Page 2 | Hospital vs home birth

springbaby22 · 2022-02-23T20:06:27+00:00

The birthing Centre I was planing on giving birth at has closed due to staffing issues. Now considering a home birth as opposed to going to hospital, I'm low risk and on dc3. First 2 were born in hospital. Has anyone had experience on home births? Hearing so many positive things. I'll have a risk assessment next week. Baby measuring slightly bigger (91st centile) but the hospital said this shouldn't be an issue for a home birth.

Mossstitch · 03/03/2022 17:33

Sorry @springbaby22 only just saw your question. I didn't actually use any pain relief with last two births. First was induced in hospital and used gas and air (so much I had no voice the next day). I could have had gas and air at home but I find I like to keep moving around during labour and don't like the restriction of being in one place. Obviously didn't have a choice with first as hooked up to drip & monitoring and big part of reason I insisted on home birth for second (plus nobody to look after 2 Yr old). I find it much more painful if lay down, especially on my back. By the time I had 2nd and 3rd I did what came naturally, moved and squatted. If you listen to your body I think it tells you what suits you best. I tried a bath but didn't like it, I felt out of control as couldn't get out quickly on my own or move about as I wanted. Last two labour's were only 4-6 hrs long, keep moving would be my advice 👍

boomshakalacka · 03/03/2022 17:40

I think that home births are perfect for those births where you can 100% guarantee nothing is going to go wrong. Sadly, those births don't exist. I truly don't understand the desire to remove the majority of medical support from yourself at the time in your life when you're most at risk of needing it. I'm sure that, when it goes well, it's lovely but, honestly, is it worth the risk?

maama0f3 · 05/03/2022 13:15

@Mossstitch

Sorry *@springbaby22* only just saw your question. I didn't actually use any pain relief with last two births. First was induced in hospital and used gas and air (so much I had no voice the next day). I could have had gas and air at home but I find I like to keep moving around during labour and don't like the restriction of being in one place. Obviously didn't have a choice with first as hooked up to drip & monitoring and big part of reason I insisted on home birth for second (plus nobody to look after 2 Yr old). I find it much more painful if lay down, especially on my back. By the time I had 2nd and 3rd I did what came naturally, moved and squatted. If you listen to your body I think it tells you what suits you best. I tried a bath but didn't like it, I felt out of control as couldn't get out quickly on my own or move about as I wanted. Last two labour's were only 4-6 hrs long, keep moving would be my advice 👍

Do you think the movement helped progress labour?

HardbackWriter · 05/03/2022 16:40

@boomshakalacka

I think that home births are perfect for those births where you can 100% guarantee nothing is going to go wrong. Sadly, those births don't exist. I truly don't understand the desire to remove the majority of medical support from yourself at the time in your life when you're most at risk of needing it. I'm sure that, when it goes well, it's lovely but, honestly, is it worth the risk?

Lots of people think this, but the stats don't bear it out. Second and subsequent births are as safe at home as in hospital, so you could as well ask why women in OP's situation would want to take the risk of giving birth in hospital?

Original poster

springbaby22 · 05/03/2022 17:08

@HardbackWriter yes stats definitely support homebirths being just as safe if not safer than hospital birth, less chance of 3/4 degree tears, reduced chances of infection, reduced chances of emergency cs, more focused 2:1 midwife care, less intervention ie forceps ventouse deliveries. About 10% transfer to a hospital and often these are non emergency related cases. Pros outweigh the cons and these are in low risk women only I believe. @boomshakalacka nevertheless we're lucky we live in a place we have such choices

OP posts:

boomshakalacka · 05/03/2022 17:30

yes stats definitely support homebirths being just as safe if not safer than hospital birth, less chance of 3/4 degree tears, reduced chances of infection, reduced chances of emergency cs, more focused 2:1 midwife care, less intervention ie forceps ventouse deliveries. About 10% transfer to a hospital and often these are non emergency related cases. Pros outweigh the cons and these are in low risk women only I believe

I think you have to be really careful with the statistics as, of course, the majority of high risk births happen in hospitals due to choices made prior to delivery. By default, the women giving birth at home have to be low risk. A 10% transfer rate actually seems high to me for such low risk women and babies.
With my second baby I had a cord prolapse. There were no indications that this was likely until it happened, at which point a crash section happened. Had I been at home I would not have the child I do. I was told afterwards that they had a 3 minute window to deliver her after the prolapse. Thank goodness we were in a hospital and could quickly be transferred to theatre where I was given a speedy general anaesthetic and she was delivered.

Katieandthekids · 05/03/2022 17:35

If I'd had been allowed I would have done it for my second birth. Unfortunately c section with my twins meant it was ill advised. I know a few people who had home births and all very positive experiences x

boomshakalacka · 05/03/2022 17:40

Just to add, the statistics for transfer to hospital at actually 45% for a first birth and 10% for second.

HardbackWriter · 05/03/2022 17:51

I think you have to be really careful with the statistics as, of course, the majority of high risk births happen in hospitals due to choices made prior to delivery. By default, the women giving birth at home have to be low risk.

Yes, the stats compare low-risk women at home and at hospital, not low-risk women at home to all women at hospital. Obviously, because the researchers aren't stupid!

boomshakalacka · 05/03/2022 18:06

The NHS website says: It's rare but, if something goes seriously wrong during your labour at home, it could be worse for you or your baby than if you were in hospital with access to specialised care.

Honestly, why would anyone take that risk? I'm sure that if it goes well it's great but if it doesn't, then what?

boomshakalacka · 05/03/2022 18:12

Yes, the stats compare low-risk women at home and at hospital, not low-risk women at home to all women at hospital. Obviously, because the researchers aren't stupid!

The stats will always be tricky though won't they. On transfer to hospital, a planned home birth will become a hospital birth- probably a more complex one due to the delay. If forceps are needed, it will become a hospital birth etc etc.

I truly believe that those who choose home births are putting their 'experience' of birth over the well being of their child. I could never be pursued otherwise to be honest due to my experience and the likelihood of my lovely 8 year old being a terrible statistic had I made other choices.

We are blessed in the Western world to have the luxury of the choice. I daresay many in other parts of the world would kill for the advantages our hospitals provide- as would those women who went before us and watched their babies die.

HardbackWriter · 05/03/2022 18:18

Actually that isn't how it's done (lumping all transfers to hospital in with hospital births), so perhaps you aren't the expert you think! You can persuade yourself that hospital is always safer and so you're the superior mother for your choice if you want, but that's your own prejudice not an evidence-based position, and so you shouldn't be pushing it on other women. There are some risks that are increased by home birth, I don't think anyone would deny that. There are also risks increased by hospital births, some bad things (including, very rarely, fatal ones) that happen in hospital that wouldn't have happened if the woman had been at home - the evidence shows that very clearly, which is why the risks basically balance out for low-risk second births - but people don't want to believe that could be true.

Flitter123 · 05/03/2022 18:25

One point I would make for people saying if you’re in hospital you’ll immediately get help in an emergency - this isn’t necessarily true. You may have to wait for a midwife to check you over, then a dr to check. You may need to wait for specialist equipment and you’d certainly need to wait for a theatre to be prepared. The better equipped the hospital, the more high risk cases they’ll have booked in and the busier they’ll be. This was the reason I chose a home birth for my second birth.

boomshakalacka · 05/03/2022 18:34

One point I would make for people saying if you’re in hospital you’ll immediately get help in an emergency - this isn’t necessarily true. You may have to wait for a midwife to check you over, then a dr to check. You may need to wait for specialist equipment and you’d certainly need to wait for a theatre to be prepared. The better equipped the hospital, the more high risk cases they’ll have booked in and the busier they’ll be. This was the reason I chose a home birth for my second birth

So if you'd needed emergency intervention it would have been better to first have to travel there?! I promise you that when you press the crash button in hospital the staff are there in seconds.

Popetthetreehugger · 05/03/2022 18:38

Please go to hospital. My DD was planning a home birth , low risk , midwife said it would be fine . She got the wobbles and changed her mind . They both would have died . No ifs . If she had had a home birth , it would have been a home death . I know what happened to my DD is very rare , but are you willing to take the chance ? Please please go to hospital.

PiesNotGuys · 05/03/2022 18:55

I have only had home births, I haven’t experienced giving birth in a hospital.

I would not attempt a hospital birth, it would be a risky option for me. I was happy with giving birth at home, I didn’t encounter much mess and I was able to maintain a degree and privacy and control which was important to me. I didn’t use pain relief but would have if I’d needed to.

It’s good to have options. It is perfectly reasonable to choose a different set of risks - comparable just different, and make a well established, evidence based and healthcare supported choice. Good luck

Robotdott · 05/03/2022 18:58

If you have want a pool just check you have space downstairs for one, sounds obvious but...yes I won't go into detail on who thought it'd be fine to have one in an upstairs flat. It sounds like you're making an informed decision so I'd say go for it :)

Robotdott · 05/03/2022 19:01

@Popetthetreehugger

Please go to hospital. My DD was planning a home birth , low risk , midwife said it would be fine . She got the wobbles and changed her mind . They both would have died . No ifs . If she had had a home birth , it would have been a home death . I know what happened to my DD is very rare , but are you willing to take the chance ? Please please go to hospital.

There probably are ifs though. During homebirths the risk thresholds are lower during labour and having a midwife constantly present often means things are noticed and addressed earlier than in a hospital setting. Of course sadly not always the case, but it's not as simple as that.

Frazzled2207 · 05/03/2022 19:06

A friend just had a home 3rd baby after 2 at hospital. She is very close to the hospital though (less than 5m drive).

It honestly wouldn’t be for me (significant PPH etc) but having had 2 already you will have the best idea of how doable it is for you. Bear in mind that even if you go for it it may not be doable on the day due to staffing.

coffeeiwish · 05/03/2022 19:15

Hi OP,

I have had 3 home births and planning the 4th too. All attended by lovely community midwives who were always with me, my husband, mum and the later ones the other children too.

There are some really great Facebook groups, home birth UK is one of them. There you'll get loads of information, practical advice etc.

I live in an area which is about 45 mins from a hospital so there are absolutely loads of home births here. No one fancies giving birth on the motorway (2/3 of mine would have been born by the side of the M6 if I hadn't planned home births).

Outcomes for Homebirths are much better than hospital births and I can attest in my experience I had 3 straight forward labours, didn't feel I needed pain relief although that was available and no tearing, stitches or any of that.

Good luck with whatever you decide on and congrats on the pregnancy 🥰

boomshakalacka · 05/03/2022 20:02

Outcomes for Homebirths are much better than hospital births

That is absolutely not true. Please don't post things like this that are unsubstantiated and potentially dangerous on public forums. It is really dangerous.

coffeeiwish · 05/03/2022 20:12

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coffeeiwish · 05/03/2022 20:14

@CanIJustHaveAWord

Search for your local hb group on fb.

I also recommend this @springbaby22 to find out more about the provision and experiences of women in your area. Where I am at the moment have an amazing dedicated home birth team that are a hive of knowledge for all this stuff!

maama0f3 · 05/03/2022 21:38

@coffeeiwish