Am currently 24+4 with DC2 and this time round am trying to cover all my options to really plan what I do and don't want.
Just trying to work out if a homebirth would be a viable option for me. I know it's early days but I just want to have things clear in my head.
With DD I was induced at 40+12 and she was born after an 11 1/2 hour labour with episiotomy and ventouse. She was 9lb 3 1/2oz and is now a lively 3.2yo :)
First things first, would I be allowed a homebirth?
And secondly, what do you do about your neighbours? I think I was quite vocal whilst in labour with DD and I don't want to embarrass myself! I live in a first floor flat in a victorian house conversion and the walls and floors are like paper. I can even hear my neighbours coughing! I have neighbours above and below me. Above is a single girl and below is a couple with a DD who will be 2 by the time my EDD comes.
I haven't got my heart set on it at all, just scouting for options so any opinions welcome :)
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Childbirth
Homebirth and disturbing neighbours!
ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 15/06/2011 11:59
I'm doing a HB too and will be dropping a card through their letter box. Unfortunately their son died last month (he was only 21) so I don't want to ring the bell and have a long chat - they've already put a card through saying they aren't very good at talking about it all so I don't think me beaming on about my birthing pool would help tbh. I just think that I'd rather they weren't worrying about a knife wielding murderer attacking me for hours and at least have the option of going out if they start hearing me swearing at everything under the sun... 
Obviously their choice is somewhat lessened if it happens to be at 4am for example, but then they will have years of screaming and crying (from bubs, hopefully not me!) to look forward to anyway!
I had LOADS of gas and air with dd1 in hospital and none for dd2, dd3 or ds all born at home. It was much easier to cope with the pain giving birth at home, had tens and a pool each time, but no need for G&A
Our neighbours have never really been disturbed by the births, although the dog did bark a lot when the 2nd midwife knocked on the door 10 mins after dd2 had been born! one rather woo inclined neighbour did come and congratulate us the next day and said she new the baby had arrived as she'd felt a shift in the energy around our house 
It did appear to put them off, as we were never bothered by them again 
I knew which midwives I was going to have throughout my pregnancy and saw either one of them when at Dr's, which was lovely. Unfortunately neither one of them were there when I gave birth, as Dd decided to come early and neither were available. ( day off and with another mum) so I had two ladies who I'd never met before in my life, and they were just lovely.
Talk to your midwife, mine were very supportive, Dr wasn't, but that's another story! Out of my 3 births, it is my favourite and I'd hoped to have another home birth with my third child, but he had to be induced due to being overdue.
MrsDanverclone 
Bet they won't knock at your door again in a hurry!!
I managed to get through 5 tanks of G&A with DD 
but am pretty adamant I don't want that much this time although who's to say I won't change my mind as soon as I remember what that pain feels like!! It made me vomit and completely incoherent, and I want to be able to be the one who makes the decisions not laying there laughing my ass off not knowing what day it is! Epidural wise, am dead set against one, unless really necessary, would never choose to have one so not an issue.
Am seriously considering it though. Will take a look at that link now :)
Used a shower curtain on my mattress last time in case my waters went but I was induced in the end so didn't need it.
Will have to speak to my MW and see what she thinks :) Have been lucky so far and seen the same one everytime and and building up quite a rapport with her so hopefully I can get her!
Have lots of old towels and sheets and my mum has a collection to rival Dunelm so that isn't an issue. Have my own birthing ball as well so I'm pretty prepared already!
For my home birth, I just used a large piece of plastic sheeting and loads of old sheets and the mess wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We did have to throw away a bean bag, which I had become very fond of in the later stage of labour, as I wasn't going to try and clean anything after giving birth near it.
I chose gas and air, which the Midwives brought, I was offered Pethidine if I wanted it, but as Tangle says, you need to get it on prescription from your Dr in advance. My midwives visited my home at about 38 weeks, to drop off a box with some of the things they would need for the birth.
No problems with the neighbours, my home birth was much more relaxed than either of my two hospital births. The only glitch we had, was when my mum invited in 2 Jehovah's Witnesses, as she thought they were extra midwives, but they virtually ran out of the house when they realised the mistake.
I think your neighbours would be fine with it (if they are reasonable human beings, that is) it's not like you plan on home birthing every weekend
Good luck with it.
Firstly - no-one is allowed a homebirth. It is the mother's choice as to where she gives birth - a mw, Dr or anyone else can only advise.
Just warn the neighbours that you're planning a homebirth, and that you are sorry in advance for any noise - to be honest, one night isn't going to be an issue once the baby arrives and is up every couple of hours
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