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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Outdoor homebirth?

99 replies

FutureNannyOgg · 04/02/2012 09:42

Just rattling an idea around in my head. I was at our HB support group the other night and someone made a joke about not having room for a birth pool unless it went on the patio (they were due in March, so not really very practical).

I am due at the end of July however, and actually, the idea of setting up a little bower in the garden (with a gazebo or something for shade and privacy) really appeals. Very much a pie in the sky idea right now. I am not sure where we will be living when baby arrives, and if it would involve suitable outdoor space that was isolated, not overlooked etc.

Anyone ever done anything like this?

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Original poster

FutureNannyOgg · 14/02/2012 11:07

I have cats, bunnies and chickens, so no howling. Although the chickens to tend to get all excited when one of them is laying an egg...

OP posts:

Rikalaily · 14/02/2012 11:13

I found this when I was researching homebirth for dd2, it's lovely :)

Sorry i don't know how to do clickable links

rachyllgyne.tripod.com/thebirthofgreyforestwalt/index.html

Napdamnyou · 14/02/2012 12:35

My flat backs onto a golf course, so no, but good luck!

notso · 14/02/2012 12:39

cobwebthegrey · 14/02/2012 14:05

I think it's an amazing idea...I almost want another DC just for the experience of it...go for it!!!!

TeiTetua · 14/02/2012 14:26

"My doulaing mantra is that if a mum wants to give birth standing on her head singing happy birthday, I would support her."

I worked with a guy whose wife was about to have a baby, and he told me that she'd signed up with some sort of spritual/organic plan. Some involuntary eye-rolling occurred, and he then said, "Yeah, I know. But she's the one doing the heavy lifting, so how am I going to argue?"

BTW the baby arrived just fine, so even if her method wasn't totally necessary, it didn't do any harm.

strandednomore · 14/02/2012 14:33

I once met an American couple who had their (first) baby on their own in a forest in Central American (I can't remember exactly which country, possibly Guetamala) - I did think they were slightly nuts but if it feels right for you, certainly labouring and possibly giving birth outside in the safty of your own garden sounds like a fine idea.

SouthernB · 14/02/2012 14:39

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/mar/02/mozambique1

KnitterNotTwitter · 14/02/2012 14:43

I'd love to have an outdoors birth - DH would probably rather eat his own toes though...

Sadly previous Shoulder Distocia means it's the Labour Ward for us again.

Bibblebobbleparsnip · 14/02/2012 15:09

I had DS outside- but that was more accident than design (he just arrived too quick and landed on the doorstep). My neighbours two doors up popped their head out the door and then ran away again quickly (it was 5am) and some students over the road sent a lovely card saying "heard about the new delivery" Hmmmm.... not sure I was very quiet!!

Bibblebobbleparsnip · 14/02/2012 15:10

Love the idea if it's organised though- considering it now for DD due in June... (if garden landscaping finished! )

Backinthebox · 14/02/2012 15:21

My MW has attended 2 births in a stable (not mine, btw!) Really! I have stables, but was happier in my bedroom.

Perriwinkle · 14/02/2012 15:26

At least you wouldn't have to worry about all the mess!

Perriwinkle · 14/02/2012 15:31

"We had to get a new mattress (on the house insurance)."

Was that classed as accidental damage then? Surely anyone knows what a mess it makes and would prepare properly for it so that the mattress would not be ruined?

I know quite a few people who've had HBs and they've prepared properly with advice and guidance from midwives and none of them have ruined their mattresses.

Yorky · 14/02/2012 15:38

You've got DH all worried - my initial reaction was that even out-lentil-weavers me, but reading the thread I'm less anti, maybe it could be nice. I'm not a hugely outdoorsy person but insisted on needing to walk around the block in labour with DS1, despite it having snowed overnight Apart from the fact that our garden is smaller than our lounge, with a public footpath running along one side of it and the gates looking down the length of the rd - but I suppose with a carefully positioned gazebo to shield the birthpool a bit....! HB4 booked for late April so its 50/50 as to whether it'll be warm enough anyway, I'm aiming for a Friday am when all the DCs are at school/nursery :D

SarryB · 14/02/2012 16:12

Sounds like a lovely idea - but not for me.

Our flat is in the same building where my OH works, and we have no private garden. So it would just be outside on the grass. Amid a wedding probably, as the building is a very popular wedding venue...hmmm, somehow I don't think the bride would appreciate it.

desperatenotstupid · 14/02/2012 18:04

I must be paranoid because i would want to be in hospital with a reassuring array of ressus equipment on hand, if, God forbid, something went wrong. Im quite envious of those women who are brave enough to do it at home as that is far far nicer

Original poster

FutureNannyOgg · 14/02/2012 19:40

Desperate, I get that paranoia. That is why I shall be at home with a reassuring array of resus equipment on hand. The midwives bring everything they need to resuscitate baby and mother if necessary. My last doula client's baby needed resus when born at home, he was resuscitated with minimal fuss/panic, and the MW continued to give him oxygen for a good while after, while he had skin to skin with mum.

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openerofjars · 14/02/2012 19:43

I just told my next door neighbour my plans for a home birth and have promised to supply ear plugs if necessary.

And help her get her eyebrows back own from her hairline...

lisad123 · 14/02/2012 19:52

How terrible all I can think about is "what if a wasp came along"!! Pictures woman in labour running round garden!

Original poster

FutureNannyOgg · 14/02/2012 19:55

Well that might speed things up a bit Lisa. At least there wouldn't be the pantomime of the birth partners and midwives trying to waft it out of the window.

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iguanadonna · 14/02/2012 20:26

I'm too noisy. Otherwise yes, would be lovely. If you have a nice secluded garden.

(Oi! Leave off the mattress-ruiners! We did this too. Yeah, we were properly prepared, but it all happened rather quickly DH spent the whole labour messing about with that blasted birthpool which I never got into anyway and the only things that didn't make it out of the carefully packed birthing box were the plastic sheets. Endless people had told us that "it really isn't as much mess as you think". Bollocks. It looked like someone had killed a pig in our sitting room. In every other respect HB marvellous, though.)

mum2jakie · 14/02/2012 21:38

Can't imagine anything worse personally but good luck with it, if that what's you decide to go for xx

flibbertywidget · 14/02/2012 21:44

I had my DS in the conservatory with the doors wide open on August bank holiday.. I had managed to dress the windows with lovely coloured fabric to provide some privacy, but hadn't realised that my DP had left the doors wide open.... there was quite a gathering outside the front of my house, apparently - as the neighbours were getting updates from DP and could apparently hear me .

DP missed the birth of his son as he was out conversing with the neighbour discussing the care of their rabbit we were to look after.

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