Exploring option of home birth

[PlantMummy87]

This post is absolutely no judgement on people's decisions on where they want to give birth and where they feel safest, just exploring my options.

I due our first baby early December, and if all is well and I'm still considered low risk I was hoping to have a unmedicated water birth at a local birthing center which is around 45min drive away from us. The BC however has been closed through the pandemic and I feel it is likely it still will be when I'm due to give birth.

I've always considered having a home birth, but originally dismissed this idea due to our living situation. We currently live in a top maisonnette flat, the building is an old terrace Victorian house which has been divided into flats. There is no lift, but our maisonette is only second and third floor. The stairway is wide enough, and we managed to get all our furniture up through it, but I can imagine it might be tricky to navigate if a stretcher situation was necessary. I was also worried that due to being in a top floor flat a birthing pool wouldn't be possible, but I've explored this a bit more and looks like it could potentially be possible, if not we do have a large bath. I was also worried about noise, having never given birth I'm not sure what sort of 'birther' I'm going to be so would be concerned I'd be unintentionally loud which wouldn't be fair on our neighbours of course especially if it was during the night, and am worried about frightening our two cats. I am a doing hypnobirthing course and prior to pregnancy I have been practicing yoga and meditation for years so hopefully am able to draw on using breath and having a relaxed environment. Our home is around 10min drive from hospital, would be even quicker in ambulance on blue lights if required I assume. I've spoken to my partner in depth about home birth and although initially at the start of pregnancy he wasn't so sure on it as was used to the narrative of you go to hospital to give birth in the country we live in and thought I'd be safer in hospital he is now 100% on board with a home birth.

Would any of this flag up as not appropriate for home birth or do you think I should plan it and then if anything changes and I do need to go to hospital or the BC is actually open I can change my mind?

Your midwife team will likely to a home assessment before a home birth and check the things you mentioned. Birthing pools are very heavy with the amount of water in them but midwife can advise. I don't think you can necessarily use your bath instead though.
I wouldn't worry about the noise - your cats will find somewhere to go and your neighbours will have to get used to noise with a newborn!

Thank you @DuchessSilver for your reply, really encouraging 😊 I was thinking of using the bath more on terms of just getting in for a bit of relaxation and water relief, as opposed to maybe giving birth in the bath if that makes sense?

That makes sense. I tried my bath before I was dilated enough to get in the birthing pool but found it didn't help as I couldn't get the water to cover both my back and belly which were both contracting, and I couldn't move to relieve any of the pain. But your bathtub may be bigger and your experience might be different!

I wouldn’t worry about the birth pool. If you’d be happy to have 10-12 people standing on the floor without it falling through, there is absolutely no issue with having a pool. I also wouldn’t worry about any of the rest. The only thing to remember is that with first births, nearly 50% end up with a hospital transfer. This isn’t usually because mum or baby is in any danger and is mostly because mums want further pain relief. But first births are riskier than subsequent ones (whether at home or in hospital) which is why I opted for hospital for my first and now feel comfortable with a homebirth for my second. There are lots of women who successfully labour at home with their first of course, but it’s just something to remember when planning.

I had both DC at home. Only thing I’d want to talk through with the midwife is how I’d get down the stairs if necessary, esp if an emergency situation. But paramedics must have methods for stairs!

Congratulations, OP!
The pool would probably be fine, some are quite compact. A warm bath is also fine and a lovely relief. With DC2, I had my pool prepared, but found I just wanted to get out and birth on the floor when it came to it.
Hypno birthing is amazing, I found it very helpful.
The stairs would be my worry; I couldn't face any serious moving around once in full flow of labour, contractions can seriously knock the stuffing out of you. Both mine went through a stage where each contraction felt like I'd fallen on my butt and winded my self, I literally couldn't breathe with the intensity of it, so the thought of managing stairs would have been one bridge too far.

Thank you everyone, really appreciate you commenting. I will explore the option of a pool more and will look into more about the getting down the stairs if I did need to transfer. Wishing you all the best 😊

Just wanted to say, I had my 1st in birth pool at hospital and 2nd at home.

Home birth was meant to be in a pool again. However, i spent my entire labour in the bath as didn't think i was far enough along to set up pool (don't ask!) What i found helpful was whilst i shouted out my meditation words during contractions my DH poured water over my belly as obviously it stuck out lol.

When I delivered in the bath, midwives just pulled plug to let water out as wouldn’t have been deep enough and i was on all fours. Gave birth in the tub, pool never used, no other pain relief.

So bath tub labours can be done if necessary 😂