Home birth experiences - 2nd baby

[Mia9292]

I’m 38 weeks pregnant with my second baby..up until a few days ago I’d decided I would have birth at the midwife led unit, however I’ve been feeling really stressed out about not making it to hospital in time and having to sort childcare for my toddler quickly enough etc...also covid in hospitals and now even terrorist attacks....

I’ve had a bit of a drastic change of heart and decided I’d rather be at home..I’m low risk and had an uncomplicated, rapid first birth with no interventions or pain killers (in the MLU).

I’d read stats that say for subsequent births home
Births are no more unsafe ...but I still think how can that be if baby is stuck and needs forceps etc or in the case of sudden post partum haemorrhage. We’re probably only about 10 mins to the hospital by ambulance but that doesn’t include waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

I’d love to hear people’s experiences...even if something didn’t go to plan in terms of how easily you were transferred? I feel way more anxious about the whole thing this time!

Just logistically at 38 weeks it’s cutting it fine to organise a home birth-you’ll need to have a home visit to confirm suitability for a home birth with the midwife and (at least with my trust) they send the home birth kit (bags of stuff, medicines, gas and air if you want it, oxygen for emergency) in advance of you going on call for the home birth team, and they would need to add you to the on call schedule which would normally be from 37 or 38 weeks. So if you wanted a planned home birth with midwives attending you would need to make that decision ASAP-doesn’t mean you have to go through with it you can always decide to go to the MLU when the time comes

I was the same OP. First baby - quick and drug-free labour in the pool at hospital with no complications. Planned home birth second time round. Another very quick labour, baby born 4am, midwives had left us by 6am and my little girl woke up in the morning to find her baby sister snuggled up in our bed. Just dreamy.

For low risk women having their 2nd or 3rd baby, home births have statistically better outcomes than hospital births. I wasn’t dead-set on the home birth. It was the easiest option for childcare and covid rules. I was completely flexible in my mind to the idea of transferring in if at any point I didn’t feel safe or confident with my choice. I think that’s quite important that you don’t become so fixated on the kind of birth you want, at the expense of not listening to your intuition or the midwife advice. In my experience that’s where home births can go a bit pear-shaped.

Baby 1 was a home birth that transferred in because he was grunting (and then jaundiced). Twas a long labour and would have been a c section if I was in hospital. Was glad it wasn't. Transfer was quick, midwife was v helpful. Baby 2 was a much faster home birth with no issues at all.

First baby was a homebirth. Came so quick DH had to catch her. Used tens machine up to 4/10, somewhat pointlessly saving the rest for 'later'

Now pregnant with twins and will be forced into hospital birth/induction and everything that goes with it. I'm obviously over the moon with the twins, but somewhat mourning not being able to have them at home.

First baby nearly a home birth. Second baby planned home birth. Absolutely far better experience. Not having to go home again. Dc came back from nursery to meet new baby. I got gas and sur (no drugs first time. I even tarpaulin my living room and got a blow up birthing pool.

I had my second baby at home on the bathroom floor waiting for the ambulance to arrive so not planned at all ! For my third I have been determined to have a planned home birth. I’m just 38 weeks now and my midwife team hadn’t put home birth on my notes until about a week ago so we had to pull it all together quickly ! Everything is in place now and I even had my pool delivered in just a few days so not impossible. Go with your instincts and tell your midwife what you want. They are there to support you, you will be doing all the heavy lifting 😉

I had HB for second was amazing.

Planning another one this time too, have ordered my pool 😁

If you also want the facts as well as experiences then the birthplace study is well regarded and very accessible / easy to read www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace/results