Can't decide about home birth

[tiokiko]

I'm 28w with DC2 and have just started to think about a home birth.

DD is 2.7, I found her birth was manageable, TENS and G&A, small tear/graze with a couple of stitches but felt good overall. I had high BP throughout pregnancy last time and v high on admission but Labetalol sorted it straight away. BP fine this time so far.

Postnatal care was poor and I hated being in hospital, would feel that even more this time I think as I'd be in a busier hospital and would be desperate to get home to DD.

I would love to have a home birth, but am a bit hesitant. Worried that maybe I was just really lucky last time and this will be a really painful delivery; worried about what happens if baby needs resus on delivery etc etc (we are 20 mins from hosp).

Am seeing MW on Wed and will talk to her then but in the meantime would love to hear others' experiences that might help me decide!

Really sorry to hear that Riven - that's what really bothers me. If I lived a long way from the hosp like others, or had precipitous labour, it would be a different matter and a planned HB would seem like a more straightforward choice.

Although I hated the aftercare, I was relaxed for the birth itself and felt able to say no to various interventions they suggested (breaking water, clip on baby's head etc) which seemed more like a routine rather than for any specific need. If I can be the same this time then I could hopefully still have the sort of birth I want.

Really appreciate everyone's responses, you're all giving me a lot to think about.

Would an MLU not be an idea for you tiokiko?

FWIW I am 1 hr away in traffic, 30 mins otherwise - but then my HB was not planned. That said the ambulance did get here jolly quickly ( called my the mat unit while the mat unit was talking DH through the delivery!) The CMW arrived after the crew.

One thing to consider may be your bp, has it been raised at all this time round? If you do plan a HB it may all go out of the window if bp goes through the roof again.

I planned HB with DS2 and it was cancelled due to hypertension controlled with Labetalol, was being monitored every other day at the end and on the day he arrived i was monitored in the a.m and they told me I wasn't contracting, though i disagreed, sent me on my way, got home at 1pm ish and had ds2 at 4pm, half and hour after DH got back from the school run!
high bp can cause fast labour/delivery, was certainly the case for me, dh tried to get me in the car but it just wasn't happening, lucky really, he'd have been delivered at the roadside if I had got in!!

Yes, MLU would be good (birthing centre due to open next month) if there is space there - would still be desperate to get home fast but I guess if all goes well there's no reason for them to keep us in for long.

BP has been great this time, very normal and consistent so room for it to go up in labour without being a concern like last time. Don't think it caused fast delivery though - I had 3 days slow/latent labour at home, went into hosp at 1am and was 4cm, 30 mins pushing and DD was born at 8.30am so not v speedy!

The home birth group is fab, go go go! People bring in their babies after they have given birth and tell their stories, there are loads of different people plus midwives who can answer any question!

Plus they have a library with some great books.

I was in Edinburgh but now in the borders, not sure what I'll be doing if I have another!