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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Homebirthers- did anyone find the pain intolerable and regret not going to hospital?

18 replies

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 30/08/2013 16:17

I'm umming and ahhing about a home birth, more specifically a home water birth and I'm anxious about finding the Labour pain near transition too much and not having much in the form of pain relief to fall back on!

This will be my 3rd Labour btw, my 1st was very, very long, back to back Labour, failed epidural and ends, my 2nd was shorter but a vbac. So I know I can do it I'm just anxious of the pain. I'm booked onto a hypnobirthing course in Nov to hopefully get rid of my fear!

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macfi · 30/08/2013 16:25

I have had two home water births now and my midwives knew both times that when I demanded an epidural and started crying because 'I can't do it' that things were moving along nicely.

I sucked my way through five canisters of g&a for my first birth and would have punched anyone who tried to take it off me.

I can't tell you how much the water helped, second birth was long and back to back and midwife asked me to get out when I was 7cm as nothing was happening. the action of getting out must have dislodged her as she was born twenty minutes later but I literally dived head first back in as it made such a difference with pain relief.

Did hypnoborthing both times and and while it helped making me confident and sure I could do it I couldn't focus on it in birth as it was making me too aware if you know what I mean?

The thing with HB is that you get to know your midwife and this has such an impact on your labour as you can trust them, and if you want to transfer you haven't failed but you will have had a really good start to labour.

Good luck - oh and it's not messy at all either!

cottoncandy · 30/08/2013 16:28

I had a hb with my second - I had the classic 'can't do this!' at transition but otherwise fine. I think if you weren't coping and were a way off giving birth they would transfer you, the water was amazing for pain relief, I only needed gas for the contraction which delivered her head.

nickelbabe · 30/08/2013 16:29

no, i was fine with it.

i preferred the fact i was in my own space.

i had gas and air and a tens machine.
apparently the batteries ran out on the tens, about an hour before i realised, and the g&a ran out too.

AllDirections · 30/08/2013 16:30

I didn't have any pain relief with DD2 and with DD3 I had gas and air for an hour but the canister needed changing just as I started to push but the midwives couldn't get the connecting bits off the first canister to attach to the second so I couldn't have any more.

It was still worth it to be at home.

Spirael · 30/08/2013 16:37

I had a water home birth. It was fine, the pain was never unmanageable and the water helped a lot. The G&A didn't arrive in time so aside from the water the only pain relief I got was 2 paracetamol.

I did however see a doctor beforehand and get a prescription for some stronger, injectable drugs (pethidine?) that had to be specially ordered and then kept in my fridge for the MW to inject if required. I never felt like I needed them, so they went back to the pharmacy after the birth! It was comforting to know they were there if needed, however.

TheYamiOfYawn · 30/08/2013 16:38

No. My midwife once told me that in 20 years as an independent home birth midwife, she had only ever once transferred a woman to hospital for pain relief. She had had plenty of transfers but generally if the pain isn't manageable at home where you are free to move around as the pain promts you, you feel safe etc, then that is an indication that you need to be in hospital for further assistance.

OddFrog · 30/08/2013 16:43

I had a homebirth vbac with DC2 after a hospital elcs (breech) for DC1.

I can highly recommend the hypnobirthing. I used a pool for all but the last two pushes and the water helped such a lot. It was hard work, but I can honestly say it was not painful at all. I was so relaxed and confident because I was at home in my own familiar space and felt so in control with the support of the hypnobirthing techniques. I feel very lucky to have had such a lovely birth experience and a great midwife, but I am sure that being at home and using the water and hypnobirthing contributed hugely to the outcome.

VeremyJyle · 30/08/2013 16:58

My first HB (which was planned) with DD2 was incredible, she was almost born down the loo, thought I needed to "clear out" first (sorry for crude term) but turns out the only thing I needed to expel was a baby. No transition stage, no pain (I quite enjoyed sitting on the toilet - advocate birthing stalls) but 2nd HB was horrible, it was the first time I used G&A (for third baby!!!) but it was prolonged and I was exhausted, its only with hindsight I know I should have been transferred, the midwife was horrible, I wasn't comfortable (I'd got into a really stupid position to birth in (elbows on an armchair to support my squatting - my legs were dead from squatting, my arms were dead from supporting my weight and back killed from everything!!!) but remember transferring is ALWAYS an option, with DC4 I had a stalled labour and we were rushed in as midwives couldn't detect a heartbeat - whole team assembled for emergency c-sec had the worst been true, as soon as I arrived I was canulated and scan done instantly, I'd barely sat on the bed when 15 people pulled and grabbed to get the scan done, it was treated as a real emergency, I don't say all this to scare you just to show that you are extremely well looked after with HBs. Incidentally that labour didn't progress and it was 2 weeks til DC4 arrived, again in dramatic style, everything going well til he was in distress and having decelerations. Again proving just how well they look after you, we were taken straight to hospital and arranged for a caesarean however at 8cm DC4 decided to put in an appearance with help from an episiotomy, all this was on pure adrenaline, no G&A in sight

lollypopsicle · 30/08/2013 19:57

I was in water but no G&A. At times it hurt a lot but it was not unmanageable and at no time did I wish I had more pain relief. I also used hypnobirthing techniques which I found very useful. Very glad I had a home birth and would highly recommend it

Original poster

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 30/08/2013 20:23

You know what? I've loved reading all of your accounts and I've found them really reassuring. It's giving me more confidence and think I'll refer back to this thread when I get a wobble! If you want to tell me more I'm all ears! Birth stories, the lot!

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ohforfoxsake · 30/08/2013 20:27

No. I've 3 HBs and the pain was manageable with a warm bath, moving around a lot and G&A.

Another vote for hypnobirthing here too.

ohforfoxsake · 30/08/2013 20:29

Just to add, I was more worried about unnecessary intervention with my DC1 hospital birth. I could totally relax at home.

You can choose to transfer in at any time. I would always say if you are considering a HB then prepare for one, knowing you can change your mind.

toisa · 30/08/2013 20:29

I used g&a at home and had pethidine (sp?) ready to go. The pain feels intolerable. Giving birth is sore. But there you go !!

TheYamiOfYawn · 30/08/2013 21:37

I keep reading G&A as G&T, which I suppose is also a pain relief option for a home birth

Emilycee · 31/08/2013 07:22

This is a really interesting thread, Im also hankering towards a hb but a bit worried with it being my first... Ill keep coming back to read it I think to help me decide

Fairypants · 31/08/2013 07:46

I had a HB with dc2 as I felt the hospital was unnecessary with dc1 and it was fab. I was happy with g&a and tens and the fab mw giving me a great back rub
My childcare plans went to pot so its lucky I was at home and dd1 was asleep through most of it and watching a film upstairs towards the end. DH ran up and brought her down in time to watch him cut the cord and meet her sis.
Bear in mind that if you are close to transition, they wouldn't be keen to give you much at hospital in case it impairs 2nd stage.

GabbyGabriella · 31/08/2013 22:40

I had a HB with DC3 after two straightforward hospital births.
Just used gas and air and was glad that I would not be able to have anything else as I knew from experience that it can feel a bit much towards the end (!) but that I did not want any other pain relief after an unpleasant experience with pethidine.
Good luck with yours.

MintyDiamonds · 01/09/2013 22:12

I had a home water birth back in March as I knew being at the hospital would make me feel nervous and claustrophobic. I didn't do any hypnobirthing or anything but I definitely went into a trance type thing and wasn't really aware of anyone or anything, just concentrated on breathing through the contractions and staying in control and honestly I was prepared for the worst pain ever and beforehand had convinced myself I'd transfer for pain relief but it didn't hurt any where near as much as I was expecting and she went back to back!

After 6 hours of labour I had my little girl in my arms and it was such a lovely experience.

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