Homebirth- where did you deliver?

[flissity]

Just been to 25wk MW appointment and have asked about a HB! Its my 3rd baby. First was induction, 2nd spontaneous water birth at MW led unit.

Where did you give birth? Would be more practical for me downstairs. More room, we have bath downstairs too, so could use that in early labour? MW said in last few HB she has done, the pool couldn’t get to correct temp and a bit of a faff... so experiences of HB and where you delivered (lounge, bed etc..) pleas !

[RiddleyW]

Onto my living room floor squatting. Lots of towels and sheets over the carpet! Best experience of my life I think.

[fairgroundsnack]

In a pool in my living room both times!

[Thattwatoverthere]

I delivered on my bed but laboured mainly (and quickly!) on my bedroom floor. It was unplanned so I did have a bit of a clean up to do but nothing worse than washing towels and buying a new duvet cover. The midwives were amazing. I didn't need to go to hospital afterwards and it was so lovely to be at home, especially as my dd came home from nursery an hour later. My worry was being away from her for too long.

[DramaAlpaca]

I had my third child at home in our living room, labouring overnight in front of a roaring fire. We covered the sofa with a plastic sheet & had an old mattress on the floor, also covered in plastic. There was actually no mess whatsoever. It was a wonderful experience, I look back on it very fondly - he's grown up now.

[123rd]

My planned home birth was fab. I bought some plastic sheets to cover the lounge carpet from B&Q. Never wanted a pool so no issue there. My first child slept thru the whole thing upstairs in their bed
I was happy pacing around the downstairs. All very quick and relaxed. Delivered on my knees facing DH, who was sitting nice and comfy on the sofa!

[Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons]

Smallest downstairs room that was big enough for the pool (bought it - it brought 3 babies into the world ) -made it very dark & put the pool in a corner. Floor fully covered by plastic sheets (decorating ones) & old duvets on sofa/floor.
Really long hose & the right attachment for the kitchen sink.

Lots of photos of a special place & notes from my best friend. Pips in my ears with hypnosis playing.

Basically birth cave I still get a wee thrill when I catch the room at just the right angle to match the one I had while birthing.

I found a toddlers to be the best birth partners 💕

[LaLaLandIsNoFun]

Re ambulance: just like with any situation that requires an ambulance, it is triaged based on risk. My ambulance arrived pronto - and that was because my baby was in distress.

[LaLaLandIsNoFun]

I still ended up giving birth at home. Why? Because just as they were getting me out of the pool they realised I’d prigressed 7cm in a matter of minutes. It then became riskier time be giving birth en route.

[AlphaHotelFoxtrot]

Had a fantastic home birth with dc2. Pool was set up in the kitchen, but I gave birth in the sitting room. Took too long to fill the pool, it didn't get used. If you have one make sure your partner practices setting it up, and don't underestimate the time it takes to fill.

[nomorespaghetti]

On my bed. I’d planned to go downstairs, but when it came to it I really didn’t want to move. It kicked off at 3am so I just wanted to snooze between contractions. Midwives and DH layered incontinence pads and towels over the bed while I was in the loo, and the mattress etc was completely fine.

I don’t find giving birth particularly fun, but it was lovely! Had a fantastic shower afterwards and got back into bed with a takeaway!

[Merename]

DD1, laboured at home for 48hrs on and off, DH filled and refilled pool 3 times as it got cold, eventually transferred in due to slow progress. Never got in. DD2 Laboured away in spare bedroom downstairs whilst DH ran about getting pool filled in lounge, had to tell him to abandon that plan when started wanting to push. Never moved from all fours and just had towels —and puppy pads to catch the poo— on the floor beneath/behind me. Won’t bother with the pool a third time! I love homebirth stories, it’s a magical thing.

[Merename]

Oops poo strike through fail

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

so an ambulance is en route to a critical cardiac arrest but your midwife calls and they absolutely abandon that and come to you?

That stood out to me too. I think whoever explained it to a PP must have been either dramatising for reassurance or not have understood. I just checked with a group of paramedic friends at trusts across the Midlands and London and they’ve said there’s no way that would happen. Home births are treated as important but wouldn’t be given critical attendance, especially over an existing case.

[Eeyoresstickhouse]

Mine was mainly in my lounge on all fours leaning over the sofa. I did wander around a lot in the "early" stages I say early as my labour was only 1 hour 42 mins in total at home.

I was blue lighted in after birth as I had a PPH but I am still a massive advocate of home births. I felt so much more relaxed than my first labour and in control. The midwives just left me to get on with it with very minimal intervention in labour. My PPH was caused by retained placenta and they picked up on it so quickly and an ambulance was called and there in less than 5 minutes.

[lakeswimmer]

I decided to have DC3 at home after a very fast labour with DC2 (nearly didn't make it to hospital). I decided against a birthing pool because I couldn't work out where to put it as we were living in a small house with an open plan downstairs that didn't feel very private.

A few days before I was due I'd read a book by Michel Odent about labouring alone and privately which really resonated with me and so I spent most of my labour alone in my bedroom with the curtains shut to create a "cave" despite it being in the middle of the day in a heatwave but it really worked for me. The midwives left me alone and timed my contractions by listening to my breathing through the door. They and DH only came in when I was ready to give birth. It was a really magical and relaxing experience.

[Lucylivesinamushroomhouse]

First birth - pool in the living room. Some drama about getting it filled on time as we had really awful water pressure- husband was running around with buckets and kettles and hose pipes. I had a great time, though super stressful for him!

Second birth, husband started inflating and filling the pool as soon as I thought I might be in labour, managed to get in it for the last 10 minutes of pushing, again in the living room.

Third birth, managed to inflate the pool, no time to fill it. Baby born on the sofa. Midwives had put Inco (?) pads down and there was barely a strain.

Our 2 daughters, my mother in law and our lodger all slept through it all upstairs! The girls were pretty blasé about waking up to a baby brother but mil and lodger were totally shocked. Made for some comedy moments.

3 very positive birth experiences but the third one was my most favourite. Hope you have a great third birth too!

[crazydiamond222]

First, birth pool in kitchen. Labour was 28 hours so plenty of time to fill it. Second, birth pool in dining room first stage 30 minutes, 2nd stage 9 minutes and only just got it filled in time. Really glad I had the pool for both births although DH not so keen as he had to clean it out afterwards!