Home birth advice

[MotherofKitties]

Hi all,

Currently pregnant with my second and due to my first being born very quickly (barely made it into the midwife unit), I'm seriously considering a home birth.

I'm currently classed a low risk and first was born without any medication or intervention. Discussed it with MW who said if I continue the way I am then there's no reason why they can't facilitate a home birth, and said it may be the most sensible option given how quickly my first arrived. Obviously if I develop any complications in my pregnancy or during Labour I'll go to my local midwife unit.

My DH is very hesitant over this, and whilst I understand why, I do feel this is my choice. I had flashbacks for a long time re the journey to the hospital first time round as my LO was coming out in the car, with no pain relief, and I can't do that again. I still struggle travelling on that road even now.

So, basically, if it all goes according to plan I'm hoping to give birth at home. I don't know anyone in real life who has had a home birth so I'm curious to know if any Mumsnetters have, and if so how did it go? Did you rent a pool to give birth in water or went au natural? Did you use any gas and air? Did you find it less or more stressful than a hospital/MW unit birth (if you've experienced both)? Was it a positive experience in general or had you wished that you went to the hospital/MW unit instead? x

I had a baby at home back in 1983. It was very straightforward, positive experience, with two midwives on hand and gas and air for pain relief. If you've had a good pregnancy and feel confident, I'd say go for it. You can always transfer if you find you can't cope or things get tricky.

I had DD2 at home. In a pool. It was fab. DH had reservations but we were only 10 mins away from the hospital, which helped him not worry.

I believe that you should just push the thing right out of you, at if you’re at home the baby should feel comfortable.

I had a home birth a year ago. It was lovely. I hired a pool (from a doula) and had some gas & air too which was brought by the midwives.

We are about 20 mins from a hospital and I was comfortable knowing that if we needed to, we would just head in.

Make sure you know who to call if something goes wrong AFTER the midwives have left following the birth. We got mixed messages about whether I would be under PAU, the antenatal ward or my GP.

My first was a homebirth. They were born in a pool in the kitchen with gas and air. The most amazing experience!

My second was a hospital birth due to meconium in my waters, so wasn't allowed a pool, but did have gas and air.

I can categorically say that water makes a bloody huge difference to the pain and would take water over gas and air any day!

Thanks for all your comments.

I had hoped for a water birth first time round but there wasn't time! Might look into hiring a pool as they seem a popular choice even at home... local hospital is 20-30 mins away so not too far if I needed to transfer x

I had a dry land homebirth with my dc2 a year a go. So much better than the disaster that was dc1s birth.

Popped the sucker out, had a shower, got tucked up in bed with the newborn and ordered domino's pizza. Perfect! 👌

@TheBabyAteMyBrain I like the sound of that! 🍕

Both of mine were home births. With DS I had a birthing pool but ended up not giving birth in it, I also had gas and air but ended up not using that either. The birth went well, but I had to have an injection to deliver the placenta as it took a while and there was discussion of me having to go to hospital if it didn’t come out after the injection. But it did and all was fine.

With DD I decided not to have the pool as I’d not used it with DS, I didn’t have gas and air either. It was very smooth

I've had 5 home births. All were different in ways but I just feel it's the right place for me. Each time it's been a very personal affair- sheets on my bed were changed, I had a quick bath and snuggled down with baby after minimal fuss. Good luck!

Oh and I didn't get a pool but did labour a bit in the bath- where one ended up being born
I like to move around a lot in labour

@Josephine90 Wow! 5 home births?! What a trooper!

These are all really positive and encouraging; I was half expecting people to say no don't it and come out with horror stories, but everyone's experiences (so far) are definitely helping reinforce my idea that this would be a good thing. I'm going to show this thread to DH later on and hopefully he'll be a little more reassured

DD2 was born at home nearly 7 years ago. The contrast between my hospital birth and homebirth was immense. Similar to you, the midwives advised home birth due to risk of giving birth on way to hospital- 40 mins on Country lanes on a good day was not considered the best option for a quick birther.

She was born with no pain relief, like her sister- but I'm one of those unusual people who don't feel pain in childbirth (which led to me giving birth to DD1 alone in hospital as they didn't believe I was in full labour as I was talking etc....). I didn't want a pool.

The best bit was DD1 having snuggles with her new sister in my bed a couple of hours after she was born. She had been at a neighbour's house.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves That sounds lovely.

I do like the idea of being at home where I feel safe and relaxed, being able to have a shower in my own bathroom afterwards and take baby to bed and have our LO join us for cuddles. First time round I couldn't sleep or relax after giving birth, I was too on edge being in hospital (albeit a MW unit) with multiple MWs, doctors and other randomers (Bounty photographers for example ) coming in and out of my room. Being at home just sounds so much more peaceful and chilled x

The nurses can bring gas and air - so ask for that plus the water birth. Chances are the second birth will be even quicker than the first and you should have access to some pain relief even if you don’t need it.

I've had 3 home births and all were infinitely more positive than my first, hospital birth. Mine were land births but there are some great home water birth videos online if you wanted to take a look at people's set up, etc. The midwives can bring gas and air but the benefit of being at home is that you might find the pain more manageable in your own environment. I hope it all goes well for you.

@GrumpyHoonMain and @B0nnie79 thanks for the suggestions. I'm definitely going to check out some videos online re home births and water births at home.

I'm hoping that if I plan on giving birth at home and know I don't have a mad dash for the hospital I won't feel as panicked as I did first time round, and can hopefully focus on controlling/managing the pain better x

My daughter had her second baby at home, hubby a doula and 2 midwives!
The 2 midwifes has to stay in the other room till my daughter needed them, my daughter was adamant she didn't want a clock watching midwife with her again.
The birth went smoothly and my grand daughter was born on the the living room rug!
She then had a bath and went to bed with essential oils whilst the doula was taking care of the placenta ( if you get my drift)
Whilst I took my grandson home so they could rest with there new baby.
Good luck op.
The midwives also told me that the ambulances are always aware of home births going on if needed.
All the best go with your gut and you will be fine xx

@Riv12345 Sounds like your daughter had the perfect experience! Lovely to hear and thanks for the encouragement

I am planning a home birth with my second (currently 34 weeks)

See if your local hospital do a home birth antenatal class. Ours didnt advertise it but it did exist and it made my DH feel much happier about the whole thing.

Have a look on Facebook for "home birth support UK" - lots of tips and stories on there.

I’m also planning a homebirth! I’m 35 weeks today. The response and support I’ve had has been brilliant. Delivery of oxygen tanks, gas and air, meds etc are expected two weeks today so il let you know what is delivered. I’ve asked for diamorphine to be prescribed also just incase I need it. But I think it’s nearly everything that’s available in a MLU that’s brought. Will update you. X

My second was a home birth - super, super quick. He beat the midwives, so DH had to deliver him with 999 on the phone!

Sounds dramatic, but actually was the absolute most perfect birth. (For me. DH disagrees!).

If we had tried to set out for hospital he would have been born in the car on a major road - just far too dangerous, so a home birth was the right choice.

@Ginmonkey84 Ohh exciting! Good luck and let us know how it goes!

@enjoyingscience That's exactly what I'm worried about. My LO was very nearly born in the car on the way to the MW unit and I can't face doing that journey again, not least because if second births are quicker this LO would definitely be born in the car, if not beforehand!