I don't want to give birth in a hospital.

[gonegrl]

We're thinking of baby number 2 and the number 1 thing that's putting me off is the idea of going to hospital again. It was awful and I came out with multiple infections I caught in there.

Am I crazy for going another way? Can anyone recommend any of the alternatives?

My first pregnancy ended in forceps. I know the unpredictability of birth is something I need to consider also.

Also, what happens when you're done?

Are you thinking of a home birth

@TraitorsGate I'm weighing up home birth and MLU (not at hospital).

How far away from the hospital are you?

I had a home birth, but at the time we lived literally (and I do mean literally) a 30 second drive from the hospital.

If I was miles away, then I wouldn't have felt as comfortable.

Yeah I can totally understand.

As long as you get regular check-up's and have medical support when the time comes it's hopefully an option you can do.

Obviously if the little critter doesn't turn or something then you'll need to go hospital anyway

@TTPD about 20 mins, but last labour we made it much, much quicker than that...

I had my first at home in a hired birth pool. I had midwives the entire time, three at one point.

I had my second in the mw birth centre. I was blue-lighted to the hospital (not in the same town) a couple of hours after the birth and ended up in surgery and having a transfusion, but the birth up until the retained placenta was described by the mws as ‘textbook’.

I had an independant midwife and a home birth.

My homebirths were amazing! I would 100% recommend. The midwives dealt with everything and you wouldn't know anything had happened by the time they left.

Have a look at the birth places study, for 2nd and subsequent births home is safer than giving birth in a hospital for mum and just as safe for babies. And for 2nd births (vs 1st) there is a low rate of transfer to hospital - although that would be recommended if required of course.

I had home births with mine and they were just right for us. I labour fast but my contractions don't come fast enough for them to agree I'm in labour, so going into hospital would be a nightmare as they would send me home anyway.

MLUs are a great option as well.

Why not go visit your local one and then have a chat with a consultant midwife about your options? They will help you make the right decision for you.

You wouldn't get me in a hospital to give birth (and I work in maternity in the NHS) but everyone is different and will want different things around them.

For me it would depend how complicated your first birth was - my experience was a similar birth the second time around (and likewise people who had fast labours first time had fast labours the second time around). I could not have a home birth second time due to needing interventions.

I was hoping for a homebirth with number 3 but ended up in the MLU (adjoined to hospital) because the homebirth midwives were with another mum. Actually it was the perfect outcome, we had to spend 24 hours under observation afterwards so I avoided an ambulance transfer post-birth which would have really stressed me out. The MLU was super quiet, comfy and the midwife stayed with me the whole time other than when she went to fetch DH some toast and coffee.

I had my first 2 DC in a MLU and my 3rd on the labour ward (all at the same hospital). Admittedly it was during Covid times but the labour ward experience was grim. The birth centre was amazing- comfortable, private and had all sorts of birthing equipment (pool, stools etc). DC1 came too quickly but DC2 was a water birth. The baby was with us the whole time and there was a double bed so DH could stay over too. It was night and day compared to my experience with DC3. I did consider a homebirth (@Caluse I had similar speedy active labours and they had a note for DC2 & 3 after DC1 nearly arrived in the carpark) but wanted the reassurance of medical facilities nearby in case anything went wrong.

I had DC2-4 at home. Bloody brilliant. Afterwards delivering the placenta, cooing and cuddling, I had a shower, mw stood just outside the door of the en-suite and passed me things as needed. They tucked me into bed with my new baby and left me there with a cup of tea glass of fizz and completely cleared up everything, taking it all with them. If you had arrived 2hours later, you would never know that anything had happened. Same for all 3 home births.

I had a water birth at home eith no 2, 17 years ago. Great

I had a hospital birth first time (induced, couldn't cope with pain so needed epidural, ended up with episiotomy and forceps) and then a lovely home water birth (no pain relief needed) second time. Definitely look into home birth! And hypnobirthing.

Nuts to consider giving birth without fast access to a Doctor. If something goes wrong you will regret it.

I was low risk/text book throughout pregnancy and labour, until I wasn't and my womb ruptured - completely unexpected. I have a huge hospital phobia but I cannot think of anything scarier than giving birth at home - I / my daughter wouldn't be alive if I'd chosen to do that. I am not trying to be pessimistic, but nobody can guarantee it'll be be straightforward and for me that is a risk that is just not worth taking when you can have such a short hospital stay if it's all ok.