Did you inform your NDN that you were having a home birth?

[windchimesabotage]

Live in semi detached property that shares an alley way to our gardens. I have seen my neighbours in the garden a few times and said good morning etc but that is the entire extent of our relationship. They are quite reserved and so are we which is all fine and good.
However I am planning to have a homebirth and was wondering if people generally tell their neighbours that that is going to be happening?
What is the etiquette here? Im not really on chatting terms with them so not sure how to approach it or if I need to say anything? Note through the door apologising in advance for any noise maybe?

What have other people done in this situation?
I dont want them to ring the police thinking someone is being murdered in the night!!

Thanks!

I would, but only because I’m a loud birther... I don’t know where it comes from, but when I’m pushing I have the most primal urge to roar. I could never replicate it in real life (thank god!), but I reckon neighbours would be rather alarmed 😂😂

I wish I'd told ours because they ended up worried as an ambulance sat outside for about an hour before taking me and DS in as there had been mec in the waters.

Birth itself was lovely can calm though

I started to have a home birth because the hospital told me not to come in yet. Baby was actually born in ambulance. Neighbours definitely heard me shout "call a fucking ambulance" and scream a bit when I had contractions (I'm not normally much of a swearer). But what would the point in telling them be? You can't control this - "ooh, you're on late shifts? I'll be sure to give birth while you're out. Sharon on the other side works 9-5 , anytime after you leave at 2pm and her kids bedtime seems ideal".
This is the first half of a "life and death situation". It Trump's everything!

I had two home births, in the same house. The first one, the neighbour didn’t know a thing about it until the next day (was very quick labour, starting at around 10pm). We had only very recently moved in, so hadn’t really chatted much.

When I had my second home birth, I’d already mentioned that if I needed to transfer to hospital, could she be on standby to have the older dc for me. I very nearly had to transfer so neighbour was in the kitchen as I gave birth. We weren’t close and I know she was very touched and emotional to have been there. It was lovely.

I'm afraid talk of home births makes my blood run cold. How far are you from the nearest hospital delivery suite, if you have a life threatening haemorrhage, a cord prolapse, placental abruption or amniotic fluid embolism? How bad is the traffic if it happens to be during rush hour? What if your newborn needs complex resuscitation with no paediatrician in your house?
My own DD2 nearly died despite a low risk, normal delivery at term with an 8.5lb birth weight. She only survived because we were in a hospital with full medical back up, a slick paediatric crash team and facilities for neonatal ventilation and intensive care.
No labour is truly "low risk" except in retrospect.

I've had 2 planned home births and no one knew I'd even had the baby either time. No noise really. Pretty relaxed, watched my favourite film in early labour. Gas and air and a tens machine. No problems. Lovely to hear of a home birth. I highly recommend them if you are low risk. My second home birth was a vbac too!

Babdoc no no labour is truly low risk even those in hospital. Tragedy can always happen. What you have to do is look at the facts available to you with your healthcare providers and discuss what the probable best course of action for you is.
This is my second birth and having talked it over it looks like homebirth is best for me this time. I had serious issues at my last birth which were caused by being in hospital not by the actual pregnancy or birth itself.
Of course things may not go to plan and I have back up plans. However I was completely supported in my choice for a home birth this time around by all the medical professionals ive spoken to.
There are pros and cons to any birthing choice you make. You need to asses these and I have done.

That’s a bit melodramatic babdoc I’m getting a bit fed up of the “birth in hospital or you’ll die” trolls on these threads, you don’t see home birth advocates doing this, why have you got to be so bloody weird you campaigners? Nice have actually recommended Home birth and have said that the outcomes were either similar or slightly better in a home birth environment with less intervention and dramatically less c section rates. The birth place study have said that first timers are more likely to transfer but please note this is often because of wanting pain relief.

I had DD2 at home unexpectedly with an ambulance and paramedic car, plus DD1 at home asleep literally feet from me. Neighbours didn’t notice, nor did DD1. I think neighbours were gutted as they were really nosey and would have loved to nose!

For the record my first baby was a planned home birth, second was due to be a home delivery but was an undiagnosed breech so had to have a section and my third was a planned home vbac. The section was horrendous, the home births lovely. Apart from the stitches the first time round. I was so relaxed for both until transitioning and then it got a bit hairy as so much pain but I breathed that gas and air like my life depended on it and got through it fine.

Had 2 home births both times neighbours didn't hear a thing and I thought I was being loud so I wouldn't bother telling them.

I told one neighbour but the birth itself was very relaxed and calm that I barely made any noise at all. She was so surprised when she saw us taking the baby out in the car seat a few days later, she said she'd expected the full dramatic screaming and was actually a bit disappointed!

We lived in a terrace when I had my planned homebirth with DS2. Never thought to tell them as the room I planned to give birth in didn't have an adjoining wall, things changed and they did say "oh we heard"

I find it really offensive for anyone to think that people planning a home birth haven't mitigated against risk. We are not stupid!

LadyPug - quite! I had a reluctant hospital birth with my twins, told it would be safer, lots of lovely expensive equipment and trained staff on hand etc. Only the buggers didn't believe I was in labour so left me alone and I freebirthed a blue, non breathing DT1 Would have had better attendance at home!

OP I told the NDN for my home birth with DD1 only bc I read on here about a neighbour ringing the police due to hearing a home birth through the walls. As the labouring woman couldn't get to the dor rhey broke it down! I thought that was the last bloody thing I need.

Johnnymcgrathsays haha yeah thats the fear isnt it! My friend had a home birth in her living room and altho no one rang the police her neighbour did come and knock on the window and was staring in at her right at the crowning stage. She just found it funny! But its not what you want is it!!

My walls are very thick however and if I did go in the garden it would be in the day time when the neighbours are at work so I think im just going to leave it till the time and play it by ear.
If the labour is short then it wont really matter and if it is long and loud then im sure there will be plenty of time for DH to pop next door and apologise or answer the door if anyone knocks concerned.