With DS I considered a home birth but was told that with my BMI (I think it was about 38 or 40 at the time) they wouldn't even consider it. I didn't argue as DH wasn't too keen.
My labour really wasn't what I wanted, and I felt that it was because I went into hospital and lost control of the situation.
I had a bloody show and wasn't sure if it was 'too' bloody so went into hospital to get looked at. They put me in a bed, on my back and put a monitor on my tummy. They were getting 'irregular' readings and although I thought (and suggested) it was because the belt didn't stay on well and kept slipping, I didn't argue much and they broke my waters and put a scalp monitor on DS, telling me I had to stay on the bed on my back
It all went downhill from there - Couldn't use my tens machine because of the monitor, felt sick so they gave me an anti-emetic and wouldn't let me have gas & air and I had pethadine because I was scared!. Got dehydrated so went on a drip and ended up having an epidural (or actually 4 attempts that didn't work properly)
In the end I was so spaced out (and so was DS when he emerged, and quite blue - apgar of 5) that I basically rejected DS. I perfunctorily tried him on the breast but he was too drugged up to be interested and I spent the next 3 days letting anyone and everyone else hold him!
It wasn't until the end of day 3 when he finally latched and fed that we started really bonding (and breastfeeding ended up being fine for us - still going at 2yo!)
Anyway, this isn't what I want but I'm quite scared of the arguments with the doctors etc if I fight for a homebirth. DH was scared by our last experience too, so he's very wary of not being in a hospital.
Anyone had any of these sorts of experiences and still managed to get a home birth? I have a good local support group so will go to them if I feel I've got a chance but don't want to expend energy I don't have fighting over this!