What exactly ARE the advantages of a home birth?

[backonthedecaff]

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?

oh definitely. it's all about being confortable.
I must say you all made it sound so so appealing. I like the confort of it all. and having one midwife with you at all times.
like I say because i was at home most of the time anyway I don't feel this urge. I can see though that spending a day or two in hosp in labour might be pretty horrid. so I don't know.
I might change my mind. See what I feel neare the time.

Belgo - yep, just us, a random postman who was on the phone to the ambulance, and a gaggle of schoolchildren walking past trying their hardest not to look!!

You get your home address on your baby's birth certificate as "place of birth"!

Shallow but oh-so-satisfying

I'm still with you, Pippi. And having had a labour where things did go quite wrong then I'd prefer to know I was in the best place for that. Anyway, dp has put his foot down; he was traumatised by dystocia and (quite rightly) points out that an ambulance wouldn't make it to our house as we live on a track half way up a mountain!

I have a friend who transferred in am ambulance from a HB due to shoulder dystocia. She said that, despite that, she'd still recommend a HB.

Although, to be fair, probably not if you live halfway up a mountain

I'm sure these will have been said before.

Your own space, own things, own quiet relaxed environment.

Choice to walk about, go into garden, your own bathroom (with no one elses hairs stuck on the bath...this one was v important to me) .

One midwife to yourself for the large part of the labour process.

2 midwives for the tricky bit at the end!

All of the above (imo) led to a much less stressful, empowering and easier birth (compared with birth of dd1).

And then afterwards it really comes into it's own.

Tea made the right way, in own mug. ditto toast.

My own shower (ditto absence of other peoples hairs).

My own bed, sheets.....blissful non hospital quiet.

All in all (ime) a happier and safer birth for baby and me.