Low intervention - homebirth

[thismonthsfad]

Hi. Just wondering if any ladies are currently pregnant and planning a homebirth?

I have self referred and noted on my form that I’ll be having a homebirth. I have my first booking appointment in 2 weeks.

Just looking for some positive stories on the process so far and how to navigate avoiding landing on the intervention conveyor belt.

not looking for opinions from people who are against homebirth/haven’t experienced it

Oh please, you come across as pretty woman hating when you bleat on about women not having confidence or education and being duped by medical professionals. It’s not even thinly disguised victim blaming. If only everyone could be as cool and informed as you and the OP right?

Well yeah. You obviously don't see it that way, but that's how it looks when you are leaving things to chance. But as long as you're happy with your choices that's all that matters.

"You seem to be valuing your own birth experience over the safety of yourself and your baby,"

You haven't answered this? How is my baby unsafe by opting for a homebirth? and for declining vaginal exams?

If only everyone could! There'd be no need for any "cascades of interventions" and we'd all have perfect uncomplicated births, just like people do in places where access to medical services is limited.

Because a complication could occur that you would have no idea of until it's too late and/or that requires medical care not available at home to solve. You are happy to risk that to be at home, that's fine and up to you.

It's a mistruth that less women and babies die in countries with modern medical care?

I would suggest you connect with a homebirth team to understand how the navigate critical situations - You have a lot to learn.

@thismonthsfad You are unbelievably rude and you need to read up in far more detail about what causes birth and mum deaths. Unidentified health risks is one of them, yet you tell me I know nothing. If you had had a family member with a big home birth emergency, you might think differently. You read propaganda and think it’s the truth and, guess what, YOU haven’t had a home birth yet! You know nothing about risk and health because you won’t be taking the assessments to find out. How stupid is that?

We keep worrying about birth deaths in this country. Someone needs to do research on whether views that are not open to realism are a contributory factor! We know midwives can have closed views and this is the subject of reports (natural birth - just push) and, as a result, midwives have not assessed the health risks accurately. It’s a clear issue in failing NHs birth units. Get one of these evangelist midwives at your home, on her own, it’s a risk. But what’s the point of evidence? None at all apparently!

Not rude - I am despairing. I have had nothing but mostly abuse on here from entitled women who think that I owe them my life story. It's been exhausting and my patience is at zero.

Yes I had both of my children at home. Really beautiful birth experiences. i enjoyed it so much I might have one more who knows! I was 35 with my first and 40 with my second. First one I had a pool and the second one I didnt, so slightly different experiences, but I loved them both. Decided from the off it was what I was going to do, I was always drawn to being at home in my own space and it really worked well for me. Good luck, all the best x

Yes I had both of my children at home. Really beautiful birth experiences. i enjoyed it so much I might have one more who knows! I was 35 with my first and 40 with my second. First one I had a pool and the second one I didnt, so slightly different experiences, but I loved them both. Decided from the off it was what I was going to do, I was always drawn to being at home in my own space and it really worked well for me. Good luck, all the best x

There is considerable concern that home births are not assessing risks at an early enough stage. As most births are in hospital, of course there are more deaths there. It seems quite a few midwife units are incompetent though according to reports and even the chief midwife has concerns about the natural birth evangelists! That does not mean a mum with no bloods taken, no scans and no one touching her is safe at home. No one actually knows!!! That’s my point. How anyone can say the op is in possession of all the facts about her pregnancy and the safety of a home birth is obviously wrong if she does not engage with checks.

Ok please can you provide your evidence that outcomes are no worse for home birth with high risk births as high risk births in hospital? That doesn't pass the common sense test for a start.

For low-risk women, large Dutch cohort studies (BMJ 2013; >140,000 births) found no higher maternal or perinatal risk with planned home birth, and the 2023 Cochrane review says there’s insufficient high-quality evidence to show one setting is safer than the other — not that home birth is unsafe.

The facts are that some of us are much, much safer planning a home birth than a hospital birth! When you go into labour with a homebirth you get a midwife round to check on you almost instantly! It’s a lovely almost private service and they are very well equipped and trained to spot and deal with emergencies.

My second birth I stupidly chose the midwife led unit instead. I kept calling them in labour saying it’s my second baby and please could I come in to be checked and they repeatedly said ‘you don’t sound like you’re in labour, take a paracetamol and go back to sleep!’ Eventually I didn’t listen and got myself in just as baby was born! It could have so easily been an accidental free birth at home and not for my want of trying to go in! I’m now pregnant with my third and will 100% be requesting a homebirth as it felt so much safer for me and you feel in better hands throughout than I did on my own trying to persuade the hospital I was in labour!

Totally, but the OP doesn't want this sort of care from the midwife.

But you chose to post on a women's chat forum and invited people to share their experiences, good, bad and ugly.
Nobody has been "scathing" in their responses, just sharing ideas and things that might help. Like not declining the 12 week scan for instance.
You have scorned people who have given you advice, which may actually be quite useful

She’s wanting a midwife to be there who would likely be able to spot issues and has said she’d be open to a Doppler being used if needed and also that she’s open to transfer to hospital in an emergency, I don’t see what more she can say.

With regards to vaginal examinations, a lot of women even in hospital settings refuse these due to previous trauma/SA or various other reasons.