Home birth for first - good idea or being naive??

[meandbumpy]

This is my first baby, I've just had my 34 week appointment, everything is progressing well and I'm low risk. Midwife is very happy with things and asked if I'd considered having a home birth.
I love the thought of doing it but hadn't considered it before now because I'd felt a little under informed about labour. I've now spent a lot of time throughout the pregnancy reading up about the stages of birth, how it happens naturally and what could go wrong or what challenges I could face. I am keen to avoid any pain relieve other than gas and air and the hospital is very close to home should I need to transfer.
I don't feel nervous or anxious about the birth and I'm actually looking forward to it. Of course this could be down to my lack of experience and general naivety!

Does anyone have any first time home birth experiences they'd like to share to give me a bit of real life perspective?

Also, a few questions...

• Where do you get all the equipment from, birthing pool for example. Can you hire/borrow them or do you have to buy your own?

• Is it really messy!?

• What do you think, shall I go for it???

But mydarlingclementine not everyone experiences labour like that - although OP can't say yet as she hasn't given birth yet. I genuinely don't find it that painful - overwhelming, yes, & painful - but not the worst pain imaginable.

Not something I would be prepared to do. I can imagine that is all goes well then it must be a fantastic experience, but birth is unpredictable and can only takes seconds to go tragically wrong.

My good friend had 3 home births, she was low risk and labour was progressing well when events changed within seconds. Her baby died, the midwife slammed the door as she left screaming "this is why I bloody hate home births!"

THis experience has changed my friend forever- she blames herself for her baby's death and has suffered deep depression since the incident.
Giving birth myself my first baby was born with breathing difficulties- the peadiatric team was there within seconds and the result was a happy one.
I think we are very lucky to have hospitals in which we can have safe happy births. Giving birth in hospital an be an enjoyable experience.

That is a horrible and tragic experience for your friend msmiggins.

I think it is important to remember though that most homebirths happen safely. I am planning one for my first due in Feb and the midwives in my area are very pro homebirth and supportive. I would be choosing to have birth in the midwife led unit if not at home and as the midwives bring everything along that is to hand there I don't see a great difference between being in a midwife led-unit to being at home.

We are close to the local hospital (like the OP) so feel comfortable with our decision. In the vast majority of cases any issues/problems manifest in good time to transfer in to hospital. Obviously home births are not for everyone but statistically they are as safe as hospital births (slightly higher risk for first birth). I think you have to do what feels right for you.