Anyone homebirthed?

[JuniperDewdrop]

My friend is hoping to with her second and is getting a bit of stick from some people. Has anyone got any really happy stories I could pass on?

[ragtaggle]

Had a fantastic home birth with first baby. Tell your friend to ignore the stick. The best thing is getting in your own bed afterwards with your baby between you. I would have hated to have been separated from my dh after going through that together. My labour was nine and a half hours and I didn't tear at all. I'm not a natural birth fanatic - I just hate hospitals. Bleeping machines and men in masks scare me. Being at home menat that I didn't have any peripheral worries around my birth. I actually felt 'safe' in a way that I wouldn't in hospital. I hired independent midwives who specialised in home births to get the birth I wanted. It was bloody expensive but I didn't want anyone getting cold feet in the early stages and making me go to hospital. As it happened my second stage went on for four hours (the labour was nine hours in all) but nobody tried to intervene in any way. They let me labour at my own pace and I had no 'If this baby isn't out by x you'll need a caeasarean' which meant I never felt pressured.

[motherinferior]

Here I am! Yep, vile hospital birth first time round, incredibly home birth second time round. Can rave about it for hours. Frequently do. I have never ever regretted my timid decision to go for it.

[pupuce]

Fab home birth for me too.... the most relaxing and amazing experience. It was a huge plus to go into my OWN bed (and own bath) rather than a filthy ward, tucked in with proper food... where regardless of you ringing a call button no one comes! At least I had DH looking after us ! MWs gave far better care as they are there for me and my baby only. They involevd DH a lot more too. They (community midwives) throughouly enjoy homebirths anyway so to them it's a special event.... a labour ward MW does this day in day out... a bit like a factory really in a lot of cases!

[Aero]

No time now, but echo everything positive that has been said. Ds1 and dd were hospital births ad dd's was very traumatic mostly due to feeling bullied by unsympathetic midwife - decided there and then I'd never have another hospital birth!! Ds2 was born at home in Jan this year and it was everything I hoped it would be and better! Fantastic experience and would recommend it to anyone. Dh agrees - having been wary of my decision for a home birth, he was able to be so much more involved at home and just loved the whole experience.

[WideWebWitch]

I had both mine at home. There are some good homebirth threads on here if you search. I'd suggest your friend gets to the root of her husband's objection. If it's safety, planned homebirths ARE AS SAFE as hospital birth. There's a whole book about this Safer Childbirth, here I got mine from the library.

[midden]

If anyone planning a homebirth would like to ask any questions or get more info on the issues surrounding home birth, you can join \link(health.groups.yahoo.com/group/homebirthUK/messages\this group} - its called home birth UK and lots of mums to be, midwives and anyone interested or involved in maternity care can join to get advice or chat about homebirth. Usually any questions are answered by experienced and established midwives who are really helpful.

[midden]

sorry - homebirthUK

[zebra]

Valient effort, midden !

[sweetkitty]

Keeping an eye on this thread I had DD in hospital and although everything went fine I am keen to have a homebirth next time although already I am getting fierce opposition. My first labour was only 4 and a half hours on gas and air only, the next could be quicker.

Afterwards I hated being in hospital the food was inedible, I hated everyone and their dog just opening the curtains and door and being separated from DP.

[meysey]

I had DS2 at home and though it was tough it was so much better than being in hospital. He got into a difficult, though not dangerous position, and I am sure I would have been forced to have a CS in hospital as they would have run out of patience.

Instead I had two lovely independent midwives sitting on the sofa and monitoring him regularly. I got tea and toast to keep my strength up, played nice music to try and gyrate him out... and he was born into a calm and lovely place. Then a nice bath for me and we were all tucked up in bed.

You are likely to get better care even on the NHS with a homebirth as you get one on one support and a more senior midwife. And a more positive experience means a happier family.

Even new government guidelines (National Service Framework)recognise and promote home birth as safe and positive.

[Sallie]

I would love to have a homebirth if there is a next time. Have nothing against the two hospital births I had but have been diagnosed with strep b so don't suppose I will have any option. Anyway, dh is a doctor and is not keen on homebirths!

[KathH]

yes - i had a homebirth by accident with my 4th child - was sent home by hospital at 1.30am as "nothing happening" this was despite only just getting to hospital in time with 3rd baby and the fact that i have a hernia and was told to come in in plenty of time so they could keep an eye on it- had baby at 4am whilst sitting on loo! Baby ok but had to get new bathroom carpet!

[secur]

Message withdrawn

[JuniperDewdrop]

Just thought I'd say my friend is so happy to hear these positive stories Feel quite envious of her really (not enough to do it again though )

[fostermum]

my daughter at 38 weeks preg with num 2, rang me said she felt a bit funny so i popped round to her house,she went to the loo 5 mins later baby leah arrived, no contraction pain, just two pushes and a bouncing baby girl wieghing in at 7lb 12 arrived happy and heathy mum and baby fine, ambulance came to check her over 1 hour later that was a lovely birth

[Lilliput]

It is really encouraging to hear so many positive experiences of homebirth. I am in the process of trying to make the decision on home, hospital or domino at the moment and my heart is telling me home. However, I feel that forewarned is forearmed and I would like to hear about any negative aspects or experiences of homebirth. Give it to me straight so I am armed with info for when the midwife tries to put me off having my baby at home.

[twinkle1]

hi as a 2 year student midwife i would advise you to talk to the supervisor of midwives in your area if you experience any problems arranging your home birth they are often more helpful than midwives on the ground

[Mirage]

I've been reading these messages with great interest.I always said that if I got pregnant again I'd go for a homebirth,but when I saw the positive pregnancy test,I chickened out.

This thread has made me think again & I am definately going to ask my midwife about it when I next see her.

[OzJo]

I really wanted a home birth for Dd, but it didn't work out, and to be honest wasn't that good an experience, the midwives were a little too laid back. I'd been in labour for about 24 hours, was in agony, Dd was facing the wrong way, the midwives were reluctant to do an internal wanting me to just do what my body told it...so I was semi pushing, getting nowhere. I eventually told them I had to have an internal as I couldn't have gone on if I wasn't pretty much there. Turned out I was only 5 cms dilated.
I'm a nurse, so really wanted to avoid hospital, but it was too much, so I went in, had an epidural...( temporary bliss ) ended up with a C section after not dilating for hours....and they used the epidural as the aneasthetic, and it wasn't effective...So I basically had a horrendous time at home, and at hospital. I'm pregnant again and have no plans to even try for a home birth, not sure they'd even let me. I'm all in favour in theory, in practice I'll be chickening out.

[Hughsie]

I had an amazing home birth for my second child. Baby number one slept right through it (23 moths old) Not much pain relief needed but I did have alittle bit of entonox. Tens machine was great and just the relaxed atmosphere helped me feel it was a more natural procedure and not medical like the first birth in hospital which was a ventouse and episiotomy horror! It was much easier second time around but I do understand people being concerned so as long as you are not too far away from a hospital in case of emergency I think you can justify it. Midwives are great and it is their job to help deliver nt that of a doctor in my view. Good luck to all that try it!

[Pidge]

These stories are great - I'm due to have no 2 in March (well, March 2nd, so you never know McKenzie I might be joining you in Feb!). Saw one of the homebirth team for the first time on Friday, who was very reassuring despite my tales of first labour being nearly 3 days long, posterior baby etc.

Funnily enough I knew our next door neighbour was planning a homebirth for her first and last night, by the sounds of it, it was in action! So am rethinking just how much hollering I will be able to get away with for mine without the whole street knowing. Not that I will care at that point.

Am lucky to live only 5 mins drive from hospital, so really there's no disadvantage to being at home. I'll stay there as long as I can - if the baby is born, great, if not, I'll go in to the hospital.

[pebbles2004pebbles]

Im quite intrigued by all this... i had wanted a hb with my dd (4months) but DH NOT HAPPY! Ended up having induction as DH was out in Iraq and the army would only allow him home for 5 days (social induction). DD wasnt breathing when born, so pleased I was in hospital really. I really want to have number 2 at home, if the same was to happen again, would the midwife etc have the equipment to ressusitate if necessarY???

[KathH]

Don't know about emergency equipment etc but with my accidental homebirth i still ended up being wheeled into hospital for about an hr as i had a retained placenta and the midwife that came to the house said she didn't want to try & pull it out at home in case i bled to death! (hubby already in shock nearly fainted as this point!) but would have thought they would have equipment needed for an emergency.

[Scraggyaggy]

Hello everyone. Nice to hear all these positive stories. I'm having my first in June and am particularly keen on a home birth for all the reasons you've listed. Besides, no-one seems to have a positive word to say about hospital births so I don't see the point in following that up. DP is worried, but I think I'll show him this thread and see if it helps him. Thank you everyone.