Thinking about a home birth but ...

[bumbleweed]

.... worried about having to go into hospital afterwards for stitches.

Anyone any experience of this?

My midwife says they can stitch a small tear but would need to go in in an ambulance for anything more.

I had a 2nd degree tear last time, and have been left with a ridge of scar tissue which is still sensitive 2 years later. Obviously concerned that less elasticity with the scar tissue so more risk of tear.

Due in 6 weeks.

I know, that is what worries me! I think my midwife was excellent and have no probs from the stitches, she did a great job. I think after 24hrs i had reached my limit to be honest!

I did decide that lignocaine and entenox in combination were completely wonderful while the stitching was going on.

I think after the event the midwives felt they might have been able to do the stitching at home, but it was much easier in hospital and, given the blood loss, it seemed like a good place to take me.

Bumbleweed, you're welcome

Re. breech at home - having talked to the registrar and had the "so your baby's breech" discussion, there was no way I was trying for a hospital vaginal birth as I didn't feel being in lithotomy, in theatre and with a cast of thousands standing by was conducive to things going smoothly (OK, slight exageration there, but...). So it was either home birth with experienced midwives we had confidence in or a CS. If we'd trusted the Dr's to stay well away unless they were needed, labouring in hospital would have been a more likely proposition (although I still don't think I'd have found it to be a relaxing environment).

Re. independent midwives - it's always worth asking them. Some will work out a payment plan and some will take payment in kind (decorating, gardening, plumbing type skills often seem to be mentioned). Before the event we were very focussed on the birth experience, but the postnatal care was also superb and we consider it the best money we ever, EVER spent. You loose nothing by asking .

bumbleweed, although there is a risk of tearing and needing stitches you will still be better at home for the birth. If everything else goes smoothly then you will be in and out in no time at all and your dh/dp can look after baby while its done. Taking baby to a hospital does not expose him or her to the same levels of bacteria as giving birth in hospital. I hope you go for it. The calmness during the birth appears to be the most important thing for you and a homebirth would maximise this. Good luck.

PS It depends on where you live about ambulance response times. I ended up transfering and the ambulance took about 15-20 mins to arrive and the time to hospital was 30 mins. I was 9cm dilated and baby was not coming! But I would still want a hb if I could (ended up with EMCS so can't this time , but will leave it as late as possible to go into hospital)

I had a home birth with no pain relief as planned and needed a few stitches. The midwife did them for me and it was no trouble at all.

The reason for transfer by ambulance is that if you come in by ambulance you are seen quicker than if you come in by car and is more comfortable for you to travel in.

I chose home birth because I wanted to be relaxed and happy during the birth and also wanted to keep my son and I out of the hospital as i found out it was filthy during a visit to where i was supposed to give birth. Having a home birth and the possibility of having to nip in for some stiches won't expose you to as much as if you give birth in the hospital and if you really wanted to keep baby out of hospital then see if your partner or family could watch them for a while, it's not nice to leave them but it may be better if you really don't want them to go in, you won't be go long, my friend and to go in for stiches and was back home in less than an hour.

Also you could try an special prenium essential massage oil which if you start as soon as you can will help to soften the area and help it to stretch more easily when the time comes. I hear olive oil is also good, there are lots of places on the net that tell you what to use and the way to do it and it really does help - I only had 2 stitches this way!

I really hope you stick with it and have a home birth, it really is an amazing experience and I'm so glad I chose to do it that way. It is so different to hospital births and you are so much more relaxed which speeds up the birth. My first was born in just 5 hours at home!

Hope all goes well and you don't need to be transfered

I used this during my last pg. For the first time I didn't tear and all my other births have resulted in second degree tears.