Home Birth

[Vik89]

Hi everyone,
I am 25 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child, so far my pregnancy has been uncomplicated. My first labour was straight forward, however I went to hospital when I thought I was ready but the midwife sent me home without even checking me because I didn't look like I was in enough pain to be labour, I went back less than an hour later and I was 9cm dialated. Then they wouldn't discharge me because I was struggling to breastfeed, I eventually gave DD a bottle to get out of hospital, when I got home away I managed to breastfeed properly. I found the hospital quite a stressful environment.
This time round I am seriously considering a home birth.

Would like to hear any home birth experiences? (good or bad). Any tips or advice? Has anyone used one to one midwives?

Thanks

Vikki

I had two - ds2 and ds3 were both home births.

I had very long labours with all three boys - 37.75 hours, 24 hours and 20 hours, and it was far better for me, labouring at home - I was more relaxed and able to keep active, rather than being cooped up in a hospital side room.

I had access to a team of excellent community midwives, who were very pro-home-birth, and who made me feel completely safe and secure. I trusted them - and I trusted their instincts, so if they had said they thought I should transfer to hospital, even if they hadn’t got a concrete reason why, I would have listened and gone.

Having the boys at home was a great experience - for me and for dh. It was lovely being in my own space, and being able to have a bath in my own, clean bathroom, and go to bed in my own comfy bed, with dh and the baby once the tidying up had been done and the midwife had gone home.

I had a home birth with my second DC just last week. I had a similarly frustrating experience in the hospital as you did with your first, which was my main reason for choosing a home birth.

I would 100% recommend it! The main thing that kept me going at home was the thought that 30 mins of contractions in the car to hospital would be too much to bear. In my area there is a dedicated home birth team that covers the catchment area of the hospital. All my appts were at home, and I had met both the mws who delivered my baby beforehand. I did have a pph afterwards and had to go up to the hospital in an ambulance (no lights though) but the treatment I had at home was the exact same as the hospital. In fact the hospital didn’t do anything with me for a good 3 hrs after I’d arrived! I would have a home birth again in a heartbeat.

Happy to answer any specific questions that you have

I forgot to say - I had gas and air at home - that was the pain relief that was available to me. I did plan a water birth with ds2, but the Labour was very, very slow, and the midwife advised we didn’t get into the pool until things were further along - and then I was fully dilated and ds2 was born before we had time to fill a hand basin, let alone a birthing pool!

I had a planned home birth with DS2 nearly 13 years ago.

I fell out with the hospital after I had DS1, they just didn't listen to me and my community midwife suggested a home birth when I was pregnant with my second.

People fell into two camps they either thought it was brilliant or I was completely mad and irresponsible.

It was the best thing I've ever done, really calm relaxed atmosphere and more importantly for me I was listened to. DS loves the fact he was born at home, my Mum still hasn't got over it (she was in the mad and irresponsible camp).

Haven't had a home birth but if you go for hospital second time round it'll probably be different.

Now you know what labour is like, how to breastfeed, how to make a fuss!

Thanks everyone for your messages, I think you've given me the confidence to go for it! I live less than 15 mins from the hospital if anything goes wrong, but the thought of being at home afterwards sounds lovely, I'm going to ask my midwife at the next appointment. If you think of any tips or advice for homebirth let me know. Thanks so much guys xxx

Just to say I had a home birth last week. Was my second DS and I was low risk. Felt very supported by my midwife team and it was a positive experience. Like an above poster, I hated having contractions in the car last time so was keen to avoid that. Also, you can change your mind at any time, including during labour and go to hospital. So don't feel like it's 'a one or the other' decision. Also during my home assessment my midwife went through the unexpected (but thankfully rare) medical emergencies that can happen during birth, and explained very clearly how each one would be dealt with during a home birth versus in a hospital. For me that was really helpful in understanding how potential risks were managed in different settings.

Good luck and sure you will receive lots of support and further information from your midwife.

Congrats!

I've had two home births and planning a third. Mine were straightforward and it was so nice to be in my own space, and do things in my own time.

Tips: it not as messy as people would have you believe. Get a couple of shower curtains from the pound shop to protect your floors, and some old towels and that's pretty much it!

Check how high your heating goes as the midwives like it to be 25C. We live in an old draughty house and DH has to run out and borrow a fan heater while I was in labour as we discovered our house doesn't get that warm!

Best of luck!

I had a water home birth with my second after a hospital birth with my first. On hindsight I’d realised that being in hospital and the decisions made during the time of my first labour had complicated things and wanted more control.
So glad I did, it was an amazing experience. The midwife who delivered was the same I’d had the whole way through, it was very hands off and peaceful. Setting up and clearing up didn’t take too long, and the midwife was gone just over an hour later, leaving us to relax in our own setting.
I’m due my third on Wednesday and would be having another homebirth if we hadn’t just moved and be suitably ready for one! Instead I’m going to the new local midwife led for, hopefully, a waterbirth, but I still have my reservations of being at an actual hospital.

I wanted a home birth for dd3 and everything was great for it. That was until she was late and I was induced at 42 + 1weeks! My advice, if you do decide to go for it also have plans and your mind ready for hospital. I was so sad packing away everything I had ready at home. I wish I'd been more ready mentally for hospital. After having 2 born easily around their due dates I never thought of have to be induced!! On the plus side, it was quick with the drip and we were home 6 hours later. You also get all of your appointments at home which is handy 😀

I've had both good and terrible homebirth experiences (as well as good and bad hospital experiences). Similarly, I'd had a stressful hospital birth with my first and went to homebirth as the solution - and during my second homebirth I learned the very hard way that it isn't the place that makes it peaceful and relaxing, but the people.

None of us can say which one will have kinder or more supportive midwives. I've nothing against either even with my experiences, but as Helenj1977 if you pin your heart on homebirth and you have to use hospital, it can be emotionally quite difficult, and I think if you think a homebirth means a lovely supportive unhospital-like situation where you're in control and you end up with an unsupportive and very stressful experience with absolutely no control, it can be very hard. It took me a while to really process.

My advice is as much as possible having someone who can advocate and document for you. Whether you can ask for other midwives will depend on your area and how far along you are when you know up, but it is often possible in the early stages if you feel they aren't going to support you. Also, keep any birth plan as simple as possible with just the essentials and any concerns will make it easier for everyone. I was always encouraged to do a full tick list of everything, but I found just having 'these are my fears for these reasons, these are my 3 or so essentials, this is medical information on me that you absolutely need to know' (I have multiple disabilities which made things a little less than standard, most might not need to include that last part) made it a lot easier to communicate and feel heard even when there were many things I had no control on.

Also, alongside checking the heating, heating pads are magic, have multiples as they will need to be switched out and may break at the worst time, in my experience.

I had a home birth with my second after a fairly traumatic first hospital birth. My home birth was wonderful. I can’t see why you wouldn’t book it really as you can always change your mind and all your antenatal appointments are at home!

Things that helped me decide were knowing several mums who’d had home births in my area, knowing that the home birth team were highly regarded (I imagine you have to be a v v good midwife to be on the home birth team generally!) and I also did a lot of research in general into childbirth. Ina May Gaskins book is good.

I hired a pool which came with all you need including a tarpaulin. Also hired a tens machine.

The positive birth company digital hypno birthing pack is great.

Good luck! Second labours are often quicker as well so being at home will be ideal!