Home .v. Hospital - 1st baby

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

Just wanted people's experiences and opinions on home births versus hospitals...we were intially just going to go for a hospital as it's our first baby and we automatically assumed it would be better/safer with access to doctors and facilities in the event of anything happening

However I've heard so many stories about homebirths being much less stressful and the chances of c-section etc being way less than in hospital (obviously I know they have to take you to hospital for it!)

I'm keen to try to do it with as little intervention as possible (for reasons non-martyr related!) but am not that strong willed so maybe would be better to only have options of gas and air at home?

I've had an easy pregnancy so far (23+3) with no complications and on a good day it would take half an hour to get to hospital (even for an ambulance with lights on, if it's rush hour it could still take that long)...where on earth do you begin to look for info on home.v.hospital?

good and bad experiences, especially 1st babies at home would be grateful to hear!

DD (first baby) laboured at home for 18 hours with just gas and air. Wonderful. So glad I did it. Had to transfer as DD with 38cm head stuck (lying with spine to my right ribs!). Ambulance ride was fine (you are concentrating on contractions so I hardly noticed it). Once in hospital, definitely lost ownership of the birth - decisions were made for me even though I was calmly asking to be part of all decision making processes. They also run to their time, not your body's. Ended up being a difficult old birth with a bit of assistance, but I would absolutely completely and utterly go for a home birth again. Walking around my own house, with my own germs (the hospital was filthy - and it was a top NHS one in London too) and my own people around me, with my own pool in the dining room was just amazing. I don't feel disappointed that we ended up in hospital as I accepted that that might happen from early on. I say if you go for homebirth, plan to labour at home, then if you give birth there, that's a bonus. And if you transfer, well, it was all within your plan anyway. Oh, and there's not right decision - it's just what is right for you.
Good luck.

sorry to butt in, but all these posts are from people who had nice normal home deliveries. which is very good/lucky for all concerned.

but if you are 30mins by blue light ambulance from the nearest hospital, what happens if there are complications during delivery (and most of the time these cannot be predicted), and you or the baby need emergency help??? 30mins is a long time.

just trying to offer the other side of the arguement. there are lots of people/babies out there who might not be out there if they had been born at home, 30mins away from a hospital.

I am prepared to be shot down in flames on this one, especially on this site. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Cass.

Er, I didn't have a "nice normal home delivery" if you read my post.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair, please read the homebirth website. It is excellent.

I didn't get my homebirth with DD I ended up in an emergency C-section cos she was presenting wrong and couldn't be delivered but the whole at home bit was wonderful and I honestly didn't feel any pain until they said I had to go to hospital then it felt as though I had lost so all the pain i'd blocked arrived and I was screaming in the ambulance on the way there.

I'd have a HB with number 2 (when I get pg) if they'll let me as I hated the hospital afterwards where I was left in just the gown with a cathetar and pad to soak up the blood for 24 hours. Sooo disguisting.

If you want a HB go for it! MW's are very carefully trained and will spot everything as it develops. They have training to help with everything.

check the HB website and speak with your MW's about wanting to do it sooner rather than later as I told them for definate at 35 weeks which made for a rush lol.

I had a hospital birth. No complications, no drugs, no scalpels. All fine. In and out in 12 hours.

Did I like being in hospital? No.

Would I have a home birth this time? No way.

I wouldn't risk it, regardless of what anyone says.

In hospital you are moments away from a whole building full of specialists, operating theatres.

My opinion. I am allowed to give it.

I'd agree with SS - you're only asking opinions of those who had a homebirth, not the thousands of women who gave birth in a hospital and were 100% glad they did.

I had a breech baby so didn't really have a choice but no way would I have a homebirth on my first, I just think there's no way you know what you're going to feel like or what options you would like available to you. I think it would be worse to regret not being at a hospital rather than regret not having a home birth, as there's more likely to be very serious lasting consequences of being denied medical live-saving procedures. It's not worth risking your life or the baby's I think. Just my opinion, weigh it against everybody else's!

But that's not true MrsJamin - the OP is asking for opinions on hospital and homebirth experiences, not just homebirth - re-read the first sentence .

Everyone is different and has a different bank of fears, hopes and experiences in their makeup and hence will have a different view. This I believe the OP understands perfectly well and wants to hear everything from everyone so that she can be made aware of things that she wasn't possibly aware of before and hence make more of an informed decision.

It REALLY winds me up when people get on their high horse about 'I'm allowed to give my opinion'...of course you are - that's what she wants dammit!

I would be cautious about a homebirth if you are half an hour's drive away from the hospital. A lot can happen in half an hour, and you have to think seriously about whether you want to risk being in the back of an ambulance (or waiting for one) during that time when you could have been a few feet from an operating theatre.

Sorry, I know that sounds really melodramatic, but that is what happened to me - well I didn't have a homebirth, despite being encouraged to have one by my community midwife because it was a low risk pregnancy, but I had a hospital birth where things went wrong and the medical team had 5 minutes to get my baby out alive. They managed it, but wouldn't have done if I'd been at home.

I know my story is rare, but complications in childbirth can happen and personally I wouldn't risk a homebirth for a first birth if you are a long drive from the hospital.

"I had a breech baby so didn't really have a choice"

People do have breech births at home still - not often, but it does happen, usually with an independent midwife but occasionally with the NHS. You can find some stories on the UK homebirth website: www.homebirth.org.uk

"It's not worth risking your life or the baby's I think"

Yes - but interestingly years of research doesn't show a higher rate of mortality or morbidity for babies born at home. This must mean that the risks of homebirth (for instance, you would definitely be worse off at home if you had a catastrophic placental abruption or cord prolapse - both very rare occurences in low risk labours) logically, must be somehow offset by the additional risks that come with birthing in a high tech setting.

As for risking her own life - the research suggests the OP would be safer at home. Maternal deaths after emergency c-section are higher than after normal vaginal birth, and the OP is twice as likely to have a c-section if she opts to birth in hospital.

It's also worth factoring in the additional risks to her next baby if she has a c-section (stillbirth is more likely for women who've had a previous section because of placental issues).

I had a homebirth with these Independent Midwives. It was expensive, but was absolutely the best money I have ever spent. My DD was very overdue, eventually being born at 43+3 after an 8 hour labour.

I really wanted a homebirth but had concerns about emergency situations etc. By hiring the IMs I felt I had the best of everything. It was so wonderful to know the women I was giving birth with and to know that if I transferred into hospital they would be with me and my baby to ensure my wishes were respected. The after-care is truly exceptional as well.

I'm not sure why you are so wound up Thankyouandgoodnight.

You know perfectly well why people say 'I'm allowed to give my opinion' - it is usually to desperately try and avoid the tirade of abuse for daring to avoid the latest bandwagon.

I had my first baby at home and, now pg with my 2nd have every intention of staying away from hospital. All the community midwives were really supportive even though having your first at home is really unusual. In fact, the mw who delivered my ds initially (and privately) thought I was mad to have my first at home, but, having been there and help it go so smoothly completely changed her mind.

I felt much more relaxed at home and could do what I wanted when I wanted. The best bit (apart from holding my newborn son) was getting into my own shower and then climbing into my own bed with a piece of freshly made toast!

I agree about having your baby at home - it makes that room really special. I particularly like freaking some friends out by telling them that my ds was born exactly where they are sitting in my lounge (we had to move an armchair out to fit the birthing pool in).

We had to hire our own birthing pool - Splashdown waterbirth services www.waterbirth.co.uk are really good. I hired their inflatable pool and it was just right - very strong, but comfortable to lean on (for you, dh/dp and the mws).

"I agree about having your baby at home - it makes that room really special"

My ds1 sleeps in the room he was born in.

I love that.

I feel very at the thought of ever leaving this house, even though the area is pretty horrible.

"but all these posts are from people who had nice normal home deliveries"

My hb involved quite serious complications (shoulder dystocia - I was a high risk pregnancy because of my diabetes and my baby's size) and the midwives had to revive my son. We both came out of it completely fine.

I'm so glad it happened at home. I think it would have been much worse for both of us if it had happened in hospital - much more traumatic.

Also worth reminding the OP that in the Netherlands they have a 30% homebirth rate (compared to 2% here) and very good maternal and infant mortality statistics (not the best in Europe - I've been led to understand that's not down to the popularity of homebirth but down to issues surrounding screening in pregnancy).

"Controversially, I also don't subscribe to the 'homebirths are as safe as hospitals' mantra. They might be, but there are no published reviews that prove it".

The research isn't watertight - nobody should suggest it is, but the National Birthday Trust study done in the 1990's made a very strong case for homebirth being as safe as hospital birth, with lower morbidity for both mothers and babies in the homebirth group. That study, along with other research forms the basis of the government recommendations on place of birth in the NICE guidelines.

"Of course, the studies that are out there suggest that the additional risk is very small and you may choose to accept it for perfectly good reasons."

Which studies in particular are you referring to?

Sabire of course I could have tried to do a breech birth at home but my goodness you're really opening yourself up to complications. I believe it's more important that me and my son are alive than I could be in my own bed etc, my house isn't that nice or big! That's why I said I didn't really have a choice.

MrsJamin - people who choose a vaginal breech birth at home do so because they believe it's safer for them and their baby than a vaginal breech birth at hospital, or a c-section, not because they want to be in their own beds.

Women generally NEVER choose the option of homebirth without doing a lot of research and soul searching, and they always have their baby's best interests at heart.

Your comments show how little you understand about the subject.

I am an independent midwife and had my third baby at home last year and it was quite definitely the most amazing experience of my life. I had my first two children in hospital prior to being a midwife and although their births were not traumatic I do regret not knowing about the option of home birth then and home was definitely better for me.

I cannot remember who said what on this thread so I will just answer generally...

The point about mess and not liking going into the room where the birth happened. I had a pool birth and there was NO mess whatsoever and my midwives cleared up all the inco pads and sheets etc and hubby emptied the pool in about 20 minutes. I LOVE the fact that he was born in his home and every time I am in my kitchen I smile and think of how fantastic his birth was (he was born in the kitchen).

I think it was Cass who said about how things can quickly go wrong and half an hour is too far away. Interestingly, the area I live in, many women in one particular NHS community team choose to homebirth for the very reason that they ARE so far away and they do not wish to risk a birth on the motorway.

There is a perception that things can go wrong very quickly because most of us are conditioned that birth is like on Casualty or Holby City or we have 86been subjected to an emergency happening in hospital where it has "appeared" to happen very quickly. In actual fact that "emergency" has quite possibly been brewing for several hours and because of midwives shortages and staff being overworked and looking after several women at a time, it is not picked up on as quickly as it should have been. Emergencies happen at home too but they are less likely to because of less intervention (Yes, interventions CAUSE problems). At home you also have one midwife with you all the time who is only looking after you so problems are much more likely to be picked up on quickly. Yes, there will always be the very rare catastrophic unpredicted emergencies but midwives who attend homebirths are trained to deal with these. As someone else already said, there are risks to EVERYTHING and you weigh up the risks and choose what is acceptable to you.

We always seem to hear cases of "oh, if that baby had only been born in a hosptial it would have been ok". What about the THOUSANDS of babies who are damaged/die in hospital because of Doctors and midwives interfering? Would they have been better off being at home?

An example - Cord prolapse was mentioned as one of the catastrophic emergencies. Well your main risk factor for this is having your membranes ruptured and how often does THAT happen in hospital? ALL THE TIME. This is one procedure that I have only ever done once at a homebirth for very valid reasons. most midwives I know who attend homebirths are VERY reluctant to rupture membranes at home because of the risks involved in it yet it is done every single day on every labour ward in the country and midwives and women see it as normal.
Homebirth website mentioned is fantastic and essential reading for anyone thinking of having a homebirth.

You guys should also all watch Ricki Lake's The Business of Being Born. It is USA based but believe me, we are fast heading that way!

Definitely look into having your baby at home - I've had two homebirths - the first was with my first iyswim! - and they were both fantastic. Very different but relaxed and just so normal - it is an everyday event after all. I had nothing but support from my community mws and my husband. I had two problem free pregnancies and am reasonably close to the local hospital, which did factor in my decision.

As well as looking at the homebirth website, you could see if there's a homebirth support group in your local area - they might be able to give you information specific to you/local hospitals/mw etc.

really great post howdie, i completely agree.

also, bear in mind, if you are not sure, then book for homebirth, you can always transfer in. you cannot transfer back home once you are in hospital........

GREAT post, Howdie!
(I thought The Business of Being Born was amazing too)

Very much agree with what you say about interventions Howdie. It's something that I've thought about a lot in relation to homebirth - to what extent less experienced NHS midwives bring hospital practices and protocols into the home environment and what impact this can have on the safety and outcomes of birth at home.

I had an independent midwife for both my last two births. I felt her understanding of physiological birth was outstanding, because the bulk of her experience since qualifying has been at homebirths. It made me feel very safe.

I remember an editorial on this issue in BJM a few years ago. It was talking about how in the past midwives would EITHER practice in the community OR practice primarily as hospital midwives, and that they were seen almost as different disciplines, needing a different set of skills. I have a certain sympathy with that idea.

thanks so much everyone - really appreciate a variety of views (as originally asked for, was definately not asking just for rosy picture of women who've had safe and wonderful home births - that'd hardly be research would it?!)

the websites have been really helpful too with all the information and real stories, again from both sides of the story when birth has gone wonderfully and badly at home and hospital. I know every birth is different but the main thing for me is to make sure I know enough about every option to make an informed decision...

mrsjamin think your comments are a bit uncalled for as they make me and all the other women who opted for a home birth sound like they were doing it for their own comfort not taking into account the safety of their child - posts like howdie's emphasise the fact that homebirths can be as if not more safe than hospitals.

it's all such a personal choice and the more studies that are drawn up the more confusing it seems so it is great to hear opinions derived from personal experience

we're lucky that Tommies' has a home from home birth centre and it's more than likely that's what we'll do - thanks milliesmummy for your feedback, it's hard finding anyone who used it! so so much to think about, but definately we go for a home birth I'll prepare myself for a hospital transfer if neccessary

thanks again for all replies - do keep them coming as I think it's a pretty useful post for a lot of first time mums out there