Home vs Hospital?

[FoulsomeAndMaggotwise]

I really want to give birth at home, DH would prefer hospital. Here's our list of pros and cons, please tell me your thoughts!

Pros (to being at home)
Guaranteed pool (birthing centre at hospital may be full and I really don't want to be on the labour ward)
Familiar environment
No messing around waiting to be discharged or admitted
Nice shower afterwards
Relaxed atmosphere means (definitely in my case anyway) better pain coping mechanisms
First birth (birthing centre) was perfect, no pain relief required, but it was long.
No medical conditions/pregnancy complications.
DS can come home to see us sooner.

Cons
If anything were to go wrong, we're not super close to a hospital (but not far either)
The price of the pool will set us back £100+

I can't think of any other cons.

That's it. Thank you!

The 40 minutes to prep theatre is utter rubbish. I have known of an emergency section being done in a and e as the baby was literally dying in front of the doctors eyes. Of course you will receive assistance quicker if in hospital than at home!

I'd like to know exactly what scenarios would lead to the situation of going from a well monitored and managed home birth to needing a crash c section within 10 minutes?

Good question, jackie. I wish I'd asked my consultant that when he was warning me against home birth last time!

I planned 2 homebirths but only my second we born at home as my first was back to back.

Hands down a home birth is amazing, it is such a special experience.

For me the decision was made as we lived very close to the hospital and I reasoned we could get there within 10 minutes if we needed to. Also I had a very easy pregnancy with no concerns/issues. On top of this I knew that the midwives would take no chances as their priority is the safety of you and your baby so I felt assured knowing someone who had seen many births would be there to decide if it was necessary to go to hospital. Also the level of care at a homebirth, from what I've seen, is better as you get 2 midwives solely caring for you and not a whole labour ward.

If you decide on a hospital birth remember you don't need to go there too soon, labour at home as long as you can. And if you go for the homebirth you can always choose to go in! Just be prepared for anything, a really high percentage of first time homebirths end in transfer to hospital.

good luck!!