What do I need to do to prepare for a home birth?

[Thomcat]

I'm due 22 December, 2nd child. Ist born in an active birth centre. Had a little girl with Down's syndrome who needed to go into intensive and then specail care. Laboured at home until last second. When I got to the borth centre I was fully dilated and ready to push straight away. Waters never broke, came out whole with baby. From 1st mild contraction to babe in arms was 6 hours, no complications, no pain relief and had her standing up.

This time, I have a one to one midwife who will come to me when i go into labour. If things go as well as they did last time, and things are moving as quick, probably quicker than last time, and as the hospital is about half an hour away, withput traffic, i', happy to deliver at home.

If things are slow and labourious I might like to go into the birth centre and have the water birth I thought I'd have last time.

i'm leaving it open basically.

but if it does happen at home what might I need to do, have ready?

I don't really have the space to get in a hired pool to have a water birth at home.

Did you all have yours in your bed?

Tips, stories etc would be hugely welcome.

Many thanks.

TC x

I found that having photos of DS1 in the bedroom where I had ds2, a huge help. When things got a bit tough when I was pushing, I looked at his picture to remind myself how worthwhile all the effort was, not that I had a choice at that point!

It really did help, especially as ds2 was 10 lb 5!

Thomcat, I had a home birth a week ago (actually second home birth but the first one wasn't planned), and midwives just said to have plastic sheets / towels and a torch ready.
I actually had the baby in the bath, as I had got into the bath to help ease the contractions and when I felt the need to push couldn't get out!
I have very quick labours so home birth was really the only option, but it's great to get in your own bed afterwards, and I think it's good for the siblings to see the baby at home straight away without mummy having been away for a while.

Wow, reading all these posts makes me want to have a homebirth too but I am finding it a struggle getting DH used to the idea about labouring in a birthing pool, let alone at home. I hope everything goes well for you Thomcat and to everybody else - some beautiful stories

Congratulations zubb. Take care of yourselves.

Thanks spidermama!

chloe55 - my dh was really against a home birth for ds2 as well - and ended up having to deliver the baby himself while on the phone to the ambulance crew!
For ds3 he knew that we had no choice really, but is completely converted now - within an hour of the birth the midwife had left, and there was no mess anywhere, no sign that I'd delivered at home at all. I think it's the thought of the 'mess' that might be made that puts a lot of men off, but the midwives take care of that, and plastic sheets / towels can just be thrown away!

Chloe55: has he watched too many tv programmes where women give birth flat on their backs...?

Personally, I feel that if a partner is going to have an opinion on the subject, the least he can do is educate himself about the issues surrounding different birthing methods. I've had a lot of flak from various relations about the home birth plan - but thus far they have been utterly devoid of facts. If they can't put together an argument with intellectual and statistical integrity, then I just feel that they're wasting everyone's time. Hearsay and scaremongering is unproductive.

It is my first so the hospital prob wouldn't be keen on a home birth either. DH just wants me to have an epidural full stop because he doesn't think I'll cope well with the pain Has he ever had period pains/coped with the pain of miscarriages ahem....no! I wouldn't say I know what the pain is going to be like but I am trying to 'prepare' as best I can. He says he will accept what method I choose (too right he will) but his mother is a retired midwife and she is a little against the birthing pool as it is fairly new to her so I think he gets his old fasioned ideas from her

Very sorry Thomcat - didn't mean to have a rant and hijack your thread!

Chloe55: This is going to be my first too - and I'm taking anticoagulants for raised antiphospholipid antibodies - so they're not happy about my home birth either. However - I'm making an informed decision to go against (contradictory and scaremongering) medical opinion. I'd be happy to discuss my reasons with any medical professional prepared to take the time, but they seem to want to spend the time trying to bully me...

Congratulations Zubb!

Chloe55 - I know everyone's experience is different, but for me panicking and having an epidural with DS1 was the worst thing I ever did. I ended up on my back, the epidural slowed things down and the whole thing went a bit pear shaped. Maybe all those things would have happened anyway, but my homebirth took 4 1/2 hours from first twinge to birth and DD took all of 45 minutes to arrive so I am always convinced that if I'd let nature take it's course the 17 1/2 hour labour could have been avoided. Lots of men think that hospital is better, do you know anyone who has had a homebirth that your DH could talk to?

This is very important. How could I have forgotton.
WARN THE NEIGHBOURS.
It can get noisy and you don't want to be inhibited about making noise if it helps.

I keep meaning to do this, but I'm a bit unclear if we have any yet. The owners of the next (terraced) house have gone away and put it up for rental. I know it's been taken but I haven't seen anyone moving in yet. Not sure my birth was the welcome they were anticipating...

Hi, sorry, I havent read the whole thread. I had a homebirth in May giving birth to ds (10lb 14 oz). My midwives were brilliant and Im really glad that I had him at home. He is my second and it was just so so lovely to get into my bed at the end, cuddling my little bundle. Hardly any mess, buy some pampers bed sheets (for toddlers who are toilet training and put them over your mattress, then put a sheet and perhaps another bed mat then another sheet). Sorry people have probably already said all this and I cant be botherered to read all postings. A torch is quite important too - a big powerful one as lighting at home is never as bright as at hospital and its pretty crucial for the midwife. Wont go on as Im sure others have provided loads of advice . Hope it all goes well.

LOL at warning the neighbours!

Hello
I had a (nearly!) homebirth in May (had to go into hospital last minute because of meconium - grrr) but I'd definitely do it again. I think my essential items would be a large exercise ball (couldn't have managed without it), TENS machine, fruit juice in small carton with straws, and new bedding if possible for my bed afterwards! I would actually have given birth in the living room which has plenty of space for pacing around, and I had got a futon mattress on the floor with a plastic sheet. I also got through a lot of raspberry leaf tea and honey (which apparently gives you energy) because my contractions were rather sporadic. On reflection a well-packed hospital bag would also have been a good idea, because it wasn't much fun having to direct DH to collect everything we needed whilst having contractions. I'll make sure I get round to doing that next time, just in case.

I had my DD2 at home in Feb.
I bought 2 very chaep flanette king size sheets and had an old kingsize duvet under that.
I had her in our front room with the lighting on low and my tranquil cd playing in the background.
I would go with the straws as the gas an air made me v.v thirsty and only could manage a sip in between contractions.
Only lasted 3 hours from start to finish and was a wonderful experience.
My friend had her first DD at home and I would have also but was unsure of how well I would cope,as it was it was a fab experience hence me chosing to have DD2 at home.
Oh remember to have milk, biccys and tea/coffee/juice in the house for midwife as they also want food/drink.
Good luck

I think the thirst is there anyway whether or not you have gas and air. I had no gas and air and was gasping for water in between contractions in the later stages.

That sounds lovely saf. Many congratulatons.

Hi RZ

When you have finished with the inflatable pool, could I buy it and all the accessories from you?
Or pay delivery / pick up and borrow then let you have them back if you need them again?

Whereabouts do you live?

Let us know whether the inflatable pool works for you!

Hi

I had a fab home birth with dd. I really appreciated the opportunity to distract myself from the pain by watching pre-recorded TV programmes. I also felt so much more relaxed at home than in hosp (where I had ds1).

And nothing is better than getting in your own bath afterwards, and your own bed. So much cleaner than hospital, and so much more conducive to a good rest.

I didn't really prepare too much stuff - the midwives brought everything - waterproof stuff for when the baby and gunk came out. She was born on the lounge floor, with me kneeling against the sofa.

Labour proper started about 11pm and she was born at 4:23am.

I can honestly say I enjoyed the whole experience! Very empowering.

My DH had his reservations but after a safe home delivery he now thinks homebirthing is the best way rolling my eyes

We used polythene decoraters sheets from B & Q under the bedding to protect the mattress and just used old sheets and towels for the delivery. A good excuse for new bedding if ever there was one

The only thing the midwives asked for was an anglepose lamp for the stitches, they brought a delivery pack with them, oh and a continuous supply of teas and coffees!

My labour started at 5am and DD was born at 10.15 but I was fully dilated by 7am, I just could not push her out. That being said, it was not as awful as it sounds, quite the opposite, it was the best thing ever and really quite a healing experience after having DS prem and him being whipped off to NICU.

And it was so lovely getting in my shower, lying in my bed with my baby and having a cup of tea brought up to me. It was lovely!!! Go for it, you will not regret it

Old cardboard to go under old sheets is handy. Dig out and flatten all those old TV/big toy/flatpack furniture boxes in the garage/loft. It can all be thrown away/burnt afterwards and soaks up everything.

I have had two home births (2nd & 3rd babies)
one in the living room during the night and one in the bedroom as it was day time and felt a little exposed down stairs. both times on the floor on my knees leaning on either beanbags or sofa would highly recommend it. All we did was get a big sheet of plastic to protect the carpet and a couple of old blankets on top to soak up the waters and stuff and then apart from having all the baby things ready the midwife brought the things that she needed. go for it! Good luck

great thread

I'm due no 2 in January and am planning a homebirth, DP still isn't keen on the idea but has come round to it a bit and knows I wouldn't make the decision lightly.

DD was a hospital birth labour lasted 4h20mins, waters broke got sent home had 3 pains in 10 mins that were agony so went back in basically got told I was only 1cm and to go home, felt like a drama queen and was very scared as I knew I could have hours of these pains. Anyway they told me I was making too much noise to be admitted to a ward and to lie on the bed with g+a, when I felt the urge to push I was told I wasn't ready until they had a look. Wish I had listened to my body a bit more.

Aftercare was horrendous, boiling hot ward, no sleep for 2 days, unedible food, communal toilets, DP sent home the usual really. Totally want to avoid that this time and don't want to leave DD for longer than necessary, she is my concern as we have only just moved to this area and have no friends or family nearest family are an hour away. Don't know what to do with DD when I go into labour but would have that concern no matter where I gave birth.

I would like a pool but last time I couldn't even move from the bed never mind get in a pool so might give it a miss.

I love this thread.
Almost makes me want to give birth again.

Great thread. Loved my home birth. Just being at home. Wonderful.

I never had straws, too be honest, people kept trying to make me drink and I wasn't interested (although I did when I could), but good idea.

I would definitely reccommend trying to create a nice atmosphere, have old sheets and lots of big comfy pillows!

Good luck!