Homebirths!!

[19111990]

Has any one had a home birth? I really like the idea of having the baby at home, really worried incase something goes wrong though.

What do you think about them??

I was just glad that they didn't think it was too filthy or cat-hairy.

they were concerned that the chickens might want to watch everything.

The SoM who has been supporting me told me about one birth they attended on a houseboat - no mobile phone reception nearby and they had to get co-ordinates from British Waterways in case emergency help needed to be brought in. Yours should think herself lucky she only had chickens to worry about!

Argh it never takes long for someone to come out saying homebirthers are essentially being selfish because they put their comfort before the safety of the baby.

OP remember everyone's experience is just anecdotal evidence, and while I'm really sad for those who've described such terrifying circumstances, you just need to feel well informed enough to male a decision you feel comfortable a d safe with.

There was a horizon programme on recently about the shortage of midwives which showed 2 examples of low risk babies dying in hospital because the midwife wasn't able to concentrate fully on the mothers' progress due to staff shortages - those babies would probably have survived if they'd been planned homebirths as the one on one care it gives means things would have been noticed and those women got to hospital where staff were pre-prepped they needed assistance. So you see anything can happen, you just have to chose what you feel is right for you at the time.

When the midwives are called out to a homebirth, the hospital knows exactly where you are and an ambulance would place you as a priority if you needed transferring. It takes on average half an hour from doctors considering EMCS in hospital to it actually happening due to decision making and theatre prep. A community midwife has the power to call in for an EMCS and the theatre is prepped as you are en route, so yes you will be in theatre in the same average time as someone labouring in hospital.

I think the key is to view the ward and meet the CMW and feel like you are choosing to put yours and your babies care into the hands of people you trust.

I thought that the recent Place of Birth study proved that homebirth was safer for the baby in second or subsequent births, and substantially better for the mother?

First time births home births were shown to be slightly less safe for the baby, but again much better for the mother than the CLU. I believe that the statistics were aggregated here, so this statistic can't be said with 100% certainty and even then, the risk was very slight.

I have had one of each. At home, the midwife knew me and knew my health - in hospital I was known only by my notes and had the misfortune to go into labour on a busy day when they had lots of inductions planned. I know which I regarded as the safest.