Would you have a homebirth if you were me?

[fairywing]

It's very very early days for us yet but i'm the sort of person who likes to research things incessantly!! I had my booking in appointment yesterday with the midwife and had said before hand that i woud discuss homebirth with them but i was worried about the distance from the hospital so would need some reassurance about that before i would seriously consider it. When it got to talking about where i wanted to give birth the midwife suggested homebirth straight away. I raised my concern but she didn't seem to think it would be a problem. She has said to raise it with the midwife after my scan who will be my allocated midwife throughout the pregnancy and she will talk me through things. I want to be well informed before then.

I have scoured the net, this site and the homebirth website but stil feel undecided. My reasons for wanting a homebirth is that i would really like to attempt to give birth with g&a only although i am totally open minded about that, i have read so many horror stories about hospitals, i like the idea of being in my own home and think i would manage the pain and stay in control better at home as hospitals make me feel tense as soon as i get to the carpark! The things worrying me is the potential risk to baby and me.

From what i have read midwives along with emergency services support if necessary can deal with most things that may arise including PPH or baby not breathing etc and i am very open minded about having to go into hospital if needed or if i can't cope. There also seems to be statistically no more risk at home thn hospital i think the risks are just weighted differently.

The hospital is 30 mins away by car, i know an ambulance will go faster but they need to get to me first. I also realise that there is a delay in getting emergency treatment even if you are already in hospital so perhaps the gap isn't so big between the two scenarios.

This will be my first baby. So i'm just wondering what others think they would do in my situation to see if it stimulates any mor thoughts for me. Either way i will not attempt a homebirth unless i am feeling 100% confident about it by the time it comes round.

Thanks in advance!

Yes I would.

There is no evidence that first time mums choosing to labour at home have poorer outcomes.

In fact it makes even more sense for you than for second/third time mums, firstly because you have most to lose from having a c-section (going into hospital increases the chance that it will happen), and secondly because first labours are generally quite long, and you will have an easier time of it at home where you can do your own thing.

basilbrush - I do think it needs taking on board that the risks of homebirth are balanced out by the increased risks that come with being in a medical enviroment. If this wasn't the case you'd see higher rates of mortality and morbidity in homebirths compared to hospital births - when actually you don't. Not in the UK or in the Netherlands anyway (where they do tens of thousands of homebirths every year).

Thanks all for taking the time to share your thoughts.

I'm not rushing into making a decision but a the same time i want to have thought about all of this in pleanty of time rather than rushing to decide later.

A MLU is not an option here unfortunately or i think i would definitely go for that.

Still mulling over all the other thoughts and experiences really and continuing to read around the subject although i am currently leaning towards a homebirth.

Thanks again for your help with this

""you have most to lose from having a c-section (going into hospital increases the chance that it will happen"

You could hardly have a C-section at home"

Compared to low risk women who PLAN to give birth in hospital, low risk mums who PLAN to give birth at home have about HALF the number of c-sections (obviously you include in that number the mums who planned a homebirth but ended up transferring in labour and having a c-section in hospital, because, as you so helpfully point out - you can't have a c-section at home)