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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

The thread for first time home birthers (or thinking about it) - over here!

993 replies

Boobz · 23/07/2008 11:53

I only just found out I was pregnant 10 days ago, and it is of course early days, but I have been doing a lot of research and am seriously thinking of having a home birth.

I'm a member of my Due March '09 ante natal club thread, but I don't want to go on about home birthing there where the majority will be planning a hospital birth (don't want to bore them!) I'd like to start this thread for all those people who'd like to talk about the pros and cons, planning, expectations and realities of home births, especially if it is your first baby, or first home birth.

Has everyone else's other halves been fine at the thought of a first baby HB? Or did you have to do some convincing?

A

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Original poster
Boobz · 19/08/2008 10:37

Fingers crossed indeed!

OP posts:
GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 19/08/2008 10:39

fingers crossed for kookiegoddess

I'm a bit confused - is everyone supposed to have an appt at 32 weeks? I had m/w one at 29 weeks (belated 28 wk appt), been booked in for 36 and she said to book in with doctor for 34, but nowt in the meantime...which would leave me 5 weeks without seeing someone....is this right?

kiskidee · 19/08/2008 10:47

I got my letter from the Chief Exec of my Trust yesterday giving his support for my HWB. He said that out of all the booked HBs last year, none were cancelled due to staffing issues. He said that MWs advise about the possibility of no staff in order to avoid disappointment if it happens. I also have the 24/7 mobile number of the Supervisor of Midwives so I think that means that they will find me the staff because I am not taking this sitting down.

Oh how I laughed at him. Does he really think I will come in if the staff isn't available? Er, no.

I feel like sending him a cheeky acknowledgement saying that I note that he has not guaranteed my home birth and that the final paragraph of my last letter still stands.

What do you all think?

Rhian82 · 19/08/2008 10:52

Absolutely - just say thank you very much for his letter, but you just felt that the avoiding disappointment thing was a bit pointless for the staff to do when you knew very well you were entitled to a home birth, and that regardless of any staffing problems you would expect midwives to attend your home, and that you trusted he understood he was obliged to provide that regardless of his management problems!

Anglepoise · 19/08/2008 12:09

Hey Mousey - just checked my notes and yes, I saw my GP at 32 weeks (well, 32+3, but same difference). Just make an appointment and go along I guess

browny · 19/08/2008 23:03

Hi, hope you don't mind me popping into your thread, I'm 28 weeks and was offered a homebirth today by my midwife, I had been thinking of having a homebirth, but was quite anxious to ask for one. This is my 5th baby, my first daughter was emergency c-section due to pre-eclampsia but that was years ago and I've had three normal births since.

My midwife said that they'd come to my house when I am 38 weeks to drop off a homebirth kit and some gas and air, but she told me that they do not offer any pethedine etc, is that normal? Dh is a little freaked out by it all and is convinced that he'll be left to deliver the baby!.

I just wondered if anyone had any advice/words of wisdom to pass onto me .

Anglepoise · 19/08/2008 23:14

Welcome to the thread

As far as I know, just being offered gas and air is pretty normal - that's certainly the case up here (Warrington). I think some trusts will let you get your own prescription for pethidine but not sure about how you go about it.

If you haven't already had a look then homebirth.org.uk is a great site

browny · 19/08/2008 23:31

Thanks for the welcome Anglepoise, I'm not too far from you (Liverpool), I'll put that website into my favourites and look at it tomorrow when I'm more awake!.

thingamajig · 19/08/2008 23:46

Hi, not read much of this, I had a first time hb on Christmas day - pity the poor midwives - I made them miss their Christmas dinners. It was great, in the morning I woke up with cramps, walked down to MILs to say Happy Christmas, walked home, decided this was probably it, called midwife, she arrived 11-30 and examined me, I was 5cm. Got in the birthpool (see profile photos), waters broke there, sometime later I needed more pushing power as the warm water kept me very relaxed. DD was OP or back to back or 'nose to pubes' as they delicately put it . I had a bit of NO2 but it didnt do much for me and a walk upstairs to the bathroom and a teaspoon of honey had me back on track,
Dd was born on the bathroom floor, whoever was worried about the mess - you can see the whole lot in the just born picture.

Sorry got a bit carried away there, but I would thoroughly reccommend a hb.

ChocOrange05 · 20/08/2008 14:03

Hi all - can I join please, I just found you!

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant with my first and after a lot of thinking DH and I have decided to have a home birth. Our reasons are:

  • one to one MW care;
  • comfortable, known environment;
  • DH thinks he will feel more in control and able to help;
  • only 5 mins from the hospital;
  • I really don't want to be in a maternity ward and hear another woman be in labour!;
  • not having to make the scary journey home after;
  • having my own birthing pool without having to worry about monopolosing it.

Those were our main reasons and I am really happy with our decision. Luckily for me my mum had a homebirth with my sister (and I was there - 17 years ago!) so she is very supportive and PIL's have also been good about it - I do get some funny looks / comments but people usually understand when I explain the reasoning. People seem to forget that this was the norm 30-40 years ago!

I am prepared to be transferred to hospital if needs be as LO's safety is priority but at least I hope I can do most of the work at home.

So, this will be a new favourite thread for me and looking forward to hearing about people's ideas, experiences and thoughts!

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 20/08/2008 15:59

ok so here is my main and obviously stupid fear...of childbirth generally but even more so about hb....it's the pooing! argh blood and mess I can deal with but i'm worried about pooing in my home on the floor - someone tell me I'm being ridiculous!

I suppose at least at home I'll have the toilet to myself if I think I need it and hopefully won't be strapped down/monitored!!!

ChocOrange05 · 20/08/2008 16:17

GirlWith.. go for a birthing pool - and you get a sieve to go with it!

kiskidee · 20/08/2008 22:50

I did a youtube search with Ina May Gaskin's name in and this came up.

It may peak some of your interests to read the book or maybe you will glean some good info here to build your confidence for a HB.

YumMum22 · 21/08/2008 11:54

After using kiskidee's template letter to send to the SOM at hospital and chief executive of my trust i got a phone call an hour later from her. she is now comin to see me tmrw at home to discuss. I am going to write a list of reasons of why i want a home birth just in case she asks me. i am so nervous need abit of a confidence boost.

does who have used a birth pool...which one is better?? this one or this one i like the look of the made in water one.

im sooo excited cant wait only got 8weeks to go now.

ChocOrange05 · 21/08/2008 14:45

YumMum I like the look of the made in water one too - and much cheaper than the mothercare one!

YumMum22 · 21/08/2008 15:25

chocorange just seen the bpiab at boots for 120 here wonder what the difference is??.. i think the MIW one is smaller and i think DH might want to get in aswell.

kiskidee · 21/08/2008 17:24

The only diffence between the Boots and the Mothercare one is that, imo, Mothercare is a ripoff.

I have the La Bassine one. I got is second hand from another MNer who had her HB in it and was v. happy.

I think the oval shape makes more sense than the round shape and being smaller, will offer me more privacy without making it difficult for access by MWs.

all my untested theories so they are probably as good as yours.

Anglepoise · 21/08/2008 18:27

Keep an eye on ebay for birth pools as well - they have retailers on there selling for around £80, plus plenty of people who didn't use theirs for whatever reason if you're squeamish about secondhand (though a hospital pool would obviously have been used before - I got a secondhand one for £41 yesterday so am very happy ).

ChocOrange05 · 22/08/2008 09:21

YumMum I think the La Bassine is a smaller one - the large BPIAB can fit you and DH or you and MW in. But I know someone who got the BPIAB and found it too big as they were sliding about in it so they got out to give birth - thats why I like the sound of the La Bassine one - a smaller pool means you have a bit more support.

As Anglepoise said eBay have a lot of birthing pools on there for sale.

YumMum22 · 22/08/2008 12:58

dont know why im thinking about buying a birthing pool as i dont even know if i can or cant have a homebirth yet...waiting for SOM shes due at 1...very nervous and excited

ChocOrange05 · 22/08/2008 18:25

YumMum how did it go?? Will you be investing in a birthing pool??

ellideb · 22/08/2008 18:30

I bought the birth pool in a box from boots (much cheaper than all the rest for exactly the same standard) and you have 28 days to return it so if you time it right then change your mind or don't use it then you can give it back!

FruitynNutty · 22/08/2008 19:02

Hi there, Just butting in to ask if anyone has been refused a HB by their hospital just because of the team they have been placed with? I know Boobz has but I just didn't really expect this considering I live so close to my hospital

smileifyouwant · 22/08/2008 19:09

I have just booked mine! I was surprised that the MW agreed straight away!

FruitynNutty · 22/08/2008 19:13

well I'm very smileifyouwant