Homebirth

[Pastamancer]

I am currently pregnant with DC2 and am leaning towards a homebirth this time round. Realistically, how messy is it likely to be and what would I need to do to prepare the room? I don't know if I want a waterbirth or not yet, I'd worry about getting cold while in the water as it seems a lot of water to try and keep warm.

I'm hoping to have home birth with dc2 as well - of you're ok Facebook there's a very active home birth chat group who are really good at answering questions like this. I asked the same one about mess!

I meant if you're on Facebook!

I had my 3rd DS at home and I can honestly say, there was no mess at all - just none whatsoever.

The midwives advised me on how to prepare the room. If I remember rightly (it's getting on for 12yrs ago now), they needed a desk/table to write their notes and I don't recall they really needed anything else?

One of the Midwives dropped a bombshell on me 2 days before the birth, that I would have to give birth downstairs on the floor...instead of upstairs in my bed (as we'd planned all along)

I could see her reasoning - it would be easier to get me out the front door if I needed to get to hospital, but it was too blood late so we continued with the upstairs in bed plan and all went extremely well

bloody late

bloody late

It's not messy. The midwives clean up really well. You put something like a cheap shower curtain and old towel on the floor, they bring lots of absorbent mats.

Re the pool it takes a lot of water to fill, yes, but then you just keep topping up with a bucket every now and again. You won't get cold, labour makes you pretty hot. And inflatable pools do a good job at insulating the water. All we had to do to clear up was empty pool and have a quick mop around where my waters had gone.

Downstairs probably better with a birth pool- or check your joists :)

My DS3 was a homebirth too, and his was the best, fastest, most stress-free and easiest birth of all. I was so much more relaxed, being in my own home, my midwives were fantastic (one of them was an old friend of mine), and with DSes 1 and 2 (then 7 and 5) asleep upstairs I felt I had everyone around me that I needed and just so completely in control.

There was no mess. I chose to give birth downstairs in my living room as I knew our bedroom was too small for me, H and 2 midwives to all be in together. I still grin about it occasionally while sitting on my own downstairs late and night, and DS3 (now 7) likes to hear the story of how he was born right here in our house.

The best bit was being able to just go upstairs to bed together when it was all over. Me, H and DS3 all snuggled up together (yes, we co-slept) on his first ever night, and DSes 1 and 2 coming in of their own accord in the morning to meet their new baby brother.

Totally agree not messy, we had some plastic on the floor and my MW also brought lots of disposable mats.

I was incredibly lucky DD2's birth really was as magical as a home both could be. So I'm very biased in saying everyone should go for it!

We put down a shower curtain first (waterproof), then arsonists boxes (absorbent) then a new soft sheet. MWs just folded it all up afterwards and took it all away. The whole thing was bliss - everyone was amazing, I was totes relaxed, MWs basically drank tea, ate toast and left me to it. Afterwards they kindly showered me down and put all 3 of us to bed. We've got 2 home births under our belts now and in it would take a lot to get me to labour in a hospital in future. Go for it. And very good luck to you

Cardboard. Not arsonists. Obvs

I had my first at home. Agree with the other posters that the mess was absolutely minimal. A few ruined towels and that's about it. I wish we hadn't wasted money on plastic sheeting etc (not into water sports so zero re-use value )

I loved my HB (even though it was long and hard and I wasnt at all prepared for the pain) and would have loved another for DC2 but it wasn't to be . That said, I managed to have a baby without having a single contraction so that was nice .

That's reassuring, DH is concerned about the mess so it will be good to let him know it shouldn't be as bad as he expects.

No mess. I gave birth on rented cream carpets, not a single mark.

We got a few shower curtains and gaffa taped them to the floor and covered them with sheets and towels. The sofa cushions got put in black bags, sealed shut and covered with sheets. I have long labours so wanted to make sure I could move around a lot if I needed to.

It was the loveliest experience.

I got a good few shower curtains from the pound shop and primark and an old duvet (lovely and comfy for delivering the after birth). There was one mark about the size of my palm on the duvet, that was it!

I've had 2 home births (plus one in hospital) and hoping for another in the next few weeks. There is honestly no mess. I bought a couple of shower curtains from the pound shop and that was all the preparation I needed.

I did try a birthing pool last time, purely because I was lent one by a friend who hadn't got to use it. But I didn't personally get on with it and I did get very cold and shivery in the water, plus it slowed down the contractions. We set the thing up in the living room, which is where I gave birth anyway. It isn't warm like a bath but swimming pool temperature.

Thanks everyone. I was planning on it being downstairs anyway, probably in the room out the back away from DD. Last time I had a very long labour involving lots of trips to the MLU only to be sent home again so avoiding having to leave the house would be lovely. I mentioned it to the MW at my booking appointment and she has put me down as a homebirth on my notes. She asked if I still planned on having one at my 16 week appointment so I'm happy that I have her on side. Just need to persuade DH but I'm currently 21 weeks so hopefully that is enough time.

I got most of the way through DS1's homebirth before he got quite spectacularly stuck and distressed. I was given a list of things to get by the midwives:

Dust sheets
A cardboard box lined with newspaper
Soap and hand towel for the midwife
Old towels
A torch or angle lamp - candles not allowed.
Refreshments for the midwife (tongue in cheek but I'm sure they meant it!).

I couldn't see what all the fuss was about re water birth but I have a large corner bath which could be used if wanted. Well, I spent almost the whole time in there and absolutely hated getting out! I was so convinced by it that I am sure for DC2 I would want water or epidural because nothing in between works.