Low intervention - homebirth

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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

I don't consider it breaking her down in the least. I think anyone who has made fixed and detailed decisions this early is bound to be disappointed and yes, I would advise every single pregnant woman to approach the pregnancy with a far higher degree of flexibility about decisions like this for their own sake. Likely to lead to a far more positive experience in the end.

Although OP seems to be backtracking a bit anyway now by being more open to the possibility of changes so that's good.

No examinations and no internals is different is it not?

How would the midwife recognise a genuine emergency if she can’t examine you?

Will you be having scans, urine, blood tests, blood pressure taken?

You don’t know the op personally.
Some people find that filling your head with all the awful potentials is very stressful and increases the likelihood that things will go wrong.
It is not a problem to plan a birth where she is in control and in an environment she is comfortable in, and it’s not unusual, or a problem, to assume that all will be well. Planning for problems doesn’t make them any easier to deal with, and she has already said a midwife will be present.

Have you ever looked at historical mortality statistics? Or wondered why there are so many stepmothers in fairy tales?

Sorry you're getting such a hard time here.

Just wanted to say: I was keen on a home birthday and was registered with the home birth team. It didn't end up.as a home birth for various reasons (I had strep B, and then needed to be induced as was overdue and baby was small) but I'm still really glad I tried. I got to have lots of appointments at home, which was great, and my birth ended up being lower intervention than it could have been because I'd done my research and knew what I wanted.

Good luck!

2 homebirths over here. 2 best days of my life

If you are confident about birth you likely won't get swayed into being in hospital

People who haven't had a homebirth are really threatened by those who have/want one hence the comments

I had 17 hours of homebirth which all looked textbook but at some point DD turned back to back military position. There were two midwives and neither picked up on it. I went to hospital on blue lights and had an emergency C-section when the consultant realised what was going on. So although I felt exactly like you I ended up very grateful for the biggest intervention of all!

That said my sister had two very easy, no intervention home births and loved every second.

You do have to go into homebirth with a positive mindset but be open to the possibility of change and be aware birth plans rarely go to plan.

I really hope you get your dream home birth. If you haven’t read Ina May’s books they’re definitely worth a read.

💯 this

No point having a midwife if you’re not going to allow them to touch you / do their job.
Don’t bring them into your trauma if it all goes wrong and they “should” have prevented it

Jesus some of you lot are absolutely vile, I understand the comments giving cautionary advice but the smug “let us know how it goes”attitude is fucking disgusting

OP I recently had a home birth and it was the most peaceful and beautiful experience. I had zero pain relief and zero examinations, both of which I hadn’t actually planned. When my midwives (absolute angels that I hadn’t previously met) arrived they observed a contraction, one asked if she could examine me and I replied “I’d actually rather not right now”. She was absolutely fine with that. They did monitor baby’s heartbeat which made no difference to my stress levels, just listening in when a contraction came

I did say throughout my pregnancy “I’m HOPING for a home birth” as that helped me mentally to keep and open mind. You’re not an idiot, you’ll have the intervention if it’s needed to keep you and baby safe

baby was delivered in the water and passed through my legs straight into my arms, it’s a memory I’ll treasure forever. The aftermath (after they dragged the placenta out 😂) was them at my dining table with tea and biscuits writing up notes, and my partner and I with our baby on the sofa. I am so grateful we had the golden hour, the whole experience was incredible

more than happy for you to PM me if you’d like to chat anymore about it

Thank you for your feedback, I firstly need to clarify that I am hiring a doula to advocate for me because I don't not want to be answering questions when I am at my most vulnerable, I am NOT hiring a Doula in a medical capacity because as you know, they are not medically qualified.

I appreciate that midwives are people but that doesn't mean that I should feel compelled to accept any medical treatment / interventions just to appease them. I am trying to keep up with the posts here - mostly unhelpful because they don't actually answer my original question.

Just because I didn't write in my OP that I open minded and considering the 'plan B' scenarios, doesn't mean that I am not - I asked for women's experiences on homebirth, I didn't realise that I had to give a complete comprehensive overview of ever single thought, scenario and consideration which may contribute to the homebirth not happening.

It has been implied and assumed that I am non-negotiable with my approach to homebirth when that is so far from the truth. My plan/preference/whatever frigging word will make you people happy is for a homebirth and I wanted to hear from ladies who had experienced this..... This does not mean that I have my head buried in the sand and don't think that plans won't change, jesus I know this, I am a project manager - planning and risk management is literally my day job.. but this is not what my post is about!

Did you have a homebirth? That was my original question?

That's really unkind.. If you don't agree with homebirth then why are you on this thread?

It’s not about being threatened, it’s about wanting a fair assessment of the risks and situation which cannot be known right now.

Mothers & babies die without good maternity care.

Sure, at least in passing. I think putting anything off the table so early is short-sighted.

Oh my days 🤦🏻‍♀️

Good luck with your pregnancy. What does your husband think of your decision and how does he feel about catching the baby and the placenta and all the blood. Why dont you want a midwife to touch you and what about stitches?

Things have really changed in the last 25 years then, and given the rising rate of litigation, maternal mortality and c sections maybe not for the better.

Thank you so much for sharing this - this is my preference and dream birth at home in water x

I planned for a home birth.

I went to an antenatal visit at 38 weeks and he was dead.

so no. I didn’t get my home birth. which was just fabulous.

That’s harsh on you as a profession. I know as a nurse when I was in the community, I and many others stopped attending one particular patient. They were doing something wildly dangerous while we were administering treatment, I was only 22 at the time and was terrified for both the patient and my registration!