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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

midwives have OK'd a home birth for me...now come and reassure me and tell me where in your house you gave birth!

87 replies

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 11:37

reassurance required as I am a bit of a scaredy-cat and dd's birth was a bit long-winded...
but am hoping this one will be quicker!
and we are v. near hospital if anything goes wrong so rationally i know it'll be OK
but still...

and am wondering where people generally have their babies at home-in bed? on the floor? does it get horrendously messy ? tell me your stories!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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tiredlady · 14/01/2009 11:41

On the floor, leaning back on the sofa in the lounge.
Ds loves to be told he was born in front of the television.
Really not that messy - but we don't have carpets, so I don't know if that makes a difference

worzelgummidge · 14/01/2009 11:42

Hi!
I had a HB in August. I had a water birth in a Made in Water pool. No mess at all, and any tidying to be done was done by the midwife anyway.
My pool was set up in my lounge and then I had my third stage sitting on the toilet, so no mess there at all ;o)

Go for it. I have 4 babies, and my HB was unbeatable! All of my birth experiences were fabulous and positive, but my Hb blew them all out of the water.

We don't get gas or anything down here in Oz either .

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 11:42

am thinking i might move our cream-coloured rug out of the way first

OP posts:

scorpio1 · 14/01/2009 11:42

On the floor, leaning over the sofa frontwards, n the living room.

Not messy at all. get a shower curtain, then pop an old duvet on top of that, with cover on. Then push baby out on to that! Then you bag it all up and bin it.

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 11:44

not even gas

I'd like a pool, I think, I just don't know if our living-room's big enough. I guess the midwives will tell me when they come for their visit...

OP posts:

NotSoRampantRabbit · 14/01/2009 11:46

On floor in front of birthing pool, kneeling on all fours, mooing like blue cow on acid.

Just get sheets and shower curtain/mattress protector.

We had a cream carpet.

We still have a cream carpet!

Go for it - you will be fabulous!

NotSoRampantRabbit · 14/01/2009 11:48

Pool is fantastic. To be honest think I would have ended up in hospital without it.

You don't need lots of room, they aren't ridiculously big. We moved a bit of furniture around and sat looking at it for a couple of weeks. Was very therapeutic.

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 11:48

i think i mooed when i had dd

ok a spare shower curtain seems to be an essential item!

OP posts:

NotSoRampantRabbit · 14/01/2009 11:50

All the best people moo.

Am pg again and I think the neighbours are planning a holiday for the next one. Either that or I will supply industrial ear plugs - poor things.

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 11:52

ah yes i was wondering about noise levels and the neighbours...

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MmeMoufle · 14/01/2009 11:52

I planned a HB with my first DC but had to be transferred for serious complications. I had naively collected some old towels and sheets, thinking that would be OK in terms of keeping stuff clean.

When I eventually had my VBAC 2 years later in hospital, I have to admit I was GOBSMACKED by the amount of blood everywhere, we had to crop the background out of all of the Mum and newborn pics before we sent them to anyone as it looked a flipping massacre had just taken place! And I hadn't lost that much blood, slightly more than usual but didn't need transfusion or anything dramatic!

So I would say, err on the side of caution, you may bleed LOADS so make sure you're prepared and have LOTS of sheets and old towels. And I wouldn't recommend trying it on a carpeting floor but then, at the time, you probably won't give a bugger about stains and will just want to get in the position you instinctively feel is best!

hertsnessex · 14/01/2009 11:55

i havent personally had a HB - wish I had/could though.

i have supported clients having HB's and they have laboured in every room of the house, and given birth in bathroom, bedroom, living room and dining room.

get a cpl of cheap sohwer curtains and some towels. the 'mess' always looks worse in hospitals against the white background!

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 11:55

we don't have carpets in our living-room so i guess that's good!
don't have oodles of old sheets and towels so might have to invest in some ultra cheapo ones that i won't mind trashing

this is all useful stuff, thanks!

OP posts:

Loopymumsy · 14/01/2009 12:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 12:18

also wondering-
will it be ok for dd to be at home while this is going on? what do people normally do with their other children? at night-time I mean (if it happens at night)... I don't want her to wake up and get freaked out!

OP posts:

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 12:19

LOL @ eating fishfingers
guess they weren't too bothered then [grin}

OP posts:

LuP · 14/01/2009 12:25

I've had two HBs now and by the time the midwives had cleared up in both cases you would have had no idea what had just happened. first one was in a birthing pool which I delivered DD in so most of the mess was contained in there but my second one (three weeks ago on Christmas Eve) was in our living room on oatmealy carpets. The midwives brought loads of waterproof incontinence sheeting and just kept putting that down wherever I was. I laboured around the house to start with, then got in the bath (thank goodness we have a downstairs bathroom) before getting out and being in the living room before going back into the bathroom and actually giving birth to DS on the bathroom floor. Despite it feeling like I made a huge amount of mess, there was no sign of it by the time they'd taken away all the sheeting etc.

Good luck with your HB, despite my protests that I wanted an epidural first time round (about 1/2 an hour before DD arrived!) I wouldn't have done it any other way.

GypsyMoth · 14/01/2009 12:27

i was at side of my bed kneeling up,as this was 5th baby and first born when i was upright,i have to say that it was best way!!! gravity i think! no mess whatsoever....and the other kids were round other side of bed watching,open mouthed...but couldn't actually see al the blood/business end!!

my dd age 14 called out "its a boy!" and that was lovely. my 12 year old dd helped the midwife examine the placenta,she was fascinated cos they had just learnt it all in school.10 year old ds was just amazed,and has the closest relationship i have ever seen with his baby brother. it was all good,almost silent too as i'm not a screamer,even though he was 10 pound 3 ounzes and no stitches!! i used gas and air only,except for my hired TENS machine,which was brilliant!! an amazing experience all round!!

wilbur · 14/01/2009 12:35

Had ds2 at home in Birth Pool In A Box pool. In our playroom which is on lower ground floor. V good, no gas and air either and other two births were both a bit complicated at hosp. Mess was mostly in the pool - the supplied pump got rid of most of it, although dh did have to do some slightly unpleasant final clearing up - he survived though.

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 12:37

aah that sounds amazing Brie

and thanks Lu

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feetheart · 14/01/2009 12:38

Depends on how old your DD is but mine was 2.9 when DS arrived and we read this book A LOT. She loved it, especially the bit where it says there may be shouting as that helps you get the baby out!! I didn't want her to be worried about weird noises either and I think she was a bit disappointed that I was quite quiet

She was upstairs with her Auntie when DS was born and got to see him within minutes, she still remembers it quite clearly (she's nearly 6 now)

Having a bath in your own bath, having omelette and hot chocolate at 11pm after the birth and snuggling up with your DH and newborn in your own bed is UNBEATABLE. Homebirths rock

roomforthree · 14/01/2009 12:40

I laboured all through the house, but gave birth on my bed. I also recommend the shower curtain / old duvet combo. Very quick to bag up and bin. Not that much mess tbh.

My older 2 stayed around for most of the labour. Neither seemed concerned - DS1 was playing MarioKart with the student MW, and DD, (17 months at the time), was following me around copying the noises I made during contractions! We decided that DD would be too much of a distraction during the delivery, so they were carted off to my SIL's. I think DS1(6)would have been quite happy to stay!

I'd highly recommend a HB, was far and away the best of the 3, quicker, less painful, and shorter recovery (was up and about within an hour) - DS2 is 10 weeks, and I could do it again already.

Go for it!

OneLieIn · 14/01/2009 12:44

Gave birth in a birthing pool in the kitchen, DD and SIL upstairs. It was amazing. AMAZING.

Being in my own bed within an hour of giving birth with a cup of tea and my lovely son was just so precious. I will never ever forget it.

Original poster

CatIsSleepy · 14/01/2009 12:45

my dd will be 2.11 feetheart, so a very similar age to yours-
that book looks good, thanks for that

it will be great for dd to see the new baby really quickly won't it?
gosh am feeling ever so positive now

OP posts:

handbagsatdawn · 14/01/2009 12:58

Had dd2 on living room floor leaning forwards over a cream coloured armchair, (with pale carpet beneath). MWs advised getting some large polythene sheets that are used for DIY, so we had those with old towels, inco sheets and pillows on top. Yes there was a lot of fluid, blood etc., but the inco sheets soaked all that up and the polythene protected all the soft furnishings. As other have said, MVs cleaned everything up afterwards and took it all away with them to be incinerated.

I can honestly say, giving birth at home is one of the best things I have ever done. It was so relaxed, it was wonderful to have one-on-one midwife care throughout my entire labour (even though she took my G&A away at the end!). DD2 came out with her hand up by her face and she was 8lb 12, but even with that I didn't tear - I put that down to the fact that I was so relaxed and positive (and not that I have a bucket for a fanjo ).

If all is well with you and the baby you really should give it a try!

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