OK I know that this has been done before but...... Homebirth questions, advice/experiences apreciated...

[bubblez]

Ok so midwife is coming tomorrow and I want to ask about a homebirth.

This is my second baby first labour was spontanious and I went from two centimetres to delivering in 3 and a half hours. Midwives and docs have said that this labour may be as fast as 1 hour. [fear]

I have been told I can opt for a homebirth and would rather this then a rush to hospital in an ambulance panic, but I have so many questions like.....

For those who have had one, how much mess was there?
What happened to the placenta?
How long did it take the midwife to reach you?
How did you find it?
How many people were with you?
What should I ask the midwife? (sad i know but got pg brain)
How much are the sheets etc? (maybe i could ask her that)
And
Who would recomend it/do it again?

TIA
XXXXXXXX

I was quick with ds1 so had homebirths for ds2 and ds3 - the last being under an hour.
To answer the questions (based on ds3 as ds2 was an unplanned homebirth!)-
hardly any mess, and the midwife cleans it all up
midwife was with me about 10 minutes after I phoned - they were waiting for me as they knew it would be quick!
It was just the midwife there for about half and hour, and dh made it home with 10 minutes to spare!
Sheets? I bought plastic sheets from Homebase, so very cheap - although I actually gave birth in the bath as I had got in to relax and couldn't move once I realised that ds3 was on his way out!
Would definatley have a homebirth again if there was a number 4!

For those who have had one, how much mess was there?
used sheets that could be rolled up and bined over a plastic sheet to protect carpet round birth pool. Mw helped dh roll it all up- the pool water was messy but that got syponed off down an outside drain.

What happened to the placenta?
you have a medical waste bucket, it goes in there and is collected a few days later... unless u want it!

How long did it take the midwife to reach you?
an hour- they got out of bed had fast showers to wake themselves up and came

How did you find it?
wonderful as I'd ad a fast un too- under 4 hrs

How many people were with you?
2mws and DH, ds2 was born at 4am...ds1 slept

What should I ask the midwife? (sad i know but got pg brain)
ask about how fast they will get to you- and wjat to do if they don't...ask about what you need to provide aka tea and toast, sheets towels, and what they will provide, ask about pain relief jik, ther is prob more pg barin here too..

How much are the sheets etc? (maybe i could ask her that)
bought a big £10 sheet in b&q for the plastic, used old bedsheets and bought new ones

And
Who would recomend it/do it again?
am doing in august!

didn't see the placenta question - midwife took it with her.
If they think you are going to be quick then they will be expecting you to call and will try to get to you as soon as they can.

1. Didn't see any mess. Midwives put clean sheets on the bed while I was in the bath and bunged the dirty ones in the washing machine. Not a spot on them when they came out. (Gave birth on my bed)
2. Midwive asked if i wanted to see it and whipped it away when i declined.
3. 30 mins.
4. Wonderful, would do it again.
5. OH. My mum and ds were asleep in the other rooms.

How much are what sheets? Midwife supplied some plastic backed mats (like large pampers care mats) and that was all that was needed.

Thank you both,

Ahhhhhh brilliant... I'm so glad that there are good experiences..

I'm hoping that this will be more relaxing then having to rush to hospital.

redtent good luck for august. I'm due April.

Ohhhhh what happens if I unfortunately tear? Do I have to go to hospital? I didnt tear with dd, but I don't want to jus presume.

I did tear. Was given the option of the midwife stitching it or just leaving it. I asked her to leave it.

exactly the same for me as Kate- small tear I asked for it to be left!

How much mess was there?
None that I was aware of! I had a home waterbirth sp the pool contained any mess and this was dealt with my my mother whilstI was being stitched and was snuggling up to DD in my own bed

What happened to the placenta? Um... it was put in a bag and taken away. The MW insisted on showing me it when I said I'd never seen one (meaning I didn't want to either!)

How long did it take the midwife to reach you?
Difficult to answer - Quick enough. She could guage how I was and asked if she could shower/breakfast first! I said yes. When she arrived, she was planning on leaving to see another mother but didn't because it all happened quickly after she arrived - the 2nd midwife and the student who wanted to see a home waterhirth didn't arrive til after DD had been born.

How did you find it?
Much more relaxed than a hospital birth. Still hurt like hell mind you! Being in my own environment was bliss. And for me, the icing on the cake is that DD has our home address as place of birth on her birth certificate

How many people were with you?
2 including the MW

What should I ask the midwife? (sad i know but got pg brain)
Not sure. How likely is it that MWs will be available when you go into labour? Response times etc?

How much are the sheets etc? (maybe i could ask her that)
Cheap dust sheets fron B&Q are ideal and something mad like £5 for 3 or someething.

And
Who would recomend it/do it again?
Well, DD was my last baby so no but if she weren't, yes I'd have a home waterbirth again. I'd recommend it to anyone and I was a die hard hospital birth person for DS1 & 2.

Like zubb, had an unplanned homebirth. The community midwife was called, but took two hours to get to me (I live in the back of beyond, aka, north London!). By which time, I'd delivered dd1 myself sitting on the toilet. Most of the 'mess' went down the toilet so I guess there wasn't too much to clear up (how efficient am I??).

Caught the plancenta in the washing up bowl.

It was suggested that I have ds and dd2 at home, but didn't want to purely because I knew I could get to the local birth centre in 10 minutes, but couldn't guarantee how quickly a midwife would get to me.

I had a 2nd degree tear and the 2nd MW stitched it when she arrived. I think there can be occasions when you'd need to tras=nsfer to have it stitched - I think they tried to persuade Flamesparrow she'd have to go inbut I think they called a stitching expert instead or something.

Oh, stitching stuff and those caremat things and other medical stuff is delivered when you're about 36 weeks. Don't look in the bag

Oh that is good, so there aren't many things that mean a hospital transfer then. That is good.

I must say that you are all making me feel a lot better about the decision.

Thank you

Most things become apparent before it becomes an emergency. The thing they always worry about is shoulder dytocia where the baby's shoulders become stuck but I gather that this can be remedied with a particular position/manouver (I can't spell that word! It's looked wrong every way I've tried) Maybe that's something you could ask about.

A home birth is statistically safer than a hospital birth in a normal pregnancy apparently.

I expect you've already found it, but if not, here's the link to the homebirth website which has loads of useful information on there.

I had a homebirth with my fourth baby a year ago and it was fantastic, I wish I'd done it with the others too. It was so good I'm almost tempted to have a fifth just to do it again.

The best bit for me was being able to snuggle up in my own bed afterwards and use my own bathroom - absolute bliss!

I had a home birth and one of the reasons for was the speed of my first. I'd rather have a baby at home than in the car. There were a lot of reasons to have my 2nd at home and I couldn't really find a reason agaianst it.

To answer your questions from my pov:-

• There wasn't that much mess. I went to Sainsburys homebase and bought that plastic sheeting used for decorating. I had a black bin bag full of old towels and old duvet covers etc that I was glad to see the back of. I then lined the floor and side of my bed, or the midwife and DP did, while I was labouring. The mess was then disposed off when the sheets were thrown away. All this was done my the midwife. By the time I was out of the bath my room was spotless agian.

• I was asked if I wanted to keep the palcenta but I declined and it was taken away by the midwife. I didn't have to think past whether I wanted it or not.

• We rang her at 3am and she jumped in the shower and was with me about 15 minutes later I think, all a bit of a blur really, but basically no time at all and she arrived all fresh smelling!

• How did I find it? - AMAZING. Best thing I ever did, it was brilliant and I'd do it again over a hospital or even a birthing unit any day.

• My best friend came over to be with my eldest DD and they got in her bed together and snuggled and read books and sung songs.

Then there was just me and my midwife. At the final stage they are obliged to bring in one other midwife but she stayed downstairs, she was just there if she was needed. At the final stage, once the head had crowned, I got my eldest to come in and she sat on the end of the bed with my best mate and my DP. The midwife was behind me and just let me get on with it.

• I used old sheets etc, see above

• Yes I'd MASSIVELY recomend it and yes I'd do it again.

Good luck and congratulations.

My second midwife wasn't actually called until after dd was born because it happened too quickly. Wasn't a problem though. She arrived just in time for the tidying up.

I bought a pool from La Bassine and had it in the bedroom - can highly highly recommend - cut the pain by half I reckon.

would definitely do it again.

I wanted a waterbirth with DD1 but when it came to it I knew I had to be on dry land, feet down, bent over the side of the bed, no-one could move me. I thought it would be the same with DD2 so didn't bother hiring a pool thing, plus space is limited etc, so I laboured in the bath at home. DP poured water from a large jug all over the bump and he kept this up throughout and it was lovely. Then right at the last stage I did what I thought I might and decided i needed to be grounded so got out.

They brought plastic sheets. Don't worry about mess.
I specifically wanted both plancentae - non identical twins so I could check they were not identical although they look so different you ddidn't really need that in the end. I buried them in the garden. My father did that too - he delivered my sister (he's a doctor) and they planted a yellow rose on top
Midwife came quickly. I can't remember excatly. It was a private one and two came, one first, then the second.
It was great.
With me - at the birth - two midwives.
Yes, it very good.

My midwives came from www.birthcentre.com/

Second twin born same day 7 hours later in hospital, my choice. We were going to deliver both in hospital but first one came too fast and then we thought second one would just appear but he didn't want to. Two nice births but different London boroughs which made the announcement in the Times fun to draft.

For those who have had one, how much mess was there?
NONE, I'VE HAD 2 HOME BIRTHS

What happened to the placenta? THINK THEY TOOK IT, I DIDN'T WANT IT

How long did it take the midwife to reach you? QUICK ENOUGH BOTH TIMES

How did you find it? FIRST TIME EASY, SECOND HARDER (DIFF HUSBAND, BIGGER BABY)

How many people were with you? FIRST TIME ME, DH, 2 MIDWIVES, MY MUM; SECOND TIME ME, DH, 2 MIDWIVES

What should I ask the midwife? (sad i know but got pg brain) ER DUNNO!

How much are the sheets etc? (maybe i could ask her that) USED OLD STUFF WHICH WE CHUCKED, YOU COULD USE SHOWER CURTAIN. I HAD A POOL SECOND TIME, WOULD REALLY RECOMMMEND
And

Who would recomend it/do it again?
NOT HAVING ANY MORE BUT HAVING HAD 2 AT HOME CAN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING ELSE, VERY NICE BEING IN MY OWN BED

Cheers for all your responses.

Thanks for the website DaisyMOO I didn't know that it existed.

Def feel like I am making the right decision and now I feel like its more of an informed decision.

For those who have had one, how much mess was there?

My waters broke over the bedroom floor but that would have happened anyway Did not notice much mess, labour was over in 3 hours, I used old sheets and the midwife wrapped everything up in itself and put it in a bin liner and took it off to be incinerated at the hospital.

What happened to the placenta?

As per the sheets, the midwife disposed of it.

How long did it take the midwife to reach you?

I rang her when my waters broke, she then said for me to call her if I needed pain relief otherwise she would come round in the morning. I called her two hours later and she was there in 20 mins.

How did you find it?

Fantastic! Obviously uncomplicated delivery, no need to go to hospital. Felt like a queen having shower in my own bathroom and getting back into my own bed with my new baby girl.

How many people were with you?

Two midwives and DH. Best friend was downstairs looking after my DS.

What should I ask the midwife? (sad i know but got pg brain).

I'm not sure really. She would do birth plan with you nearer the time and you would discuss emergency transfers and contraindications then.

How much are the sheets etc? (maybe i could ask her that)

We used old sheets and bought new ones from Ikea so not really expensive.

And Who would recomend it/do it again?

Yes! Am 27 weeks and booked in for homebirth, baby permitting

i had my first baby at home 2 months ago and it was great but unlike everyone else it was a pretty long drawn out labour so my answers might be a bit different , and also i had my LO in a pool - but thought it might help with different experience..

For those who have had one, how much mess was there?

i gave birth in a pool (would really recommend this) so that contained the mess a bit, but i delivered the placenta on "dry land" and then bled quite a bit (which meant i had to have syntomentrine but was glad of it) so it was pretty messy. But all you need are lots of towels and some plastic throw-away sheets (from B&Q very cheap!). The towels recovered after a boil wash!

What happened to the placenta?

the midwife toook it with her to the hospital to be checked.

How long did it take the midwife to reach you?

I had a doula too so she arrived first then we called the midwife who came maybe 4 hours later - i think she knew i was in very early labour and phoned me a couple of times to check on me. She then stayed for a few hours, went away coz nothing much was happening and then came back when my waters finally went. Think she felt happier leaving me coz of the doula though.

How did you find it?

I am soooooo glad i had a homebirth - it was amazing to just be in my environment and to be able to get into bed afterwards - the best bit was when all our parents and siblings arrived and we all sat in our room drinking champagne!

How many people were with you?

DH and doula

What should I ask the midwife? (sad i know but got pg brain)
can't think of anything that hasn't been said.

How much are the sheets etc? (maybe i could ask her that)

see above
And
Who would recomend it/do it again?
yes!

re tearing: I had a second degree tear which another midwife was called in to sew up. This was maybe the worst bit as they had to go and find the right suturing kit so sewed me up 2 hours post-birth and the G&A ran out while they were doing it (i howled a lot!) so maybe make sure they have plenty of G&A around! (You do get a local anaesthetic too btw..)

All the very best

TIA

sorry, forgot to say the midwife took 20 mins to get to me the second time.

I would do homebirth again

midwives came at 11,I was in the bath, got out and got a bit bored

I started to bake,
the mw's had lunch out in the back garden, the sun was shining,

20 minutes before ds was born (I only got to weighing out the flour) I went upstairs having had 2 strong contractions, 10 mins before ds was born my waters broke,

I don't remember the mess, but the mw's cleaned up

good luck, I hope it goes well for you