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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:

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SydneyB · 15/01/2009 14:12

In a BirthPoolInaBox in the corner of our bedroom! Exactly where DS's cot is now which I really like.

Clarissimo · 15/01/2009 14:17

Living room floor, on a load of pampers care mats (they're soft and warm), after spending initial phase (all f minuytes of it) watching 2dtv laughing my head off LOL whilst bouncing on a birth ball

No mess, was discussing with ds's last night (they met ds4 ages about 15 minutes or so) and one remembers some slightly bloody water / placenta in a bucket, otehr remembers nowt.

didn't fancy a pool, tried one for about 5 minutes with ds2 but got claustrophobic in there.

NKffffffffac40d6ddX11c4d35ad5c · 15/01/2009 15:00

I had my first child at home and plan to have the second here shortly.

Gave birth knelt against our bed, having been able to watch Tv and wander about as I like which helped ease pain.

Mess wise bought and put down the midwife recommended poundland shower curtain and just used old towels. Our midwife bought a number of disposable maternity mats as well and after the birth once I was in the bath and husband had baby she cleared away disposable items and bagged for the bin and collected up washable items for us. So wan't very messy and was easily cleared away.

Being able to freshen up in your own bath/shower is definately a plus point for having a home birth.

Astarte · 15/01/2009 15:19

2 hwb's for dc's2/3 in living room, 4th birth is hwb, with pool arriving in 4 days.

Best experience of my life, without doubt!

Sitting on a folded towel on the sofa gazing at ds's whilst drinking tea/champagne. Magical!

I was up, cleaned up and dressed in clean jama's, putting the towels in the wash after an hour of gazing, whilst Dh rang everyone.

No mess whatsoever.....well the pool was a bit grim but Dh does that

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 15/01/2009 15:32

A waterbirth in the living room. No mess whatsoever. A cheap shower curtain under the pool and one over the floor with old towels on. The MW will provide disposable mats and will take anything away that you would like incinerated.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 15/01/2009 16:14

kneeling on a load of inco pads on the bed over the headboard - midwives cleared up all the mess

was my pfb and was amazing - used gas for maybe 5 mins otherwise all pain relief was massage and am so sure that was down to feeling safe and secure and confident in my own home

go for it!

charleymouse · 15/01/2009 16:28

PFB laboured all night whilst sat on toilet, so no mess, all fluids straight down pan.

MW made me get off as DD about to be born though as did not want her first view of world to be inside of toilet bowl. Gave birth standing up in doorway of toilet and utility room with one midwife in loo to catch baby and one in utility. Clinging to DHs arms.

Had our first cuddle/BF whilst sat on loo and then went upstairs to bed to deliver placenta have a bath and get some kip.

Deffo recommend it. Very surprised at how little mess.

RuthChan · 15/01/2009 19:27

DD was born in hospital, as planned, after a 5 hour labour.

DS was born after only a one hour labour, therefore no time to get the hospital.
I went to the loo and found feet sticking out of me (he was breech). He would have been born there, but DH carried me to the living room and he was born on the floor.
Yes, lots blood, but we have a tiled floor, so easy to clean. A home birth was good, but I recommend planning it in advance...!

delightedoldbag34 · 15/01/2009 19:40

These stories are fab although i am a bit at ruthchan! That's a seriously quick home delivery!
Am planning a HB with this baby (3rd) so any tips gratefully received!

Pidge · 15/01/2009 20:08

Dd2 arrived in a pool in our front room
Ds3 arrived next to our sofa also in our front room, after they made me exit the pool to try different positions to unstick the little fella who was unkeen to emerge.

Home births rock - I did hospital with dd1 and whilst fine, it was nowhere near as nice as the other two.

HIJACK ... JennyL - my due date buddy, I've been wondering how you are getting on. I haven't been on mumsnet in weeks. How's your dd? Did you ever see you gave her the same name as my dd2. A fine choice!!

mumtoone · 15/01/2009 20:59

I was on all fours on our bed when DD was born. There wasn't a stain anywhere so the midwives must have done a resonable job covering the bed up.

hollyhobbie · 15/01/2009 21:08

Both times with DH sitting on the edge of the bed and me squatting between his legs.

HBs aren't so messy- the midwives are very efficient, and you can just crawl straight into your own bed afterwards - bliss!

sambo303 · 15/01/2009 21:29

I dont recall any real mess - I think the MWs caught any in their mats they provide in the home birth bag.

I had ds in our spare room which was our bedroom at the time - on the floor although I had prepared the bed with an old shower curtain. The carpet was covered with a tarp and old duvet on top.

I used TENS - highly recommended (used it for about 20 hours as was first baby and LONG labour) then just over a canister of G&A then nothing for the birth. I'd highly recommend getting in the bath or pool - I really noticed how much I relaxed being in the water.

Only things I'd change were: eating more cos I was hungry at pushing stage and that tired me + ignoring the MWs when they said I should be on my back bracing neck against DH and legs against them - this was NOT what I planned but was too tired to think! DS popped out eventually (after 2.5 hours straining away ) with cord around neck & hand on cheek, no tearing. I remember hearing his first cry and thinking there was an angel in the room!

baltimore97 · 15/01/2009 22:02

In a birth pool, in the living room. No mess at all, DH and MIL had the whole room cleaned up in 30mins flat (including pool emptied etc and deflated).

kathrynharriet · 15/01/2009 22:08

Wow! all these fab HB's make me think about going in for number 4! ( well maybe!)x

nigglewiggle · 15/01/2009 22:09

Kneeling in our dining room with head in DH crotch!

Not as messy as I had imagined. I put a tarpaulin under old Fouton(sp) mattress covered with a sheet. Very comfy and threw it all out after.

Just a little tip re other DC. I got quite anxious about DD1 waking up during my mooing phase and I think this may have prevented me from fully relaxing. The midwives were sure she would be fine to come and join us. I didn't think so, but in hind-sight they were right. Just make sure you are happy and relaxed about the plans you have made.

It was a great experience, MW's were fab and can't wait to show DD2 (8mths) where she was born (the place in the dining room, not DH's crotch!!

chocbiscuits · 15/01/2009 22:23

standing up by the bathroom sink,no midwife just dh catching!

jennifersofia · 15/01/2009 22:26

dd1 - on futon in living room. Some mess on sheets, not too bad.
dd2 - on futon in living room. Better prepared, with inco sheets, which was jolly good as waters broke quite spectacularly.
dd3 - on floor/futon in living room. Some mess, but not too much.

My childless friend was rather when I told her that the children were born on the futon she was sitting on (also our couch).

Enjoy! I think they are fab.

jennylindinha · 15/01/2009 23:08

OMG I am just reading this thread again and I want another homebirth NOW!!! And this time I want to stay at home and not go into hosp...

And sorry for the HIJACK but PIDGE - hello!!! How is it going?? I did name DD the same name as yours and I love it! (So does everyone else too!) How is your gorgeous DS? I asked on the the Post-natal thread if anyone had heard from you as I wondered how you were doing. Nothing like a homebirth thread to bring the mums out of the feeding room to comment...

I'm sitting here with DD asleep in her rocker, whilst watching Dexter - kind of weird...!

jennylindinha · 15/01/2009 23:12

She's doing fine by the way - a little chubster at the moment and 100% breastfed (despite some inital problems)! ...

SamJamsmum · 16/01/2009 09:42

On a beanbag in the living room. DS was around and had just finished watching Koala Brothers though it was off for the actual delivery.
The only downside was that DH had put plastic sheeting on the beanbag and a blanket on top and whenever I tried to grip onto something it was slippery!
We bought a cheap picnic rug (waterproof underside) that we chucked and plastic sheeting from Homebase. It looked like we were anticipating a dam breaking. Not that much mess in the end.
Then cuddled up on the sofa doing first feed, followed by my own shower and home-cooked bangers and mash. Perfect!

My DS was 3.2. We read that book loads and it was a great help. I talked quite a bit about the baby's "cushion" (i.e. placenta) and how it was made of blood. I was glad I did as the only time he flinched was when he saw some blood on my leg. When I explained it came from baby's cushion he was fine. I will never forget him sliding off the sofa mid-Cbeebies to whisper in my ear, "Come on mummy! You can do it!" about 15 minutes before DD was born.

We had planned on my SIL being there but everything happened too fast in the end. I blame the TENS machine for masking how far along I was! The midwife made it through the door just in time. DS was completely fine in the room. I'm so glad it worked out as it did.

jobschmob · 16/01/2009 09:50

I had mine in my bed, midwives had some kind of waterproof sheet to put down and there was no mess left over at all. Only mess was when I got up later to go to the loo and managed to get one drop of blood on the white carpet. Doh.

GoodGrrrl · 16/01/2009 13:13

Sort of half way off my bed. No mess. I was eating a huge sausage sandwich an hour later and watching TV It was a fantastic experience.

Polony · 16/01/2009 16:39

This is the most inspiring thread. Pardon my butting in - does anyone have anything to say about home births in Haringey? What are the midwives like?

higgle · 16/01/2009 17:21

In the study of our old house, dogs in next room (slept through it) DS1 didn't and was there for all the action. DS2 was the ugliest baby imaginable with strangest of floppy ears ( now extremely handsome) midwives seemed to be rather lost for words about his appearance! Had pool but got out. DH put down huge plastic sheet ( think it was a damp proof membrane from builders merchant) which covered whole room and we made a carpet out of old duvet covers on top. Yes, an amazing experience, cooked breakfast in bed afterwards, received visitors in state in my own bed, lovely, highly recommended.

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