New member-needs advice-re home birth

[secur]

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secur, i had a homebirth 10 wks ago with my 3rd and it was heaven. i would highly recommend it. esp if you have such short labours - who needs the additional stress of having to get to a hospital? i think you should tell them you are having it at home as you are quite sure they would agree thata planned hb is much safer than an accidental one because of v short labour, and go for it! if your kidney has never given you a problem then it isn't about to in labour (if it is stressed by pregnancy that will be apparent before labour) and you've shown that you casn manage short labours w/out bloodloss. planned hb has to be the nicest and safest option for you i'm sure!

and congrats by the way

I second pph.

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great! let us know how you get on. and have a look at the "anyone planning a home birth" thread, which is worth a read

secur - it is your right to have a homebirth whether the hospital thinks you are suitable or not. Did you haemorrhage last time? Have you had any complications? If not, as a midwife I do not see why you should not have the choice of a homebirth. You must be provided with care by a midwife if you choose to give birth at home.

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I have precipitous labours too, Secur (2h 20, 1h 50,1hr 10, 22mins). My first and third were born at home as a result, the second was born in hospital with 3 mins to spare, and the 4th I was induced in hospital at 36 weeks for various reasons. Not once did any consultant or midwife say a homebirth was out of the question. In fact they seemed to expect it because of the speed of labours, and so I ended up with a domino type scheme, wherby they were prepared to deliver at home , but I could go to hospital if possible and wanted. Having them at home was lovely, and cut out all the hassle of finding someone to watch the kids as well.

Do you have a collagen deficiency, is that why you have quick labours?

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Lol I was exactly the same! I remember being on all fours on the bed when having number 1, thinking omg if this is how it is at the beginning I will never make it to the end! I didn't know I was almost at the end already.

I only found out about my collagen deficiency when dd1 was about 2 1/2, and was diagnosed herself, then was told it had been passed down through my side of the family. Do you bruise easily, are slow to heal, have extra mobile joints, or have keloid scarring ? A lack of collagen can mean quicker labours because there is less that needs thinning around the cervix. I think it's very painful, but tbh I don't think I could go as long as usual labours, so actually feel a bit grateful for getting through it so quickly.

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secur, my last labour (2nd) was precipitous and a planned home birth (hadn't planned for babe to be there 15 minutes before the midwife though). I'm due on Monday with no.3 and having another home birth - like you I live a fair way away from the hospital and I'd rather have the baby at home than in the car! You'll probably be offered an induction at 39 weeks - I declined this as I'd had a horrid induction first time round, and really, what's the point?! I had complications after both my previous deliveries (bleeding & shock, which I am hoping to avoid by having a managed 3rd stage this time) but the midwives I've seen this time round have been mostly supportive of my decision. Even my GP was positive GASP! I think if you stand your ground they'll soon see that there's no changing your mind. Really, if they're so worried about you bleeding afterwards (sounds like an unlikely scenario for you anyway), would they prefer you to do that by the side of the road or at home with someone there to administer drugs to stop it?

Ooh, Lou33, I'm very supple - I never exercise, I'm 40 and can also easilyput my hands flat on the floor when touching my toes like you. Even into adulthood I could lie in my tummy, and touch my toes to my head in a bow shape. I also have keloid scarring - my cs scar is ribbed and raised (though it doesn't bother me). I don't know about bruising or healing - nothing to compare it to, I suppose, though I don't think there's a problem there. Could I have low collagen? But isn't collagen the stuff that makes you look young?

Our DS3 is 8 weeks old and one of the things we were asked when arranging his homebirth was if the baby was a 4th baby. Apparently the local authourity won't really encourage homebirths after no.3 as the labours get quicker and quicker. Mind you I doubt they would have encouraged me with DS3 then as the midwife had only been here 15 minutes before he was born!

Might be worth asking incase it's the same where you are. Although as mears said its your right to deliver your baby where ever you want, so just tell them tough t*itties!!!!!

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It's possible Aloha. The youthful thing worries me, but I was told twice last week I didn't look old enough to have 4 kids, so maybe it's ok in that respect, lol!

Sorry only just seen this thread. Like you secur I had very short labours and was worried I wouldnt get there in time for baby 3. My midwives did encourage me to have a homebirth, particularly as I can stand to be in hospital as well, and it was brilliant. Push for what you want and make sure that if they are adamant its a hospital birth for you that its for the right reasons and not just because they disagree with woman arranging to have babies at home rather than hospital. Take care and congratulations. x

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Don't worry secur, threads on Mumsnet never die...

I have heard very many very positive stories about older children attending the birth of younger children, even if lots of yelling comes out of Mum. I could imagine my 4yo being delighted to attend, but my 2yo might get frightened, so maybe it depends on the child's character, too. Personally, I think Homebirths are great and hope you go for it! Do you know about the Homebirth UK website? Good source for info & contacts! Good luck, whatever you decide.

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secur, when I was planning my homebirth my lovely midwife told me that I would go into labour and have the baby at a time that was convenient to me. Sounds mad, doesn't it. But she asked when I'd most like to have the baby - I said I'd like to go into labour early evening once the older 2 were asleep, and have it at night, so that they just woke up in the morning to a new baby. And strangely, that is exactly what happened. I knew from the afternoon that I was going to have the baby that night, and my first contraction came just as I was kissing my 2 yr old good night! Baby was born 3.5 hours later - perfect timing all around.
So I do believe that if you are very relaxed, and prepared, and not stressing about getting into a car and arranging childcare and going to hospital etc etc, you are likely to have the baby in the way that suits you most, whether that is when the children are at school, or at night, or whatever....

Secur I was worried about the same thing as you, it worrying the other children. Luckily my mum lives very close and on the day I made the decision that I would like her to take my eldest two DD's to her house and they were happy to go as they love staying at nannys.

I thought I was very vocal during my labour as I didnt have any pain relief but midwives said that actually I wasnt and I wonder if sometimes we are not as loud and noisy as we think..lol. Could you have some sort of backup should you decide its too much for your older children, such as a friendly neighbour or relative nearby?

pph, that sounds v. familiar, your midwife wasn't cf by any chance? although i didn't think she practised outside london...

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Hi Secur, really glad this is working out for you! I'm planning a homebirth too this time, I was in labour for under 5 hours with my DD, and from the point the contractions started, there was no way I could have travelled anywhere! (Was in the hosp anyway at the time, thankfully!)
My midwife is really supportive, particularly with my fairly short 1st labour in mind. I hope your midwife continues to support you too. Good wishes for everything