does anyone regret having a homebirth?

[mad4mybaby]

Very undecided at the moment,,,

I don't

No way. It was wonderful. Really a night I look back on with pride and amazement. The birth of dd1 in hosp was wonderful for obvious reasons but at home it's different... (smiles at the memory)

No, not at all. I had ds2 at home and it was wonderful.

The only thing I regret is having all of dp's family round at the house the same day that ds2 was born. But it's not stopping me from planning to have ds3 at home. I have just taken steps to avoid the same situation with in-laws occurring this time.

i dont want a home birth for the lovely 'natural, private etc' reasons people seem to give its because im scared of hospitals. I have the option of going to a birth centre about 10 miles away but 2nd time round i have 2 yr old ds to think about. He came very quickly very suddenly 2 weeks early and im pretty sure this one will come even quicker. yes i know it could be longer though. really not sure what to do

I went for one for a number of reasons, but the main one was a quick easy first birth and my concern about making it to hospital in time. I also saw no NEED to go to hospital if everything was ok.
my dc1 was also early, bang on 37wks.
With dc2 I again convinced myself the baby would be late, he turned up at 36+6, even quicker than dc1. At home, planned, totally uneventful.

Nope, don't regret it at all (despite having to go in after the birth because I had a retained placenta).
I also went for a home birth to avoid hospital, in my case because I was in Spain and (a) the only option at the local hospital at that time was to give birth on your back in stirrups, (b) I knew several (Spanish) friends whose partners had been ejected from the room at critical points and (c) although I speak Spanish I didn't want to have to try to argue my case not in my native tongue while in labour, esp if DH was thrown out!
So, totally negative reasons, especially as there were no painkilling options at all at home - but it was fantastic in the end & I would definitely try for a home birth if I were to have another.

i only had gas and air with ds and was 8-9cm when i got to hosp. I felt totally out of control. What worries me at home is what if i freak out if im on my own with ds? When i had him from the minute it started the contractions didnt stop and was never in a position to even put my shoes on or anything, what if i have to wait half hour for anyone to turn up and im with ds??

IF it happens, you cope.
My waters went, my first contraction was 10 mins later, and dc2 was born within 15 minutes.
I wasn't alone, as my (then) DH was there, but he didn't DO anything. But no m/w or anything, ex called 999 once baby was born.
My m/w said after that if the baby is coming that quick there is very very rarely going to be anything wrong.
Maybe a good idea to read up about unassisted births though, not with the intention of having one, but just to make you feel more comfortable in the event it does happen.

It sounds as though it will be as much of an issue if you go to hospital - in fact the advantage at home is that the midwives come to you, whereas to go to hospital you will have to find someone to care for ds then get yourself there.
So I guess you have to sort that one out whichever option you choose. Do you have a trusted neighbour who is likely to be around and would take ds at short notice?

no no neighbours, a few friends local and mum 15 mins away. Its just that dh works abroad alot or in city (london 2 hours away) its only because ds was born in middle of night that dh made it. Just worrying me what if no body could make it to me in time. I know that is quite silly to worry now and you dont know what'll happen anyway, just paranoia setting in. Mind you i WOULD have the same prob if i was having birth center birth as id have to call ambulance or something as wouldnt want ds there...

no, it was great.

I was the same, H was on secondment in London (6am Monday - 8pm Friday) for a few months and my mum was 15 mins away.
As it happened ds2 was born on Fri night so H was there. If he hadn't have been I would have called my mum immediately my waters went, as it was I called her about 5 mins into the contractions. She arrived about 25 mins later just as the ambulance pulled up.

Definately read up, things like ensuring the front door is unlocked (if you are alone so m/w etc can get in). I read up v early on in pg and didn't look again, but some stuff def stayed with me. I planned to read up again, but then he came early.

so no one has said they regret it, did any of you worry before hand? Feel apprehensive?

No, but I had a fantastic midwife who happens also to be a personal friend and has delivered a lot of home births - I am sure I wouldn't have felt so relaxed if I hadn't had so much confidence in her. She worked in a team of two, and if the other midwife had been in charge I would have felt a lot more apprehensive. DH was a lot more worried than I was TBH.

No regrets at all.

i dont 'know' any of the m/ws and cant afford a private one...dh was VERY anti home birth with ds which is y i agreed to go hosp as it was my first, this time round its MY decision!!

I have had one hospital birth, one homebirth and am planning another homebirth in about a week.

Never regretted it for a minute.

Your labours sound like mine, first contraction then the second on top of it cannot do anything, I was so lucky last time, DD2 waited until DP was here, I do worry about being at home with the two of them when it all kicks off I hope I get a show or my waters going a few hours beforehand so DP can be there and I can get child care sorted out but TBH I would have these issues if I were going to hospital.

I am very apprehensive about giving birth now not just the homebirth thing.

had 2 homebirths,
first time I was apprehensive as I didn't know what to expect.. felt uneasy when things kicked off about what I should do with regards to letting people know.

I had a great experience and had DS2 at home also.

Fantastic experience.
Highly recommend.

No, not at all. I'm phobic about hospitals, so would have hated going in. In fact if I had I probably would have ended up with loads of intervention (my waters broke and it was a while before labour got started).

I think Riven does.

the thing that worrys me is what if the midwife took like an hour to get to me?? Like i said below im pretty sure this one will be even quicker this time, i have a feeling within 2 hours... The midwife not getting there on time (with the gas and air!! )

My labours are quick, and last time DD1 (4 at the time) was there for all but the last half hour. DH was there too but I couldn't not shout so we tried to make it into a "let's all shout together" game! She does remember the shouting, but hopefully wasn't too scarred by the experience.

I had an HB with DS2 due to a quick first labour. I was lucky in that there were only 4 mw's that would be attending and I got to meet them all. I also knew which towns they lived in, so how far away etc. Discuss your concerns about speed of labour with your mw, and maybe she can let the rest of the team know they need to get to you quickly when you call.
I did feel apprehensive beforehand, I think that is normal, and you can always change your mind at any time, even during labour.
Good luck.

Also agree with Mummypigs comments about all the family coming round. I had that nightmare and will sort it if I ever have DC3