Home birth - good and bad

[Frizzy1986]

I know I'm incredibly early as I'm only 18 weeks but I'm interested in people's feelings about home birth.

I had dd at a stand alone midwife unit in a pool. It was a good as it could be but did end up with a 3rd degree tear so was transferred for surgery.

I've had varying feedback on how that effects the next birth; midwife at booking encouraged a stand alone midwife unit (although it is having a refurb and unlikely to be open in time), midwife after the 12 week scan said I should definitely be in a hospital at the birth unit attached, midwife at 16 weeks asked if I'd considered home birth as she'd consider me low risk and dd was out less than 2 hrs after my waters went so it would stop stress if this one is faster (my waters going wmwas when I knew for sure it was labour)

I have a consultant appointment later this week regarding my tear so I guess I'll know then whether I am restricted in any way at all, however having never been keen on a home birth (what with a dog and dd) I do have concerns about getting to hospital on time and it's started to make me question my original thoughts.

Who has had one or been tempting by one? Did you go through with it? Were you happy with your choice? Are there logistical restrictions due to where a pool might need to go?

I'd love good and bad experiences to get a rounded picture of it.

I've had two. The first was a long and painful slog as it was my first baby, but was still calm and as comfortable as possible. All went textbook but there was some meconium in the waters that followed DD out so we went in to hospital afterwards for some monitoring (by no means rushed though, I showered, had a snack first and we went in our own car).

The second was calm, easy and relatively quick, I spent most of the later stages chatting with the midwives and enjoying the gas and air. Dd2 was born as shift changed but no-one wanted to miss the birth so we had 4 midwives and 2 students there to support me. I felt very cared for indeed.

Although I must say, my midwife team had a sustained home birth rate of about 25% and were totally supportive if the idea. Most women I know locally have had at least one child at home.

I had my first at home.
I spent about 36 hrs with contractions and only about 3 hrs in labour.
I hired a pool which fit in my living room but we didn't fill it in time.
I would love to have another home birth for DC2 (due July).

For me it was very calm and relaxed. The midwife arrived in the nick of time (she didn't believe I was as far along as I was) but other than that it was incredibly straight forward.
I survived it on tens machine. Only had a few puffs of g&a.
I had a stitch put in by the MW.
Would recommend.

Consider how far away from hospital you are if you did need to be transferred, and how quickly you can get a sitter for your DD.

I had three at home. Each one perfect.

The biggest bonus was not having to endure post-labour ward.

Seeing as you asked for good and bad; I had one that went wrong (haemorrhage) and I was blue lighted in for an EMCS.
I’m sure I’m statistically insignificant and most women have good outcomes, but that was mine.

How old is your dd? I would base all decisions on how long it’s been since your last birth and how well you’ve healed.

I had dd fully medicated (epidural) in hospital but only grazes and no instrumental delivery. I fully plan on having a home birth next time! I think I would have coped so much better with the pain if I was at home. As soon as I got to hospital I lost it and couldn’t get back into breathing through the pain.

I had one for DC2 and it was brilliant. Highly recommend it.

As somebody said unthread, not enduring the postnatal ward was the best bit. Plus it just felt very normal and natural to be at home.

If I were you I'd prep for home birth (get in the system so you cd call out midwives) because first birth was so quick. Home birth doesn't have to involve a pool.

Nothing to stop you heading to hospital if time and baby/dog sitters allow.

I’d recommend hypnobirthing (I just used a CD). It was very calming when it looked like things were going too fast.

Somehow I managed to give birth with the children at home. For two of the three they were asleep. For one of them it was 7am, so they woke up, I told them what was going on, settled them in front of the TV, had their sister, and they came and got into bed with us.
DC4 was a bit quick but MWs made it in time. She was out in half and hour, I was showered, in my own bed with clean sheets and a cup of tea in my favourite mug.
Doesn’t get any better.

But as pp said, always be prepared with a hospital bag ready should you need to go in/change your mind.

Thanks for all the experiences. It's great to hear good and bad as it won't necessarily go to plan but it's good to know you make it to hospital in time if needed.

Dd is 5 (closer to 6 by the time dc2 arrives)

We are about 25 mins from the hospital in our car (but when I had dd at the midwife unit that was 20 mins from the hospital so not much different had something gone wrong then)

With regards to childcare the inlaws are about 15 mins drive away (towards the hospital) but if we planned a hospital birth we'd likely get them to collect dd from the hospital (as long as it wasn't middle of the night) as a detour to theirs would add extra time and time is what worries me.

Hopefully I'd know the signs a bit more so dd could disappear before we had to go to hospital, but as last time we didn't go in until waters had gone I'm not sure if I would have been dilated enough to not be sent home if we had gone in when I thought I was having braxton hicks (I assumed i was being a wimp and that's why they were hurting!)
It's quite possible I just dilate fast as I was 6cm to her out in 50 mins (was 6cm on arrival at the unit, 60 mins after my waters went)

It's the timing thing more than anything that is making me think about it. If it's the middle of the night and it kicks off and goes fast then will the inlaws even make it in time to watch dd??

Hopefully I'll have a positive consultant appointment that will leave my options open.
I think I've healed well, no major issues (bit of leakage when on a trampoline! But I think that's me needing to be better at my pelvic floor exercises)

A friend has loaned me some hypnobirthing books and I might sign up to an online course as I'm really keen on it regardless.

I had my first birth at a hospital and it was very clinical. My 2nd and 3rd wees home waterbirths and I loved every minute

I had my third baby at home & it was perfect. Relaxed, easy & uncomplicated.

One of the most important factors for me was that I was only 10 minutes from the hospital should a transfer be necessary.

I had a home birth with my third child and it was fantastic. Very relaxed, the midwives were lovely and left me to it as much as possible, and it was the only time I didn't tear (though I wouldn't have with DD2 either, if she didn't have her hand up by her face).

The best thing was being in my own bed straight away, and not being on a ward with 3 other crying babies. DD3 was born at 4:30am, and her sisters got to meet her as soon as they woke up, which was very special. We didn't need anyone to watch them because they were asleep while I was in labour.

I had two home births, both in water. They were lovely, calm and peaceful. Both were quick, the longest one was 4 hours but of that 4 hours probably only 60-90 minutes of it were actually active labour.
I know someone who had a very quick labour at home (unplanned and unattended!) which was less than 30 minutes if I remember right. They tore quite badly and were taken in to hospital for the stitches afterwards.

I had prepared for a home birth with DC2 but bottled it. Called the hospital to tell them I was on my way, they told me they were full and if I can in it was likely I’d be delivering in the waiting room. 🤔

So went with the HB. Glad I did though.