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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Has anyone had a home birth that wasn't planned?

14 replies

Yonididnaedaethat · 20/10/2013 21:39

What happens if you give birth in the house but it wasn't planned?.......if everything is fine do you still go to hospital?

I'm due baby no4 in a few weeks and starting to worry about not getting to the hospital in time lol esp if I go into labour during the week when everyone is at work .

My last baby I was in the hospital less than 10 mins and he was born, it was all so quick.

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emsyj · 20/10/2013 22:19

I planned to go to hospital to deliver, but had a midwife at home with me whilst I was in labour because I used the One to One service that is available in my area (where you see the same midwife throughout and they attend you at home in labour - either to deliver the baby or they will come to hospital with you, although they can't deliver you there, just accompany you). In the end I just didn't bother going to hospital and I had DD2 at home. It was lovely, so much nicer than hospital! And no, I didn't go to hospital as everything was fine.

If you don't have a midwife in attendance though, I would imagine someone would need to see you so as to check your placenta is intact, check the baby over, make sure you don't need stitches/do any required repairs. If I were you I would book a home birth and then if you decide to go to hospital on the day you can do so - but at least you would have someone with you (provided you are able to call the midwife and they arrive on time of course!) It might be worth checking with your midwife whether they would send someone out to you or ask you to go to the hospital to have any checks done in the event they don't get to you in time - I would imagine having to gather your newborn and all your shit together to travel to hospital in the immediate aftermath of birth would be pretty grim. If they will send someone out to you then that's better I would think.

Also, if you think you may deliver at home then please buy a couple of cheap shower curtains and some incontinence pads otherwise your living room will look like a murder scene and you will need a new carpet.

AnnieLobeseder · 20/10/2013 22:26

If you think your baby might come so fast again, why not just plan a homebirth this time? At least then everything you'll need will already be in the house, and the midwives will be ready to come out. Even if they don't make it in time, I'm sure if they check you and baby out afterwards then you won't need to go into hospital.

sarahandduck · 20/10/2013 22:31

Yes me! Dd2 was born at home utterly unplanned at 37 weeks, with just paramedics and DH. From first twinge to her arrival was 2 hours and all was fine.

fizzly · 20/10/2013 22:31

Have a friend who had an unplanned homebirth. A midwife got to her house, minutes after the baby was born. Didn't go into hospital at any point.

Liveinthepresent · 21/10/2013 17:18

Another one here! I ended up having to go in for some stitches - and then we ended up waiting ages for paperwork to be done - and until DS was six hours old so we could have newborn checks done.
The midwife said she could have done it all at home had it been a planned homebirth. ( though we would have had to go to a clinic for newborn checks)
If I were to do it again I would definitely plan for home and transfer in to hospital only if required.

bundaberg · 21/10/2013 17:23

my last homebirth was planned, BUT it was very fast. we knew that the midwives were at least an hour away and dp had been told to call for an ambulance if I needed to push befpore they arrived.

as it was I had the baby, then 5 mins later the ambulance crew arrived. 10 mins later the midwives got there.

I suspect the ambulance crew may have wanted me to go in to get checked over if they hadn't known the midwives were coming (they stayed until they arrived)

TweaksCrunchyCarrot · 21/10/2013 17:24

Just the paramedics here, about 1/2 hour after waking up!

Didn't go to hospital, it was a lovely birth!

OneStepCloser · 21/10/2013 17:40

Wanted a home birth but was due to go in and be induced at midday, reluctantly got bag ready and sister had just turned up with new boyfriend (that I had not met) to look after other children when I nipped into to the loo and DSs head just shot out no contractions, nothing. Called DH and Sis came running up and they waddled me into bedroom.

The cord was wrapped tightly around ds neck, very very lucky new boyfriend just happened to be a consultant so he rushed up, sorted it and delivered ds safely, was all a bit scary as after ds came out it was all very quiet for a few minutes, probably seconds but felt longer. Sis Bf (now husband) said even he felt a little scared for a bit as he hadnt delivered a baby since he was a student, he also admitted if he hadnt of been there might have been a problem, but he brushes over it a little.

All over within 7 minutes, boyfriend then delivered placenta and cleaned up before midwife arrived. No hospital required.

Wouldnt recommend meeting new brother in law that way to be honest though

Original poster

Yonididnaedaethat · 21/10/2013 20:30

Thanks for the replies, I've told DH I need to get a plan of action sorted so I can stop fretting! I have a 20 month at home too so really hoping for a weekend birth lol at least then when I'm in hospital my 15 year old DD can be at home while DH is with me.

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BlueChampagne · 22/10/2013 13:14

DS2 was an unplanned home birth, delivered by me, while DH and DS1 downstairs on the phone to the ambulance crew as midwife didn't answer her phone! Ambulance arrived about 10 min after he did, and midwife half an hour later. Both checked up, placenta dealt with, no need to go to hospital. Luckily it was a Sunday morning.

mummykayxx · 22/10/2013 16:45

I was 17, living with my mum and sister and partner and the dog. pains started at 12am on my due date. I woke my mum up and she told me I was much too calm to be in labour and to go back to sleep (this was 2am). woke my partner up (now an ex) who went straight back to sleep and didnt believe me. at about 5 me and ex went to tesco and bought some bananas (I have no idea lol) - this was interesting, bent over the self service check out screaming as another contraction came got me some funny looks from the security guards. got home. by this time everyone was awake from my screaming. got in the bath. mum told meit was time to go to the hospital (30 second walk away!) as I got out the bath and down the stairs, I shouted at my mum that I couldn't as the **ing head was coming out. this was in the very small hallway next to the dogs bed. she said just hurry up and get in the car. I shouted at her to look. his head was half out. I dropped to the floor and just as mum thought she was going to have to deliver her grandchild (about 10 seconds before he came all out) the midwife and several ambulance people turned up, my open legs with a baby hanging out greeted them as they walked in the door lol. Then my son was born scary stuff! The ambulance men carried me upstairs, helped me into bed and the midwife left after about half an hour, so no hospital for me. wouldnt change a thing. good luck

neolara · 22/10/2013 17:39

My last birth was a planned home birth but baby arrived very quickly and before the midwife and ambulance. All was fine though. We didn't go to hospital.

eeyore2911 · 22/10/2013 17:50

I had DS2 accidentally on the bathroom floor at home with only BF to catch him! I'd felt a few twinges at 6am but thought was some kind of practice contractions (despite it being my due date the next day!)... Suddenly contractions started quick and hard at about quarter to 7, I needed the loo so locked self in then had to push... Felt waters pop and shouted for bf who was already phoning ambulance. I got off loo and was kneeling on floor when bf had to break door down and literally catch baby on second push!!!! Ambulance took half an hour so I lay on bathroom floor with baby attached waiting, they arrived with no idea baby was already here despite ambulance controller hearing him born! We made the news though and got to hear the recording played!!! All was fine, healthy 8lb boy with not a single tear or iota of pain relief was looking to the gas and air though!!

Hendricks · 24/10/2013 16:35

DC2 was an unattended homebirth - DH had to be stopped from attempting to drive me to the hospital by my friend who'd come over to mind DC1and ended up relaying instructions to DH who delivered DC2. Ambulance turned up 5 minutes later and took us to hospital.

This time I'm hoping for a planned (and attended) homebirth.

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