Home birth or hospital?

[ElsieMae13]

I’m 30+ weeks, and seriously contemplating home birth. This is my 1st baby but uncomplicated so far, and my midwife has advised me not to think about this. We’re also 40 minutes from my nearest hospital. Her main issue seems to be that I fall between catchment areas for local hospitals though; my doctors surgery is covered by one hospital but my home address another, so neither hospital want to send out midwives! I’m keen for a home birth because my mum delivered me (baby 1) in under an hour from contractions being 15 min apart and my sister (baby 2) in 40 minutes. I’m taking after her in all other ways with this pregnancy and have a very similar build, so am nervous I may end up delivering on the ring road if I aim for a hospital birth! Should I insist that they at least let me explore the option or should I just accept a hospital birth? Did anyone else take a home birth against advice?

“It was easily the most unpleasant thing about my entire labour. It was really uncomfortable being strapped down flat during my contractions“

Why the heck would they strap you down flat?

Surely they can keep passengers safe without putting them in a position which puts their baby at increased risk of fetal distress?

I wonder how many women who transfer in have poorer outcomes because paramedics have insisted they lay flat in the ambulance when there is no clinic need for this.

I have read many threads which say "I was glad I had a hospital birth because..." and others which say "I was glad I had a home birth because..."

I don't think I have ever read one which said "I am so glad that I had a birth in a car by the side of the road".

It seems to me, that if the OP is worried about having a fast birth she needs to find out what would be the best course of action if that were to happen. Stay at home, call a midwife, dial 999 etc.? What would they need to do if they found they had to deliver the baby before the midwife/paramedics got there? These to me seem like useful questions to ask.

As for the person who was worried about a cord prolapse - couldn't that potentially happen to anyone if her waters broke and the baby's head wasn't engaged, regardless of where you had booked for delivery? If that's a worry you would need to know how best you could deal with this whilst waiting for help to arrive.

If you're healthy and being encouraged by your dr, then by all means. If there are health issues then go to the hospital.