Home birth

[user1474140141]

Hello,

I am 34 weeks pregnant with our first child and my husband and I are really keen on a home birth.

We have done a lot of research and know that the risks for first time mothers is slightly elevated.

Would be keen to hear of other women's experiences.

We both feel that we would be more relaxed at home which may help us have the birth we want.

Thanks

[user1474140141]

The cuddles are amazing!!!

We received an excellent service too.

Glad your hospital experience was ace too orangebird69. No NHS bashing here, out midwives were NHS and the service we received from the Whittington Health in London was excellent overall including the community midwife team.

The rest of my NCT group gave birth in Stoke Mandeville hospital (we temporarily had to relocate) and all say amazing things about their care in hospital too.

[ILoveDolly]

I had a home birth with my third and it was great. Hour and a half hardly any relief needed just me and my pillow (midwife arrived in time to catch )
I had a fast delivery with my second and was concerned I'd not make it to hospital next time, I nearly gave birth in the lift as it was.
But! My first was relatively terrible, 19 hours, episeotomy forceps delivery etc I'd have been transferred soooo actually my advice to first time mums is to take hospital or midwife led unit option because you don't know how you react to childbirth yet and the first labour is always a bit harder. They have good drugs there

[Insabbathstheatre]

Hey congratulations. Both my DC's were home births - though the first was unplanned as no-one would believe I was in labour (DH said if this was what I was like with Braxton hicks what was I going to be like when it was real labour and could he go out for an hour! I said I didn't care what anyone said I thought there was a baby on the way and I couldn't look so he would have to check - well he did and then agreed I was in labour as he could see the head!). Well the on-call midwife lived a few doors away and - without taking her coat off - got the cord cut and about 15 minutes later DS and I were wrapped up in bed - lovely. The crash team from the hospital about an hour and a half later to take us to hospital - but I said I wasn't going anywhere! They agreed all was well and left us to it. DS2 was a planned home delivery with just qualified mid-wife friend and her supervisor (who all agreed when I said I was definitely in labour!) - again all over very quickly and in bed and cosy very quickly. The planned home birth was better - having a mid-wife rather than a DH in a panic (we had agreed he wouldn't be at the birth - rather than being almost the only one at the delivery! - he was't at the second after he jokingly said the same thing as first time! I still feel lovely thinking about both home births and am so glad this happened for both by DS's - and recommend to everyone (though also advice if you do a lot of pelvic floor exercises it is possible to control waters breaking and not realise this has occurred!!!)

[AprilShowers16]

I planned a home birth with my first for a few reasons

• I'm only 5 mins from the hospital so knew I could be ambulanced in almost as quickly as I could be seen by a Dr at the hospital
  

• I thought I would be more relaxed at home which would help during labour
  

• I loved the idea of all being at home together after the birth
  

• I liked the idea of having two dedicated midwives with me throughout
  

In the end I was able to labour at home for 11 hours but after 2 hours of pushing and still no baby I was blue lighted to hospital where baby was out within 30 mins. I don't regret my decision at all even though I wasn't able to finish at home as I'd hoped and found it a really positive experience. I felt like the labour went so quickly at home and I loved being in my own environment and seeing woman pacing the hospital halls trying to get things going I felt really grateful that I didn't have to do that. Being at home means there is no pressure to decide when to go in which I loved and the dedicated midwife care was brilliant.

I went into it knowing that my preferance would be a home birth but accepting that it was very likely I would have to go into hospital as it was my first. I think that attitude really helped me and meant I wasn't devastated when I did have to go in. So I think plan for a home birth but be ready for all scenarios.

Also talk to your midwife about what their gas and air policy is. Our midwives were only allowed to carry a certain amount on them - I ended up using it really quickly and so they kept running out and having to wait for more to come which obviously wasn't ideal as meant I had periods without it.

Hoping with no.2 I will be able to complete the job at home!