety of tactics to persuade them into hospital, such as: 'we are short of midwives' or 'if you go into labour at the weekend/between 6pm and 8am' or 'midwife Bloggs will be on holiday' (and any number of similar alternatives).

This kind of tactic is very common. Women have a right to a home birth, the Government suppports a home birth service and the Trust has a responsibility to provide the service

My midwives would have stayed with me at home for as long as I wanted. However, I had been in labour for 72 hours and the baby was stuck though not distressed. I could not take anymore. I elected to transfer in. So be realistic and don't be too hard on yourself if it works out different to what you want or expect.

I planned a homebirth with my first, had a birth pool and a TENS machine. I found the TENS fairly useless to be honest!

I'm glad I laboured at home, I felt much more relaxed and in control in familiar surroundings. The midwives came to me, so I didn't have to go through what some of my friends did - travelling to hospital in agony, only to be told they weren't dilated enough and sent home again! The midwife who first came out found I was only two cms, so went again and came back later.

I loved the birth pool, it was absolute bliss - and the g&a was brilliant and made the whole experience almost enjoyable. Just make sure you are using it properly - deep, slow breaths as soon as you feel a contraction coming on, but STOP once the contraction is over and breathe normal air in between.

I laboured at home for 24 hours but stalled at 8cm - eventually decided to transfer into hospital and had an epidural (amazing stuff), hooked up to drips and monitors and my ds was born with forceps 6 hours later. Not exactly the birth I had hoped for, but you can't guarantee how it will end up. I was glad I had a hospital bag packed just in case, as we only had about 10 minutes to wait for the ambulance.

I would definitely plan a home water birth again, even if I end up transferring. Next time I will have a doula though.