Home birth experiences with first baby

[Mimijo27]

So I'm 20 weeks with my first baby and I've recently been thinking of having a water birth at home. I'm low risk and the midwife has mentioned it to me a couple of times. I know there is a slightly increased risk to have a first baby at home but I'm not far from the hospital and I hate the idea of having to be on a ward after giving birth, I would much prefer to be in my own home so I could relax better, throughout the labour and after.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any experiences they can share of having their first baby at home, I can only seem to find people talking about their second, third, fourth babies.

X

Hello! I had a lovely homebirth with my first baby. I had hypermensis and I found the smells in the hospital made it worse! So I opted to have him at home instead.

Sorry phone corrected ! I meant hyperemesis.

I had my first and second births at home. Wouldn't swap it for the world. It truly was magical. I'm aware i was lucky that everything went smoothly but I was relaxed and calm in my home environment

I was lucky enough to have my first at home. Best and most magical day of my life, transitioning into parenthood. DS born about 8pm, 23 hours from first contraction. Midwives cleared up, kissed me on the cheek, whispered ‘well done’ and left me to it as DS was taking his first feed. Then we all went to sleep. Happy little family in our own nest. Only told our parents the next morning. Perfect. Hope it happens for you too x

I'm planning this too - thank you for sharing lovely experiences

I’m planning this too for my second. It sounds like a great option and consisted very low risk.

I'm.planning this too !! Everyone I speak to has such lovely stories :) my only thoughts are birthing positions? I had dc1 stood up leaning over the hospital bed so wonder if being at home would limit your options? Had you thought about rooms/positions?

I had ds1 at home. I was high risk for my others unfortunately so had to have them in hospital.

I'm so glad I had my daughter at home
-relaxed atmosphere
-Midwife there every moment
-peaceful and comfortable
-waterbirth
-my own bath afterwards
-no hospital visit needed
-no travelling in labour

I'm so glad chose a home birth. Hoping for the same next time!

I had dc1 stood up leaning over the hospital bed so wonder if being at home would limit your options? Had you thought about rooms/positions?

For me the water helped. But maybe you could experiment with (sturdy!) furniture first?

had dc1 stood up leaning over the hospital bed so wonder if being at home would limit your options

I was kneeling on the sofa, leaning over the back.
And in the pool.
And kneeling on the stairs leaning on higher steps
Leaning on the kitchen top.

I had DC1 at home. Spent a long time in the birthing pool downstairs and after a while pushing, the midwife encouraged me to walk up the stairs and I then gave birth in the bedroom.

It was wonderful to have my own space and be able to go wherever I wanted in complete familiarity and comfort.

I had to transfer to hospital quite urgently afterwards so it didn't all go completely to plan but I have no regrets. I would, however, factor in proximity to hospital in my decision process.

Good luck with everything and I hope you have the birth you want.

I did with my first and second and wouldn't have changed it. It's worth remembering that you'll probably have to go to the hospital after anyway for the newborn check, but it'll be as an outpatient so will avoid the ward. And whilst there's an increased risk of a very bad outcome, there's also an increased chance of a very good outcome.

Whether you're limited with positions, I think most people have more space and furniture than a hospital room and waters going was really the only messy bit.

I had my first in a birth centre as the flat we were in at the time wasn't suitable for a home birth. I had dc 2 and 3 at home and hopefully dc4 will arrive at home in the next couple of weeks.

The birth centre was fine, I got the birth I wanted but I hated being in a ward with other screaming babies and an unfamiliar setting. Home was amazing. I could relax, watch tv in labour, the midwife was very hands off and DH was more comfortable.
I think if you're low risk, you understand the risks and you're open to having to transfer if needed then go for it.

I had DD1 at home. Planned homebirth that went quicker than expected and DH delivered her. Midwife arrived a few minutes later, having been called by DH when we realised she was crowning. Swept into the room like a fairy godmother and sorted us all out. Difficult-ish third stage but was tucked up in bed with DD within an hour or so and didn't leave it for the next 24 hours .

To give a slightly different perspective I tried for a home birth and had to transfer part way through due to a few complications. I have absolutely no regrets, the first part labouring at home was amazing, and the transfer was absolutely fine. I also believe that the mindset planning for a home birth gave me helped me avoid any major interventions even when in hospital. There was no emergency to the transfer as the midwives were amazing at knowing when it was time to change plans. Being on the home birth team also meant my prenatal care was great - saw my own midwife and many appts were at home. I will 100% try for a home birth again if we have another.

I haven't had one yet, but currently planning a home birth with my first (34w) and have been with the home birth team since my booking in appointment. I would do it again purely for the experience I've had so far.

You meet the home birth midwife team several times and get to know them, and them you, which they say is really important to understand what is 'normal' for you so they can assess you better in labour. There is a lot of evidence for the benefits on mothers, babies and childbirth outcomes simply from continuity of care. The team I have are brilliant and regularly organized meet ups with other mums planning home births, or interested in the idea, where new mums who have just been through it come along and talk through their experience, which we have found invaluable.

You get all you appointments (except scans) at home! No waiting around for hours in overheated hospital waiting rooms. They come to you, can take blood samples, blood pressure, give injections in the comfort of your home, do the doppler with you lying on the sofa... It's great! I had to go to clinic at the hospital this week and reminded how horrid it is there, especially being around lots of very unwell people and increased risk of infection (also had to wait 45mins to give a blood sample )

You will also get one-to-one care during established labour, and two-to-one care during birth. It means you are fully, continuously supported in a way wards can't manage, and they will be able to spot any irregularities from a mile off.

The way I look at it, even if things don't end up going quite to plan, I get this fantastic level of one to one care throughout my pregnancy, and I get to labour for as long as possible at home, which for me is where I feel most safe and comfortable. There is lots of evidence to corroborate that giving birth at home hugely reduces risk of unnecessary interventions, which could lead to long term pain or issues for the mother, birth trauma, risk of infection etc.

It's worth knowing all the facts - the Birthplace Study, a large UK research study which followed women giving birth from 2008-2010, found that for women having a first baby at home there was increased risk to the baby, with 9.3 adverse perinatal outcomes per 1000 planned home births compared to 5.3 per 1000 planned births in an obstetrics unit. However the risk is still very low generally and birth is very safe in the UK, especially if you are low risk and live close to hospital. Also in my Borough over 60% of home birthers end up transferring to hospital for a variety of reasons, but mostly due to prolonged labour (the mother is exhausted and feels she needs more assistance) and requests for more powerful pain management (you can only have gas and air and Tens machine if giving birth at home).

For me, the benefits massively outweigh the risks and I feel safe, happy, supported (and... excited?!) about my plan to birth from home.

Have a read of 'why homebirth matters' book, a quick read with lots of great information 💚

Thank you so much for sharing ladies! I feel much more confident to go ahead with a home birth now after hearing some positive stories. I'll definitely give those studies and books a read.
I think position wise I was planning on being in a pool on all fours and having my partner there for me to lean on. If all goes to plan of course, but plenty of other areas and furniture to lean on if needed.
DP was initially against the idea, but once I told him he'll get to watch the premier league at home on the tv rather than on his phone until things really get going, he's now all for it 😂

Good luck OP.... I planned a pool too... never got used

You meet the home birth midwife team several times and get to know them

You get all you appointments (except scans) at home!

Not necessarily, depends on the area you're in. I told my midwife at booking that I wanted a home birth but I wasnt referred to the homebirth team until 34 weeks (and even then I had to ask, they don't usually do it until 36).
I'm 36 weeks now and havent had any contact with anyone from the home birth team yet. And none of my appointments were at home.