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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

What exactly ARE the advantages of a home birth?

56 replies

backonthedecaff · 18/10/2007 22:52

I'm pg with my 3rd. Shoulder dystocia and pph with 1st. then a v v straightforward delivery with 2nd. Midwife is trying to persuade me of the advantages of a homebirth but I honestly can't think of any - apart from avoiding contracting c-diff in hospital! So, what are the advantages and why is she so keen for me to do it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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kittywitch · 18/10/2007 22:54

Have one, too tired to mention all the pros, the list is THAT long, sure someone will come soon to persuade you' tis the right way to go. Good for you, good for baby and good for all the other sibs too.

fishie · 18/10/2007 22:54

hospitals are for people who are sick.

purpleturtle · 18/10/2007 22:55

It's the best feeling in the world to be in your own bed with your brand new baby!
They also reckon that you're often more relaxed at home, so that labour can progress better and with less intervention.

Beenleigh · 18/10/2007 22:56

not having to stay the night with loads of other babies crying on ward
not having to worry unduly about childcare for dcs
not having to watch a midwife -move around- sweep mud on the floor of the delivery room
not having to pack a bloody hospital bag
not having to wear flip flops in the shower

can think of more.
I have group b strep, but would LOVE a home birth

Original poster

backonthedecaff · 18/10/2007 22:56

You see,I can't really picture how it can be good for sibs; can only imagine them being traumatised by seeing me in agony and me being traumatised by not being able to comfort them (they're 4 and 2).

OP posts:

Beenleigh · 18/10/2007 22:57

not having to watch a midwife move mud around sweep mud on the floor of the delivery room

Beenleigh · 18/10/2007 22:57

bum, why can;t I do that crossing out thing?

Beenleigh · 18/10/2007 22:59

agree they're best kept out of the room, but I found it quite stressful worrying about what to do with DD1 if I went in to labour at an inconvenient time.

suzi2 · 18/10/2007 22:59

www.homebirth.org.uk should have all the officical stuff.

From my pov, more relaxed, more in control, no need for pain relief, brilliant being in your own home, no worries about have the shits in a loo that's not your own , comfy bed for a sleep straight after, visitors round straight away, DH can stay with you the whole time afterwards. Oh, and you can freak people out when they ask you "where did you give birth" and you say "right where you're sitting". It's worth it to see the look on their face

purpleturtle · 18/10/2007 22:59

I didn't have siblings present, but they were able to come home when it suited us - not according to visiting time - and see new baby for the first time in an environment familiar to them. That has to be better for them. And I wasn't away overnight.

DaisyWhoooo · 18/10/2007 23:00

Booking a homebirth reduces the chance of ending up with a caesarean by 50% and also reduces the chance of ending up with other interventions.

Labouring in your own familiar environment is so much nicer and easier. You are likely to labour much more efficiently by being more active and also more relaxed - going into hospital can raise your adrenalin levels which can slow labour down and also make labour more painful.

As you say, less likely to acquire an infection such as C. diff or MRSA.

You might like to look at the homebirth site for more information. If you're really not keen on a homebirth then hospital might be the best place for you as if you're tense and worried many of the benefits will be counteracted - but honestly, homebirth is soooo lovely, I actively enjoyed mine after some not-great hospital experiences.

purpleturtle · 18/10/2007 23:00

Beenleigh - you need to do each word individually I expect

DaisyWhoooo · 18/10/2007 23:01

Oh, and getting into your own, nice, clean bed with your partner and baby afterwards is the best bit IMO.

Original poster

backonthedecaff · 18/10/2007 23:01

Who keeps them out of the room? Want Dp by my side and can't send them to grandparents for myriad reasons.

OP posts:

fishie · 18/10/2007 23:02

would they be home alone while you in hospital then?

DaisyWhoooo · 18/10/2007 23:02

What would you do with them if you went into hospital? You could hire a doula to help look after you and the children if you don't have anyone nearby.

Original poster

backonthedecaff · 18/10/2007 23:04

Didn't feel at all stressed at going into hospital with dd, 2.5 hour labour, gas and air only, home same day. Does it just sound like I'm not the right candidate for a home birth?

OP posts:

Tommy · 18/10/2007 23:05

agree with daisy - getting into my own bed afterwards was the best thing

actually - the best thing was DS1 and 2 coming into our bedroom in the morning and meeting their new brother - I wouldn't have missed that for the world

Original poster

backonthedecaff · 18/10/2007 23:05

Of course, Fishie. What else would I do? Oh, of course there is the possibility that gps could look after dcs in my home whilst I'm in hospital...

OP posts:

RosaTransylvania · 18/10/2007 23:09

I have had three children - one hospital, two home births.
For me the advantages of home birth were
Being allowed to give birth in any position I chose.
Being able to set the pace and build up a rapport with a midwife without all sorts of other people banging in and out of the room.
Having the midwife run me a lovely bath when it was over and getting into my own bed with my new baby tucked up in my arms.
DD1 slept through the birth of DD2 and walked into our bedroom the next morning to see her new baby sister right there waiting for her - I have got a photo of how she looked at that moment and it is so beautiful.
When DD3 was born she got stuck and it was a bit tricky - instead of calling a doctor and triggering a cascade of intervention the midwife forcibly removed the gas and air from my grasp and took me for a walk down the street. I got back, climbed onto the bed on all fours and she shot out like a cork from a bottle. DD1 and 2 were downstairs watching a video with my mum at the time.
DD1's birth in hospital by contrast was a complete nightmare all because of a lot of unnecessary intervention by a bloody arrogant consultant.

kidsrus · 18/10/2007 23:16

here's one i made earlier

Original poster

backonthedecaff · 18/10/2007 23:16

Is it strange not to want my lovely, calm bedroom associated with giving birth? Think I'm succeeding in talking myself out of the idea of homebirth completely. Nothing anyone has mentioned so far as an advantage that wasn't my experience in hospital. Although obviously I don't have my own bed in hospital... yet.

OP posts:

PieMama2007 · 18/10/2007 23:18

Advantages for me were:

Relaxing, familiar comfortable surroundings, everything I could possibly want was nearby, clean bathroom (!), no hospital rules dictating when I could and couldn't see DH. Just seemed odd to go to hospital for a natural event - wanted DD's first experience of the world to be her warm loving home. Most importantly, I felt in control - took total responsibility for the homebirth decision and made it work. Lucky it was straightforward though - you do have to consider the risk of complications and how quick/ easy it would be to get to hospital in an emergency. Got to be prepared for it not to work out, too - don't have your heart set on it cause there might not be a midwife available to come out. Also - what to do with existing kids?

Original poster

backonthedecaff · 18/10/2007 23:22

You have made it sound more appealing, PieMama. Something to give more thought to..

OP posts:

PieMama2007 · 18/10/2007 23:23

The biggest pleasure for me is the fact that my living room is associated with giving birth - had a great time, no pain and really enjoyed it. Was a bit worried beforehand though, in case those four walls would forever be a reminder if birth was terrible. Had an inflatable water pool - no need for pain relief!

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