Homebirth advice (not waterbirth?)

[Flymeaway4]

Currently 28 weeks, baby number 2 and considering a homebirth.

Baby number 1 was born in hospital; at home til 5cm, then midwife led unit til I got too exhausted and wanted an epidural, moved to consultant led unit, but there wasn't time for an epidural in the end anyway. Baby was born via ventouse when heart rate dropped shortly after moving wards. She had also got the cord wrapped around her neck and this is something putting me off a homebirth this time around (and is what's massively putting my fiance off it too, so he will take some persuading). From what I've read since, this can happen quite a lot though and is often not dangerous?! Still, it is what's holding me back. Did anyone have anything similar for baby 1, but went for a homebirth for baby 2 anyway? Or considered it, but ultimately decided on hospital? What made you decide either way? Any advise for persuading fiance if I do decide I'd like to go for it?

In case I would like to try for a homebirth though, I'm trying to figure out logistics. I wasn't keen on a water birth for baby 1 (the idea of me and newborn swimming in various bodily fluids freaked me out a bit), but I'm somehow not quite so averse to it this time and would probably try it if in hospital. But at home, the idea of setting it up, getting the water in and then getting it out (likely not from the ground floor of our house), dismantling it etc seems such a faff. And the midwife said in an emergency they'd cut me out of it, flooding the room! So it seems like a lot of bother. So I'm just wondering, those who did do a home water birth, how did you sort these logistics? And anyone who didn't, where/how did you labour and birth at home and what did you do to limit the mess?!

Any advice much appreciated

[Sponge19]

Sounds really irresponsible given your first birth experience, particularly if you needed an assisted ventouse delivery

[swedex]

I had my third at home not a water birth but in my bed with two midwives present. It was a really lovely experience!
My first like yours was a ventouse delivery so quite dramatic and she had to be given oxygen and my second was born in the birthing center so sort of middle ground
Both of those were so quick ...4/5 hours from the first labour pains to holding my baby so I was keen to go for a home birth just because of the logistics of having two young kids at home and getting to the hospital in time!
I had to inform the midwife at pre natal apps I wanted a home birth and they provided a box of stuff a couple of weeks before due date that was left at my home for them to use. On the morning I went into labour it was about 6,30am I made the final decision yes im staying at home and I called triage and explained I was staying put. Probably within an hour I had a midwife there.
She laid out various sheets on my bed got all the necessary bits and bobs out and basically watched me and chatted to me while I wandered round the room chatting away and only pausing when I had a contraction! Think she called. Second midwife when I was about 8 or 9 cm dilated.
Birth went very well I was on all fours and the most awful pain was the cramp I got in my leg!
Once dd was born they cleaned me and baby up and got the placenta out.
Think I then went to the shower or downstairs I can't remember but basically they cleaned everything up took away all the sheets they brought and I think we had a couple of towels to wash!
All in all it was a really lovely experience! Sounds a bit daft but the sun was shining through the windows the radio was playing and it all went very smoothly and with the least amount of fuss!

[BigBoudIsBack]

I can speak to the mess aspect. Get a couple of cheap shower curtains and a pack of chux pads to mess proof wherever you end up labouring. I laboured in bed and that combination saved the bed.

[swedex]

Oh yes I think we may have put a shower curtain or something similar down on the bed come to think of it which we threw away afterwards!

[Wickywickyyow]

I had all my at home, wonderful experiences and don't listen to those who just want to scare you. A well planned, well monitored birth is just as safe as a hospital birth. Take advice from your midwives who know you and your pregnancy.

With regards to mess, the midwives are awesome at tidying up behind themselves. They deliver a home birth kit which includes a ton of disposable mats and I had towels and an old duvet which I knelt on for delivery as I leaned over the sofa.

[RaspberryChouxBuns]

If you want to try a homebirth go for it, during both my births I was quite surprised by how little mess I made during labour. Afterwards is a completely different story but we won't get into that.

What I will say is that I bought into the idea that 2nd births are much easier and for me that wasn't the case at all. It was long, complex and painful despite the epidural and I gave birth in a midwife led unit!

I think you need to weigh up how you feel by the end of your pregnancy, listen to your body and be really honest with yourself about your hopes and limitations. Good luck x

[Flockameanie]

I had both mine at home. DH dealt with the clean up! But as PP said, shower curtains/ plastic sheeting/ towels on floor. I had a water birth for both - hired the pool. Really simple to set up, even in our tiny flat.

I would say though that I had no anxiety or worries about giving birth and neither did DH. I think if you’re a bit worried about it and think that you may potentially be anxious staying at home then it might not be the right decision for you.

oh, and the cord was round DC1’s neck, but midwives are very skilled at dealing with such things and I wasn’t even aware of it until after DC was out and safe in my arms and the midwife told me - apparently she just unhooked the cord as DC was coming out.

[Flymeaway4]

Thanks everyone, that’s all really helpful. I just want to be prepared either way and like @swedex, I won’t be making any final decisions until the last minute. I’m well aware everything could be different on the day and am happy see how I, fiancé and midwives feel about it at the time.

Part of me does wonder if, last time I hadn’t left my bedroom, whether it might have gone a bit more smoothly too. I do feel like it all stalled moving to the hospital and then again moving between units.

@Flockameanie thats good to know too, that it can be a bit more routine than the consultant made it sound.