Home birth experiences?

[Pantheon]

Hi, pregnant with dc2 and my midwife asked if I had thought about a home birth. Birth of dc1 long but quite straightforward in Midwife led unit. Leaning towards homebirth this time. Just wondering about others' experiences. Any advice or things to think about? Thanks!

Not had one but there was no reason I shouldn't have. Like you, I had straight forward births in MLU. The only thing stopping me was DH's anxiety about being 20 minutes away from hospital.

Still had 2 very positive experiences in the MLUs though.

When are you due?

DC2 born at home, wonderful experience. Straightforward birth, three hours in total, tucked up in my own bed after the birth eating a bacon sandwich. No need for pain relief and up and about as usual the next day. GP came to our house and did the well baby check the next day.
It was a massive contrast to DD1's very long and difficult hospital birth - I took ALL the drugs- which ended in an assisted delivery.
Mumsnet doesn't tend to like home birth though so you may get lots of difficult birth stories in response to this thread. But, like my post, they are stories, and not research. Happily there's lots of quality research about birth place, in fact the 2011 Birthplace study is a good starting point.
However, the best place to give birth is where you feel happiest to, be that home, MLU or obstetric led labour ward. Good wishes to you for whatever you decide.

My first birth was a traumatic hospital birth and my second was a very straightforward hospital birth following a 1 hour 40 minute labour. We live a 35+ minute drive from the hospital so decided on a home birth for number three, partly as I was worried I'd have a fast labour again and partly as hospital would bring back anxiety about my first birth. Baby number three was another quick labour and she arrived before the midwives and paramedics and was delivered by my husband! Even though she was a bba, we are still so glad that we chose a home birth as she would have been born on the side of the road if we had set off to hospital. The birth was very straightforward and I didn't have to go to hospital afterwards.

Baby number four in September was my second home birth. We had midwives here for this one! I had a birthing pool in our living room, our eldest daughter laid all of her battery operated tealights out when I went into labour to make it a relaxing environment and our three eldest were with me as well for the first couple of hours. When things started getting more intense they went next door. I was able to cope with breathing for most of my labour, then got into the pool when the feelings were more intense and had gas and air for the pushing. It was such a relaxed atmosphere, the midwives took my blood pressure and listened to baby's heart but other than that they didn't touch me at all until after he had been born and encouraged me to trust my own body to do what it needed to do. He was born in the water, I brought him up to the surface then my husband went and got our children from next door and our first photo as a family of 6 was when he was just 3 minutes old. It was the only birth where I didn't need any stitches, the midwives left after two hours and 2.5 hours after he was born we were all sat eating Dominoes pizza! It was such a relaxed and positive experience and I'm so glad that our children were able to be as involved as they were. We're not planning on having any more children but if we did we would have another homebirth without any doubt.

My home birth with my third baby was wonderful. One of the best experiences of my life. That's it, really!

Midwife suggested it, I did my research, got DH on board, lived close to hospital, an easy but long birth previously with DC2, no pregnancy complications ever... decided to go for it.

Just had gas and air, two lovely midwives looking after me, a five hour labour which for me was a short one. It was perfect.

All three at home, was lucky as v straightforward pregnancies, no pain relief needed, fabulous midwife care. Could get into my own bath and then my own bed with my husband and the baby and then older child could just wander in in the morning and meet their sibling.

I think being where you would feel most relaxed is key. For some that is the hospital and for some that is at home, and both are fine.
Good luck!

I had my 3rd at home, he was 10lb 4 and got stuck buy the midwives were amazing and stayed so calm. I have zero regrets about homebirth despite it being the hardest of my 3 births.

DC3 was born at home in a birthing pool. Amazing experience. Snuggled up on sofa together whilst I ate a chinese. I loved it and have wonderful memories of that time.
DC4 at home but born in the bedroom - still a good experience.
I was checked more closely with my home births rather than being left for hours in hospital. The midwives were fab and were there the whole time - no nipping out for a smoke or shift change. Really bonded with them.
I was only 10 minutes from the hospital if there were any concerns.

Thank you everyone for your replies! Nice to hear such positive stories