Homebirth for first baby - did you plan one, and did you have one?

[lilylilyrose]

I am 34 weeks pregnant with my first baby and planning a homebirth. I am very lucky to have the full support of my team of midwives, plus my husband/mum are both keen on the idea (they'll both be there at the birth).

I'm going to order a birth-pool-in-a-box, and I've been reading 'Childbirth Without Fear' - I've also ordered a Hypnobirthing CD and book after reading a thread on here about it.

Really I would love to hear from other first-time mums who planned a home birth - did you end up having one? If not, what happened? I've heard that up to 60% of first-time mums transfer, but apparently in my area the stats are much lower - my midwives do 1-2 HBs a week, and haven't had a transfer since December.

So if anyone wants to share their experiences, good OR bad, I would be most grateful!

I had a hb with number 2 and it was fab!

The best thing is to go with the flow, and remember if you do need to go to hospital, or just change your mind that's ok too!

Good Luck!

Planned a homebirth, started out with a homebirth - was really lovely. But labour went on for days, then stopped, and at 14 days overdue i went in for hideous induction and a week in special care.

Even with labour going on and on, the home bit was lovely and felt totally relaxed. I'd recommend giving it a go if that's what you want. Good luck

Thanks I am planning to keep an open mind - I won't be devastated if I have to go to hospital for any reason, but I really want to stay at home if possible.

Hi LilyRose,

I'm same dates as you and also planning a homebirth. Can't to the birth pool (weak floors) but I am taking hypnobirthing classes and I've hired a doula to help us. I bought the book you bought for my mother who is back in the states, scared to death about it!

What area are you in? I've heard that the Dulwich area in SE London has great success with homebirths. They have three MW teams especially trained for them.

Would love to stay in touch with you about this. Are you on the July 2007 antenatal thread?

I was induced with first...had homebirth with 2nd and 3rd and a long story with 4th lol. Homebirth was brill much less stressful. If Id known about it first time would have had it then too but that was 14 years ago and it wasnt the done thing then.

planned one but pre eclampsia put an end to it - ended up with c section!

Yes and yes!

Planned a homebirth with my first and got it. It was wonderful, straightforward but long and exhausting - how come no-one ever tells you they call it labour because it's hard work!

Did it all over again with DS2. Fantastic experience. DS1 slept soundly in the room next door and I was in complete control.

Everyone cuddled up in one bed afterwards and we started as a family not to be split up by rules and regulations.

Why go in if there's no need? I'd have taken advice because I trusted my midwives to tell me the truth and leave the decisions with me.

DS1 had a true knot in his cord which we only found after his lucky safe arrival but the MW said it wouldn't have been found in hospital either and if something bad was going to happen because of it then where I was would have made no difference (they are very rare by the way!).

There's loads more I could tell you about planning and what actually happened each time with my two but can't squeeze in time just now.

This is a fantastic site for info and stories Homebirth Reference Site and there is a great support group at Yahoo Group Homebirth UK which is well worth joining.

Good luck with your pregnancy and your plans. It's well worth it.

planned it at home, laboured at home, ended up in hospital for last hour and a half, was back home four hours after we left....I KNOW that for me, it wouldn't have been the positive experience it was if I'd set out to have ds in hospital. I wish you love and luck with you HB and advise you to be flexible about how things end up whilst confident in your decision.

I will definitely go for a HB if we ever get pregnant again.

x

I had a planned homebirth with DS1 and DS2. My midwife was very supportive for the first homebirth and it was fantastic.

It is great to be in your own home, get in your own bath afterwards and sleep in your own bed. DS1 was born in the evening so everything was dark and calm and my DH and I lay in bed together for hours after he was born just staring at him - some of the best moments of my life.

DS2 was a planned waterbirth which again was fabulous and without any other pain relief. I bought the la bassine which was wonderful - really sturdy and quick to put up and fill - would recommend it and now it makes a great paddling pool for the boys !

Home births are brilliant, very special but I was lucky that everything went like clockwork both times. Hopefuly it will be the same for you. Good luck.

Planned a homebirth - DS arrived without warning at 31+4 weeks after my waters broke spontaneously.... in hospital obviously!

Good luck with yours!

Hi DivaSkyChick - sorry for not rsponding sooner, I was out at an antenatal class last night!

I'm in Macclesfield, Cheshire - my hospital runs a homebirth support group, and the midwives are all trained/experienced in homebirth and waterbirth - they love attending homebirths apparently, and a few chose to have their own babies at home too

I'm fairly new to MN and haven't joined any antenatal threads yet, but I might pop over to the July thread...I'm not due til the 31st though, so will prob be the last one there to have my baby...ah well

Thanks everyone for your responses - went to an antenatal class last night which was pretty much all 'hospital birth' based, but am feeling confident and (dare I say it) excited about impending birth! Felt a bit of a swot, as the MW asked me if I was a spy sent to test her, as I knew the answers to so many of her questions

hi lilylilyrose,
yes i did have a homebirth with my first LO last year and yes it was planned! Was a great experience, although my labour was looong (27 hours) and i did really want to go to hospital at one point (but mw pointed out i might have to wait 2-3 for an epidural!) but ultimately it was great to be in my own environment, like you i had a pool which was a huge help, as well as a fab dh, doula and mw. Its sooo good that your mw's are up for HB - i was very lucky to end up with one who was confident in waterbirth and very pro-homebirth, the rest of her team really weren't. Anyway, birth is hard work but it really is amazing to be able to snuggle up in bed at home with your new baby - feels like the most natural thing in the world, and it is! All the best to you
p.s. if you have any last minute questions just post them here!

Planned hb with first had a bleed at 33 weeks, not big & consultant said I could still stay at home but I chickened out and used mw led unit within main hospital. Had lovely waterbirth and could have had a hb. Had second at home in March, it was perfect, go for it.

Planned hb. Baby settled in position at 28 weeks, mw repeatedly assured me that she was head down, and my tiny bump was no prob. Saw a diff mw at 38.5 weeks who thought baby might be breech. Went for a scan. Baby coming feetfirst, small-for-dates and not enough fluid. CS the next day.

Planned a hb next time too, which prob counts as "first" since I didn't get as far as labour. Then diagnosed with placenta praevia, bugger, another cs.

Planning a cs this time

Good luck with your hb!

I'm really interested to read all of your stories. Intially I was very keen on the idea of a homebirth. I'm now feeling more positive about it again. I hate the thought of going through something so intense in an alien environment . Also I can't stand the idea of not having Dh there at night time.

If i do decide to go for it ( I'm only 17 weeks) should the factmy blood type is o neg stop me. This is my first.

I guess you might know about this Loopy.

I am o-neg - That was not a problem regarding my homebirth for dc no.2 - I had the required tests etc. - It is more a problem for subsequent pregnancies than for first one anyway iykwim (something to do with developing antibodies??).

I had the blood test and injections at home - mw came out to me - no problem. Both my children are positives - good luck whatever you decide.

Not sure if my post makes sence - sorry...

Had a planned home birth for my first, used a bpiab. Was great, would not have wanted otherwise. Am 0- , had the jab at home the next day.

Thanks for advice.

Bigmouth - you make perfect sense. Do I detect a fellow Chumbawamba fan?

Both mine were planned homebirths and I would thoroughly recommend it. Birthing pool very good second time round. Midwives completely supportive of hb first time round too (in London at the time)

i had a planned hb and am in the Dulwich area as mentioned by diva. There are indeed 3 groups of very pro-homebirth midwives here, I had Oakwood. Can't sing their praises highly enough. Had a wonderful birth in the pool, in the bedroom with no drama at all - did not use gas and air, didn't tear etc etc - was painful, sure, but never unbearable. Okay - here's an example of how good it was - within half an hour, I said to dh "when can we have another?" The midwives still take the mick out of me about that (am with them again as am due Dec, dd was born last Aug)
best thing about it was that we didn't have to go anywhere - just in the comfort zone of own home. Afterwards, showered in own bathroom, got into own bed and drank tea out of own mug. No driving to the hospial while in pain, no getting booted out of the hospital while knackered and overwhelmed. Just a lovely experience. Good luck!

I'm a first timer and had a planned home birth for my ds in April.
Labour was 12 hours but for most of that I could distract myself by watering the garden, watching Lord of the Rings, dancing to loud music etc. It was lovely to have everything to hand- cups of tea, snacks etc. I can't imagine how I'd have coped being stuck in a hospital room... would have gone for drugs I'm sure (just had a little gas and air.) The midwife came to check I really was in labour then went home again till the contractions were really strong- about 10pm and the baby arrived at 2 am. It was a really special experience for me and my DH.

Spirit and Star - thanks for sharing great stories!

Midwives left the home kit here today, haven't looked inside... should I?

DH bought a load of old towels at a charity shop, we just need some plastic.

Question for you ladies - was it a real pain to have a pool full of water in your flat or house? We're on the first floor and I just can't figure out where to put a pool. We've got a big-ish tub, however. Think that might do?