Homebirth questions -

[sunita123]

I went to the hospital for a tour last weekend - The MW showing us around said that they were closed for women in labour. Closed? Apparently if you rang up saying that you are in labour, they would try to send you to another hospital in the area for your delivery.
I've had my scan today. Baby is no longer breech and has engaged. Spoke to the Consultant, told her of my concerns of getting to the hospital in time. She suggested a Homebirth.
Was the fact that the hospital was really busy on the weekend a reason for the Cons. to suggest a homebirth?
Is it messy?
What happens if when the time comes you have complications?
Is it too late to be thinking about a homebirth?(I'm 35 wks)
What are the pros and cons of having a homebirth?

Suni

I had a wonderful home birth with dd2 15mths ago. We put down cheap (1.99 from Asda) shower curtains and old towels to contain the mess.

I felt much more relaxed than I had when giving birth to dd1 in hospital, and I am certain that this helped me cope better with the pain. I had the undivided attention of 2 lovely midwives (this almost certainly wouldn't have been the case if I had been in hospital), and had no inhibitions about screaming as loud as I wanted to! (Although the neighbours did hear me!)

There was a complication, as after I'd given birth I had a post-partum haemorrhage, but even then, there was no real panic - midwives called for paramedics who took me (and dd2) to hospital in an ambulance and we stayed overnight for observation. Luckily, the hospital was only 10 mins drive away - I suppose I may have had second thoughts about the home birth if it had been a long way away.

Ultimately, I would recommend a home birth to anyone who is predicted to have a straightforward labour/birth. If I were to have any more babies (which I'm not!) then I would certainly opt for it again.

AFAIK, if there's a complication, you are transferred to hospital in an ambulance under blue lights.

I had a home waterbirth with DD earlier this year. Much better than DS1 & 2s hospital births. The midwifes clean up, you get to sleep in your pwn bed, bath/shower in your own bathroom, use your wn toilet, do what you like and you get your home address on your baby's birth certificate :) The downside is you don't get a plastic name tag to put in a Baby Keepsake book/box! You are more limited in your choice of pain relief too.

there is a rather lively debate about the pros and cons on the Dr Crippen blog.

go to the thread marked "interesting website...." and check out the web address at the bottom.

I don't see why it should be too late to be considering a homebirth. Have you looked at \link{http://www.homebirth.org.uk/\this website}? Also, you could try searching the mumsnet archive for threads with homebirth in the title - lots of useful info!

Sorry not to give you a more personal answer (about to log off) but I hope the above helps.

I had a homebirth booked from the start but I'm sure I didn't do much prep until after 35 weeks apart from booking a pool which arrived at 37 weeks.
I had to go to hospital in the end (by car in convoy with MWs) to have my waters broken (stupid policy) but would still really recommend it.
Major pro is that you don't have to have your house heated to sub tropical hospital temperatures and your tea doesn't come from a machine!!

I don't think it is too late to have a homebirth - is your mw all for it then? It's not at all messy. The mw's bring sheets for the floor and they generally do all the cleaning up too. There are things you need to have, I think they give you a list, but they are common things like a sponge and bowl, etc.

It's much more relaxing than at the hospital, you can have your fav. music playing, candles and insence burning, a nice cup of tea afterwards etc. I had my second at home, he was born at 6.22pm, the mws stayed until I was bathed and he was fed and we were both comfy, then one of them was back again first thing in the morning, so the care is really good. You can try different positions too.

Get in touch with your local NCT, they might be able to arrange for you to have a few quick sessions with their ante-natal teacher - vital for a homebirth! They tell you stuff that NHS classes don't tell you, like for instance that if you squat you can actually open up your cervix by another 3cm! They know all the techniques and tips for a quick and stressfree home birth. They could even lend you some equipment like a birthing ball (I gave birth over mine, it gets you into the ideal position and is wonderfully comfy!).

If anything goes wrong, the mws won't take any chances and you'll get to hospital in probably the same time as you'd be carted to theatre in a delivery suite.

Go for it!

Is this your first? (sorry if i should recognise your name) If yes I'd say think very carefully because not only you but also your partner don't know what or how you are going to experience birth. It is scary especially the first time and you may well feel safer in hospital.

If it's not your first still think carefully.I had the same experience as BonyM but in my case (ds2 born at home) the midwives definitely did panic. Plus the ambulance took more than 45 minutes to get there because ds was born on New Years Eve at a time when London didn't have enough ambulances.

What does your partner feel about it? Mine found he was a lot more 'in charge' at home than in the hospital. He liked it until it was all too late to change our minds.

At home the labour was more comfortable. Dh was more comfortable and the mess wasn't an issue. (Midwives magic it away). But on balance I wish I'd been in hospital.

Thanks for your advice ladies.

Shimmy21 - DS is 3.5 yrs.
His delivery was pretty fast for a first-time (6hrs). Plus there is a family history of 2nd babies to be born very quickly - My niece was born on the bathroom floor!!! Hospital is 45mins from home. Which is why I'm worried about getting to the hospital on time.

I did start off thinking about a home birth because I had no-one to look after DS. But since MIL said that she would come to help, I've gone back to think about a hospital birth. TBH I would probably be more comfortable in hosp.
HD - I did have a look at this website. It's quite interesting. The only thing it doesn't mention is the negative sides to Homebirthing, and to make a balanced decision I need to know both sides - both + and -.

Sunita, there should be a section in that website about 'what can go wrong' - did you read that?

Ah yes - there's a link on the homepage that says "But what if...?"

If your first was a quick labour a homebirth is definitely worth considering. Ultimately though you should go for where you'll feel most comfortable.

I changed to a homebirth at 36 weeks when I was Pg with ds3 ( was originally booked under the domino scheme but they suggested at HB because ds2's birth was fast and ended up as a unplanned HB)

Midwife clears up any mess.

It was lovely being at home.

You could plan for a HB, and still choose to go into hospital. Alternatively, you could intend to go to hospital, and end up with a quick labour and unplanned HB! Which really could be messy. A sort of belt and braces approach might put your mind at rest.

Suni - I'm like you expecting 2nd child and have been told that my labour ward may be shut when I need to go in!! Due to that, plus all the other wonderful stories I have heard from fellow mumsnetters, I have decided to go for a home birth this time around. I know there are risks but there are also risks with hospital birth. I next meet my midwife when I am 33 weeks and I shall be stating that I want a home birth.

Dear Sunita 123, if anyone had told me that I would have had a home birth, my reply would have been -"I am not stupid'. My 3rd was a hbirth. I felt in control, my older two were asleep, two mid wives, me hubby, gas and air and not a single stain on our new mattress...I was the person who never went to a single NCt class, becaue the whole giving birth was too abstract for me to comprehend. At the end of the day go with whatever makes you happy!

Purpleturtle - You seem to have hit the nail on the head! I could plan for a HB to sart with and change at the last moment. At least that way I'll be covering myself regardless of the outcome. Am seeing MW today regarding HB. Will see what she says.